Midwifery care for orthodox Jewish women

Midwives need to understand the restrictions that Shabbos (the Sabbath) and other Jewish Feasts place on a woman while she is in hospital. Jewish women usually decline alphafetoprotein (AFP) or Triple tests and would not wish to terminate a pregnancy for abnormality. However, most will take up the offer of an ultrasound scan. The husband may not support his wife physically during labour. Most Jewish women retire to bed for the 'lying-in' period of ten days, resting and establishing feeding. Most Jewish women breastfeed, and failure to do this is often kept secret. Contraception is generally not allowed in the Jewish faith.