MDA israel

Late last Saturday night, a call reached the Magen David Adom National Emergency Dispatch Center reporting that a woman in Herzliya had gone into active labor at home. The contractions were coming quickly, and the caller explained that the baby already appeared to be crowning.

Recognizing that the birth might occur before medical teams could arrive, the dispatcher immediately sent two emergency units to the scene: a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and a rapid response team. At the same time, dispatchers remained on the phone, calmly guiding the family through the rapidly unfolding situation.

Moments later, while still on the line, the dispatcher heard the unmistakable sound of a newborn crying in the background.

Amit Lev-Ari, MDA paramedic and team leader, explained: “This was the mother’s second birth, but it progressed incredibly quickly. The family never expected the baby would be born at home. With guidance from MDA dispatchers on the phone, the father helped deliver the baby himself. When we arrived, the newborn girl was healthy and beautiful, with an Apgar score of 10.”

By the time paramedics arrived at the home, the 26-year-old mother had already delivered the baby with her husband’s help.

Kfir Ratzon, an MDA senior EMT with 35 years of service, described the scene:
“When we arrived, the baby had already been born and was lying on the mother’s stomach with the umbilical cord still attached. Everything had happened incredibly quickly.”

The baby girl had been born at 38 weeks following a normal pregnancy. She was alert and crying, and the team quickly performed a medical examination, confirming an Apgar score of 10.

During the assessment, paramedics noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the newborn’s neck. They carefully removed it and continued monitoring both mother and baby.

“I asked the father to cut the cord,” Kfir recalled. “At first he was hesitant and nervous, but after a little encouragement he did it himself. It became a very special moment for the family.”

Although the mother remained stable throughout the examination, the placenta had not yet been delivered. After ensuring both mother and baby were in good condition, the MDA teams transported them together to the hospital’s delivery room for continued care.

Within minutes, what began as an urgent emergency call turned into a joyful moment for the family. Thanks to the calm guidance of MDA dispatchers and the rapid response of paramedics, both mother and baby were safely on their way to the hospital, thus marking the beginning of a healthy new life.