Shabbat Laws for a Doula

Hello, My wife recently completed training as a doula. Sometimes, women in labor call her on Shabbat. What does she need to know regarding Halacha about this? Is she allowed to answer the phone – and even multiple times on the same Shabbat? Is she allowed to drive to the hospital if the woman in labor requests it? Is she allowed to return home after the birth by car, like a doctor? She wants to know all the relevant laws, as even though she is not a midwife, the women in labor feel she is very important to them during childbirth.

Hello 

She is permitted to answer the phone, travel to the hospital, and also return home afterward.

I am attaching here the instructions of our teacher, the Gaon, Rabbi Avraham Fried, shlita, regarding the laws concerning childbirth.  (The instructions are recorded on the Beit Hora'ah line, extension 80)

Guidelines:

It is permitted to travel to the hospital when contractions are regular – every 10 minutes a contraction, and each contraction lasts one minute. Or when there is a rupture of membranes.

Travel should be done by a non-Jew. If there is no non-Jew, travel by private car. If there is no private car – travel by ambulance.

If traveling by private car, the engine should be turned off by a non-Jew, and if there is no non-Jew – turn it off with a change.

Detailed laws of childbirth on Shabbat:

A woman in labor is considered like someone who is dangerously ill, and it is permitted to desecrate Shabbat for her. Nevertheless, it is necessary to minimize the desecration of Shabbat as much as possible [for example, prepare from before Shabbat what can be prepared, and if possible, perform tasks with a change, such as pressing phone keys with the back of the finger]. However, if performing tasks with a change will cause a delay, it is a mitzvah to do without change.

Below are some of the laws concerning childbirth on Shabbat.

Preparations from before Shabbat:

To save on phone presses on Shabbat, it is advisable to disable the keypad lock, and also to dial on Friday the numbers needed during childbirth, so they can be dialed through the 'call log'. It is also advisable to pre-enter the hospital address in the navigation device if needed for the trip to the hospital.

If she plans to travel by her private car, it is advisable to turn off from before Shabbat all things that are not needed for the trip [such as unnecessary lights, and also music that turns on with the car's ignition]. If planning to travel to a hospital outside the city, remove from the car on Friday items that are not needed for childbirth to avoid violating the prohibition of carrying and boundaries unnecessarily.

From which stage is it permitted to desecrate Shabbat:

In the first birth, it is permitted to travel to the hospital if she feels frequent contractions every 10 minutes, and each contraction lasts about a minute. In advanced births, or a woman who usually gives birth quickly, it is permitted to travel to the hospital according to how she feels herself that the birth is approaching.

If there is a rupture of membranes or serious bleeding, or the woman feels strong pressure downwards, she should travel to the hospital even if she does not feel contractions.

If she does not feel fetal movements for several hours [and even after eating chocolate and lying on her side does not feel movements], she should travel to the hospital.

Traveling to the hospital:

Travel to the nearest hospital. However, if the woman prefers a specific hospital that is further away because she believes the staff there is more professional, it is permitted to travel to the further hospital.

It is preferable to travel to the hospital with a non-Jewish driver. Therefore, residents of Bnei Brak can call the Ezer Mizion center, and they will send a non-Jewish driver to the woman in labor [and if possible, call with a change, meaning pressing with the back of the finger]. As mentioned, it is advisable to save the number in the call log from before Shabbat to save on unnecessary presses on Shabbat [Ezer Mizion's phone number is: 035-742-742. The ambulance travels to the hospitals Tel Hashomer, Beilinson, and Maayanei Hayeshua only].

If it is not possible to travel with a non-Jew, it is preferable to travel by private car, and the engine should be turned off by a non-Jew, and if there is no non-Jew, then turn off the engine himself with a change.

If there is no private car, call an ambulance [and there is no need to trouble neighbors]. As mentioned, it is preferable to save the number in the call log from before Shabbat. And on Shabbat, if possible, dial with a change [meaning with the back of the finger].

Rules for companions:

Anyone needed by the woman in labor can accompany her to the hospital. Therefore, the husband is allowed to join the trip, and if the mother is needed, the mother is also allowed to join. If a doula is needed, she is also allowed to come.

If it is necessary to call the mother or the doula, it is allowed, and if possible, dial with a change.

If small children remain at home: if the driver is a non-Jew, it is allowed to take them to the grandmother, etc. However, if the driver is Jewish – they should be left with neighbors or walk with them to the grandmother. However, if these options are not available – in a pressing situation, it is allowed to take them to the grandmother, etc.

There is no need to bring documents for childbirth unless there were medical problems during the pregnancy.