In an unprecedented move aimed at ensuring the safety of mothers and their babies during the current crisis in Northern Israel, Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa has transferred the maternity department to a secure complex located three floors underground. Nine newborns have been safely delivered in the hospital’s Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital since Sunday.
Within the first hours after transferring hundreds of Rambam patients to safety in their Fortified Emergency Underground Hospital, Einat Nissim (39) gave birth, marking the beginning of a remarkable effort. Nissim, who arrived at Rambam for the birth of her 11th child – all born at Rambam – delivered her daughter just an hour after the hospital's maternity services were relocated to the underground facility. The baby, weighing 3.585 kilograms, is the latest addition to a large family of 10 siblings from Moshav Ahihud outside of the Haifa area. Since then, eight more babies have been born!
Michal Kanzler, the director of nursing in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Division at Rambam, shared insights from previous conflicts, especially the 2006 Second Lebanon War. During that time, the focus was primarily on the medical aspects, but now the emphasis has shifted to the emotional well-being of the mothers, ensuring they feel safe and cared for. In the current underground setup, a system has been created to maintain "zero separation" between mothers and newborns, meaning the mother, newborn, and spouse stay together at all times, with professionals available to meet their needs.
The underground hospital, while designed to be both functional and safe, still surprised some mothers. Einat Nissim shared her experience: upon arriving, she was informed that the delivery room was on the minus 1 floor, only to later discover they were being moved to a parking lot on the minus 3 level. She expressed amazement at how quickly a parking lot was transformed into a fully operational maternity ward. Everything went smoothly, and the midwives were incredibly supportive. It wasn't until after the birth that she realized they were actually in a parking lot, a surreal realization.
Despite the wartime challenges, the staff at Rambam remains fully dedicated to ensuring the well-being of mothers and their newborns. Since the underground facilities opened on Sunday, several surgeries, including cesarean sections, have been successfully performed. Kanzler acknowledged the unique pressures faced by the medical team, many of whom are balancing their duties with concerns about their families and the situation at the front. However, the focus remains on providing the best possible care to the women, allowing them to focus on their births and their new babies.
Based on a Hebrew article published in Yedioth Ahronoth, a daily Israeli newspaper.