The Hospital: Transportation, Visiting and Discharge
Sarah Sacks
Dec-13th, 2016 12:31
Getting to the Hospital
You can get to the hospital either by private taxi or by ambulance. If you go with MDA (Magen David Adom ambulance), Bituach Leumi will pay them directly if you give birth within three days. If you do not, you will need to pay.
On Shabbos
There is a Shabbos goy in Yerushalayim who charges 100 NIS for transportation to the hospital. He has an arrangement for how to pay him after Shabbos. His number is 052-267-1526. There are other options available in different neighborhoods. Speak to your local rav or labor coach to learn about the best option for you. (For example, in Beitar Illit they have an arrangement with MDA to send only non-Jewish ambulance drivers on Shabbos.) Note that using a kosher cell phone on Shabbos incurs a high fee; if there is another option available it may be worthwhile to use that instead.
Maternity Ward Visiting Hours
Bikur Cholim
8:00 am-9:00 am - husband only; 9:00 am-12:30 pm, 4:00 pm-8:00 pm
Shaare Zedek
7:00 am-9:00 pm - husband or one visitor only; 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
Hadassah Har Tzofim
8:00 am-9:00 pm - husband only; 11:00 am-12:00 pm, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Hadassah Ein Kerem
8:00 am-10:00 pm - husband only; 12:30 pm-1:30 pm, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm, 7:00 pm-8:00pm
Leaving the Hospital
Before your discharge, you will receive two documents:
Beit Hachlama
The beit hachlama is a convalescent home many women go to after having a baby. It offers the mother a rest while nurses care for the baby. Many insurances offer to pay fully or partially for a certain amount of days in beit hachlama, depending on which insurance you have, how long you had this insurance before the birth, and how many children you have. Inquire with your insurance for details. Bikur Cholim hospital offers a voucher for one day in a beit hachlama. They generally only give this voucher if you request it from the office before leaving the hospital.
Batei Hachlamah
Telzstone: Hagra 24, Telzstone ‒ 02-533-1010
Em V'Yeled: Avnei Nezer 10, Bnei Brak ‒ 03-617-2222
Ein Kerem Hotel: Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital ‒ 02-560-8555
Bikurim: Ramada Hotel ‒ 02-671-5551
For information on legalities involved in birth, see Birth: Legalities for Mother & Child.
You can get to the hospital either by private taxi or by ambulance. If you go with MDA (Magen David Adom ambulance), Bituach Leumi will pay them directly if you give birth within three days. If you do not, you will need to pay.
On Shabbos
There is a Shabbos goy in Yerushalayim who charges 100 NIS for transportation to the hospital. He has an arrangement for how to pay him after Shabbos. His number is 052-267-1526. There are other options available in different neighborhoods. Speak to your local rav or labor coach to learn about the best option for you. (For example, in Beitar Illit they have an arrangement with MDA to send only non-Jewish ambulance drivers on Shabbos.) Note that using a kosher cell phone on Shabbos incurs a high fee; if there is another option available it may be worthwhile to use that instead.
Maternity Ward Visiting Hours
Bikur Cholim
8:00 am-9:00 am - husband only; 9:00 am-12:30 pm, 4:00 pm-8:00 pm
Shaare Zedek
7:00 am-9:00 pm - husband or one visitor only; 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
Hadassah Har Tzofim
8:00 am-9:00 pm - husband only; 11:00 am-12:00 pm, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Hadassah Ein Kerem
8:00 am-10:00 pm - husband only; 12:30 pm-1:30 pm, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm, 7:00 pm-8:00pm
Before your discharge, you will receive two documents:
- Teudat Shichrur ‒ a discharge note and medical record for the mother and baby. This teudah is needed for Tipat Chalav (Baby Health Clinic). It is also needed if you are planning to go to a beit hachlama (convalescent home).
- Teudat Leidah Chai ‒ a temporary birth certificate. This must be exchanged for the baby's official Israeli birth certificate in Misrad Hapnim, the Ministry of Interior, even if you plan on renouncing citizenship and/or making your baby a foreign citizen.
Beit Hachlama
The beit hachlama is a convalescent home many women go to after having a baby. It offers the mother a rest while nurses care for the baby. Many insurances offer to pay fully or partially for a certain amount of days in beit hachlama, depending on which insurance you have, how long you had this insurance before the birth, and how many children you have. Inquire with your insurance for details. Bikur Cholim hospital offers a voucher for one day in a beit hachlama. They generally only give this voucher if you request it from the office before leaving the hospital.
Batei Hachlamah
Telzstone: Hagra 24, Telzstone ‒ 02-533-1010
Em V'Yeled: Avnei Nezer 10, Bnei Brak ‒ 03-617-2222
Ein Kerem Hotel: Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital ‒ 02-560-8555
Bikurim: Ramada Hotel ‒ 02-671-5551
For information on legalities involved in birth, see Birth: Legalities for Mother & Child.