!Pe

r, o .

544-4500

room was one of the organiza-
tion's earliest coups. Many
hospitals in the past, thanks
to the ICEC's efforts, also now
allow greater mobility for the
woman in labor and parent-
infant contact in the im-
mediate post-partum period.
"However, there is still a
large gap between permitting
and actively supporting," says
Ms. Green.
"Women are culturally
trained to take on a passive
role in the birthing process,"
says Ms. Green. "They look
upon childbirth as something -
you must suffer through, and
preparation classes as an un-
necessary luxury."

Almost ironically, the ICEC
has met its staunchest opposi-
tion from within the ranks of
the medical establishment.
Although openly supported
by top-ranking obstetricians,
neo-natologists and pediatri-
cians, the ICEC has been
shunned by the nursing and
midwives unions — a com-
plete antithesis to the situa-
tion in the United States and
Great Britain.
While most of its members
are immigrants from English-
speaking countries (and in-
deed, the organization does
act as a support group for re-
cent and not-so-recent ar-
rivals), the ICEC strives to
reach out to Israelis from all
walks of life. Its instructor
preparation classes are in
Hebrew and there has been a
steady increase in the
number of Israelis trained by
the organization. "Interest
has been particularly evident
from the country's kibbutzim,
for whom_ education has
always been a top priority,"
says Ms. Green.

The ICEC has recently
translated information
leaflets on topics such as
High Risk Care and Grieving
in Stillbirth, into Hebrew.
The leaflets are intended to
fill a large gap in the
literature readily accessible
to Israelis.
The ICEC 'receives no
public funding and relies sole-
ly on donations, but thanks to
a grant from the New Israel
Fund, the ICEC -has a well-
stocked book and film library.
Ms. Blumfield now hopes to
garner support for the ICEC's
many programs from Friends
Organizations abroad.
It started as a small group
of immigrants looking for al-
ternatives similar to those
back home.Through the dedi-
cation and perseverance of its
members, the Israel Child-
birth Education Center has
become a dynamic organiza-
tion committed to improving
the quality of life in Israel for
all. ❑

II it

C

t>C4 Berkley Flower Shop

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1P

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Yr

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