From Dr. Hava-Yael Schreiber OB/GYN,

Senior Fertility Specialist at Zir Chemed

(Appeared in The Jewish Press)

I am a gynecologist who got pregnant for the first time late in my life, so I was as knowledgeable as one can be when it came to the medical aspects of pregnancy and birth, but when a friend of mine who is a labor coach told me about a lecture being given by Chana Weisberg about her new book "Expecting Miracles," I jumped at the opportunity.

I bought the book.... and loved it! I "devoured it" over Shabbos. It filled the great thirst I had to gain an understanding of the deeper meaning of this unique experience. I was then in my eight month, and, because of the book, I decided to start a notebook to put down my thoughts: the verses I wanted to read and repeat during labor as well as the names of all the ladies I wanted to pray for. I also photocopied a full chapter of the book (the Kabbalistic birth meditation) with quotes and verses... This notebook was ready in my bag for when the big moment arrived .... And when it did, I feel that it gave me an extra level of consciousness, and a superior level of awareness, of all "that's going on in Shamayim [Heaven]" at that special time.

I choose this profession because I love women in general, and I am genuinely interested in what they feel or experience. This book gave me a profound perspective on something very intimate, about feelings that women rarely discuss in detail. I related so much to the book- it has truth/emet in it, and so much dignity.

Despite my medical background, I did idealize the whole process of birth a bit too much I guess, so when things did not turn out the way I had hoped for- with a failed induction, a failed epidural, and a Cesarean under general anesthesia after close to 20 hours of labor- afterwards I remembered the lady in Expecting Miracles who delivered sick babies and accepted everything that happened as the will of G-d. So the book even helped me to remember that He is the Boss- and it helps a pregnant woman to make the proper mental and spiritual preparation in order to make her ready to accept what He has in store for each of us.... and to realize that the result is so worth it!

In summary, this book fills a very big need in our community, and it is definitely sitting in my office waiting room....

Dr. Hava-Yael Schreiber OB/GYN