Making Aliyah while pregnant

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 2:08 pm Post subject: Making Aliyah while pregnant

Hi,
my husband and I are be'ezrat HaShem making aliyah in August, when I will, G-d willing, be 7 months pregnant.
This is my first pregnancy, and I have been doing a lot of reading about the birthing/labor system in Israel. So far, our plan is:
-to bring several copies of my file
-to find a doctor in Israel
-check out hospitals once we're in Israel and register there

For those who live in Israel and/or know the system there - do you think this is a good plan?
Any advice/tips would be really helpful.

Also, does anybody recommend a particular OB-GYN in, or near, Yerushalayim?

Thank you, and may HaShem bless all of you!

Thank you in advance!

Executive Member Joined: Oct 04 2009 Posts: 323

I moved here in my 5th month with first.
Was totally fine. There are many great doctors. I took a privat Dr for birth which was so not needed, next births used midwives. Meuchedet insurance covers your hospital retroactively. PM me for specifics.
Bsh'a Tova!! Special to give birth here Smile

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 5:46 pm Post subject: re: Making Aliyah while pregnant

There is a great one DR. Zerach. He is french but is able to speak and understand a perfect English. hes amazing. I highly recommend him. good luck!
If you have any questions you can pm me ill be happy to give you any information. I know allot cus I had to look in to things allot in each pregnancy of mine.

Posted: Thu, May 17 2012, 1:37 am Post subject: re: Making Aliyah while pregnant

The Israeli system is different from that in the US.
If I were you I would arrange travel insurance for the first week anyway.
The most important thing you need to do is sign up with a kupat cholim when you get here. If you are coming with NBN they may do that on the plane / at the airport.

As soon as you have signed up - get an OB - I recommend Dr Foss - he sees in Emek Refaim, Wolfson and Givat Shaul and he speaks English perfectly (and Dutch, Hebrew and probably a few more too)

He sees patients from Meuchedet and maybe other kupot too.

If you are in Jeruslaem and want a hospital birth, you have a choice of four hospitals. All have plusses and minuses. Tell us what you are looking for and we will try and help.

You might want to think about taking a doula - to help you through the birth. (There are several of us on this list) Wink

Once you get here - join the Life In Israel forum, and ask all those imprtant questions there.... money, banks, stores, the best place to..... etc

And come to a meetup - it si a good way to make friends.

Hatslacha with the aliya
_________________
Hila
Certified doula/birth assistant
In Israel, Ima to 4 kids and 1 dil and two sils
and the four sweetest grandsons in the world

Gold Member Joined: Jan 16 2012 Posts: 1646

Where in Yerushalayim?
There are lots of good OBs, maybe tell us the general location and we could recommend one nearby to you.
You should know that the good ones are usually very booked, and it's hard to get an app't more than three or four weeks in advance, but if you have an app't with your current OB right before you leave you should be ok.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 16 2012 Posts: 1646

Also, your plan sounds fine.
If you are coming with aliyah complete and teudot zehut in your hands, then signing up to a kupah is a pretty quick process. I think if you're not working you should get free health insurance for the first year, btw. (that you might have to go to Misrad Haklita for)
But to sign up to a kupah, just call and ask to sign up. They do it instantly and send you the card a day or two later.

Gold Member Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 1038

I second the idea of getting travel insurance to start as soon as you get here. It takes a while to get everything covered with getting on kupat cholim and you don't want to be stuck without coverage in case you need medical care.

Posted: Thu, May 17 2012, 2:23 am Post subject: re: Making Aliyah while pregnant

Have you decided upon which kupat cholim you are joining, OP? (for the record, they're all good... most people make their choice based on which kupat has the most clinics closer to them)

If you can specify which kupat cholim and which area of the city, then you'll get recomendations. I like the Clalit womens clinic at Shaare Tzedek..... my doctor's office is there, they also do ultrasounds and blood tests and nurse visits there and they have walk-in hours every morning)

Unless you are hiring a private doctor (totally un-necesary unless you are high-risk) then you will have your doctor that you see for prenatal care (and post-natal care) but when you go to give birth, your baby will be delivered by whichever doctors and midwives are on shift.
_________________
See my ad to buy pregnancy tests and ovulation tests in Israel for a great price. http://imamother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136877&highlight=pregnancy+tests

Silver Member Joined: Mar 27 2012 Posts: 708

OP here. Thank you so much to all the ladies who replied!
I feel a little more calm now.

Yes, we are making aliyah with NBN and they are setting up our health insurance, but how do I know which type of health insurance we are receiving?

I realize it's a different system, but since it is my first birthing experience B"H, I want it to be as comfortable as possible.
I am highly considering hiring a doula.

Amother who recommended Dr. Zerach - I can't PM you since you posted anonymously. Can you please give me more info about him. Where is he located? Does he accept health insurance -- if not, how much does he charge?