Before I tell about my two births, I want to explain some things about giving birth in Israel. Planned home births are illegal. Babys are delivered in hospital.
Midwives officiate unless there are complications.
Medicine here is socialized, so most things are free or inexpensive. There is even a doctor there who performs regular checks on the infants. At one hospital in Jerusalem, there is also a private midwife option, the option I took for both births and will again, G-d willing, for my next one in May '98. It's worked very well for me. Please keep in mind that I'm writing about births which took place 5.5 and 3.5 years ago.