Targum/Feldheim 165 pp.
reviewed by S.W.
Birthright
I don't know if any book on the subject, which has occupied
women's avid interest ever since Chava, mother of homo
sapiens, is called by the title of this review. But it is
very suitable. Its main message is that every mother-to-be
deserves the right to experience birth as it was Divinely
intended, as naturally as possible.
Sarah Goldstein firmly believes that the birth process, under
normal circumstances, should proceed in its natural course.
It is an experience all pregnant women should aim for and not
deny themselves by circumventing it, and possibly causing
damage to their babies, through the use of painkillers. The
author, in her daily life activities, has devoted much effort
to raising the level of awareness of the importance of
childbirth education and has acted as a liaison between
community doulas (birthing companions) and the hospitals in
Jerusalem.
"Hashem blessed women with incredible spiritual and physical
strength to further His will in this world by giving birth.
We rejoice in this special relationship with our Creator, and
our hearts swell with pride at every opportunity to
strengthen our connection with Him — and childbirth is
one of the most intimate and intense parts of that
relationship."
That sets the elevated tone of this book. In fact, the
stories compiled here which tell of instances when women had
to opt for C-sections, have an apologetic tone, as if to
acknowledge that anything other than a natural delivery is
second best, a deprivation of the natural birthright.
Our last book review was on shidduchim.
Shidduchim has vied for all women's captive interest,
and I imagine that stories on this subject are far more
versatile and varied, spanning continents and so on. In fact,
I, myself, wondered how I would feel about reading a WHOLE
book on so many women's different birth experiences. After
all, how different can the details really be: birth in a
taxi, birth at home and so on. There is just that much
variety one can expect with the given facts and timetable.
Still, I read each story with renewed interest and wide-eyed
wonder at the miracle of birth, through the eyes of Jewish
women. In fact, disregarding the fact that my baby just
turned twenty-two, I was able to relive the process,
contracting with the contractions, expanding with the
experience.
"Birth should be a positive, challenging adventure... a time
for spiritual growth. It is a time to test ourselves to our
limits and beyond at a time when we are transformed from
having a mother to becoming a mother."
The most outstanding and unusual story in the book is the
account related by Rebbetzin Yitty Neustadt, as told to her
countless times by her famous father, R' Ezriel Tauber. It
tells the amazing facts of her grandmother who gave birth to
a healthy child in Auschwitz and was hidden, right there,
until the end of the war.
The entire family was miraculously reunited after the war. A
clue to this miracle may very well be in his mother's
insistence in maintaining family life throughout the most
difficult periods of the Holocaust when, as was testified, no
one else in her town was using the local ritualarium.
We read about breech births, about babies turned to the right
birth position in the nick of time and the various
segulas to bring this about. For you Jerusalem mothers-
to-be, there is the one of visiting the Sataf, a natural
spring — a very scenic and popular picnic area near
Hadassah Hospital, and drinking from its waters. These waters
have been bottled and sent to women in their ninth month to
effect the turnover. Claimed to be effective in most
cases!
Throughout the book, the author repeats time and again that
all the ideas, methods, nostrums, etc. are not to be taken at
face value but that the respective rabbinical and medical
authorities should be consulted in each case.
We have births underwater, births at home, premeditated and
not. Births of twins, expected and not. C-sections, scheduled
and not, and natural births after C-sections. Wheelchair
births. There is nothing boring about this book though
technically, I guess the process does repeat itself and the
outcome is usually the same, with the fifty-fifty toss up of
girl/boy which doesn't really make a difference.
There are the accounts of the infertile who never lost hope,
and how we, as a private-public out there should relate to
these ladies in waiting, even before they are expecting their
blessed event. But they wait and pray. How can we encourage
them without hurting their feelings? A very moving and
practical chapter.
Special Delivery is a very sensitive book, full of
humor, insight, common sense and uncommon experiences. Very
Jewish and strong on hashkofo. Compact and packed.
Highly recommended.
A few excerpts to get the feel of the book:
First, one about an all-boy family, written by Batya Jacobs.
On her way to the hospital...
CHAPTER: "IT'S A GIRL"
"Remember to get it right again," all the boys had said. "And
if you get it wrong, swap her for a boy. Nobody will notice."
My boys, bless their cotton socks.
The tears streamed down my face. It must be
transition. Transition from getting ready to give birth
to the actual process of birthing. Ladies "go funny" in
transition. They normally just want to forget the whole thing
and go home.
Then there is the incredible true story of a woman about
to give birth in a car which has just stalled.
From CHAPTER: BEACON IN THE FOG.
"Don't stop here. Oh, it's dead!" My husband thought I meant
the baby when I was talking about the car. He was beside
himself.
Suddenly he saw a young man walking down the sidewalk in our
direction, carrying a bag. "We need help," my husband called
out to him.
Was this Eliyahu Hanavi? We needed help, but from a man? How
could he possibly help me? What should I ask him to do... The
five seconds it took the young man to reach us felt like
hours.
My husband said, "Please help us. My wife is having a baby in
the car."
"I am an obstretician," he answered.
[How Divine Providence manoevered this incredible scenario is
well worth reading. Take a deep breath — and enjoy the
entire book.]
