A baby girl was delivered in critical condition during a home water birth in the town of Elyachin in the Sharon area on Sunday, Ynet reported.

The two midwives attending the birth performed resuscitation on the baby until MDA paramedics arrived. The paramedics continued resuscitation efforts en route to Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera.

The hospital stated that “the baby arrived in critical and unstable condition, unconscious, after prolonged resuscitation attempts at the scene. She was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, but unfortunately, she was pronounced dead a few hours later. The mother was also treated by the staff, and her condition is defined as good and stable.”

Last month, a mother was evacuated in serious condition to Hadassah Har Hatzofim Hospital in Jerusalem after complications developed during a planned home birth. Unfortunately, the doctors could not save the baby’s life. The mother had previously given birth to her first child via Cesarean—a situation in which a home birth should not have been planned.

Prof. Ilan Baruchim, director of the Women and Maternity Division at Hillel Yaffe, said, “Our recommendation is always to come to the hospital to give birth. We allow our mothers to give birth in any way they request, as long as there is no danger to them or the fetus. Home birth has orderly guidelines from the Ministry of Health, and it is important to adhere to them. Unfortunately, this case ended tragically. The mother is currently under supervision and is given full treatment and comprehensive support as needed.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)