Breaking Shabbat to Accompany a Woman in Labor
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
go to original →
Question
Hello, Our daughter is in her ninth month of pregnancy. She needs our help and support during childbirth. She is worried about what will happen if she gives birth on Shabbat. Is it permissible to drive to the hospital on Shabbat to assist and support her?
Answer
Hello
The answer comes after Shabbat, and I don't know if it is still relevant.
The question did not specify who 'we' are, whose support the daughter needs. Therefore, I will answer generally.
What is necessary to calm the woman in labor is permitted to break Shabbat for. However, on the other hand, one must consider what is truly necessary for calmness.
Not everything that is a 'preference' is a necessity that justifies breaking Shabbat.
For example, perhaps the daughter is happy that both parents are around, but the mother can assist technically with a massage, etc., and the father sometimes just walks around the corridor aimlessly. However, sometimes the woman in labor is calm when he arranges for the best doctor...
Good luck and an easy birth.