Giving Birth on Shabbat

Shalom! 

Thank you for your question. 

Yes, it is preferable to have a non-Jewish driver take you and your wife to the hospital,  With regard to taking your phone with you, it would only be permitted if you think you may need it on Shabbos in order to help your wife, such as to call her doctor, etc. 

Here are some tips on how to best arrange this: 

If possible, pay a taxi company prior to Shabbat or prepare the money in an envelope beforehand 

1. Before Shabbat try to do whatever possible to minimize Chilul Shabbat necessary. For example, in the event that you might have to drive on Shabbat one should turn off any lights in the car that would go on in the car before Shabbat.
2. Only if there is time then, the non-Jewish driver should be asked to open the car door, and the like
3. Same too only if there is time, then any item which your wife will need may be taken along. If there is no eiruv or if the item is muktzeh, the non-Jewish driver should be asked to carry the bag to the car. 

Since there are a lot of details regarding the halachos of giving birth on Shabbos, I would like to share with you the pesakim of HaGaon HaRav Amrom Fried shlit”a, on this matter.

One should travel with a non-Jewish driver if possible. If no non-Jew is available, they should travel by private car. If there is no private car available, they may travel by ambulance.

If traveling in a private car, the engine should be turned off by a non-Jew. If no non-Jew is available, it should be turned off in an unusual manner (b’shinui).

A woman giving birth has the halachic status of a dangerously ill person, and one may desecrate Shabbos for her needs. Nevertheless, one should minimize Shabbos desecration as much as possible, such as preparing whatever can be prepared before Shabbos, and where possible performing melachos in an unusual manner, for example pressing telephone buttons with the back of the finger. However, if doing something b’shinui will cause delay, then it would be a Mitsvah to do it normally without delay.

Preparations before Shabbos:

In order to reduce unnecessary pressing of phone buttons on Shabbos, it is proper to disable the phone keypad lock before Shabbos. It is also advisable to call the necessary numbers before Shabbos so they will appear in the call history, making them easier to access when needed. Likewise, if using navigation to reach the hospital, the hospital address should be entered into the GPS before Shabbos.

If planning to travel in a private car, one should switch off before Shabbos anything unnecessary for the trip, such as unnecessary lights or music systems that automatically turn on with the car.

If planning to travel to a hospital outside the city, unnecessary items should be removed from the car before Shabbos in order to avoid issues of carrying and traveling beyond the techum unnecessarily.

From what stage may one desecrate Shabbos?

For a first birth, one may travel to the hospital once contractions are occurring every 10 minutes and each contraction lasts about one minute.

A woman who has already given birth, or for a woman who usually gives birth quickly, one may travel according to how she feels that the birth is approaching.

If there is water breaking, serious bleeding, or strong downward pressure, she should travel to the hospital even if contractions are not yet felt.

If fetal movement has not been felt for several hours, even after eating chocolate and lying on her side, she should travel to the hospital.

Traveling to the hospital:

One should travel to the nearest hospital. However, if the woman prefers a more distant hospital because she believes the staff there are more professional or for similar reasons, it is permitted to travel there.

It is preferable to travel with a non-Jewish driver. Therefore, for example residents of Bnei Brak should contact the Ezras Mitzion hotline, and they will send a non-Jewish driver to the home of the woman in labor. If possible, the phone should be dialed b’shinui, using the back of the finger. It is recommended to save the number in the phone’s call history before Shabbos.

If traveling with a non-Jew is not possible, traveling by private car is preferable, and the engine should be turned off by a non-Jew. If no non-Jew is available, it should be turned off b’shinui.

If no private car is available, one may call an ambulance and does not need to trouble neighbors for help. Again, it is preferable to save the number before Shabbos and, if possible, dial b’shinui.

Those accompanying the woman:

Anyone whom the woman needs may accompany her to the hospital. Therefore, the husband may join the trip, and if necessary, the mother may also join. If a doula or birth supporter is needed, she may come as well.

If it is necessary to call the mother or doula, it is permitted, and if possible the call should be made b’shinui.

If small children remain at home: if the driver is a non-Jew, they may be driven to the grandmother’s house for example. However, if the driver is Jewish, one should leave them with neighbors or should be taken on foot to the grandmother’s house. If these options are not possible, then in pressing circumstances they may be driven to the grandmother’s house as well.