She gave birth to over 10,000 babies: this is the nurse who holds the record for births in Hadassah

Etti Afriat, the oldest midwife at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, delivered over ten thousand babies during her years of work . She began her career as a midwife in 1985, and has been working in her position in the delivery rooms at Hadassah Mount Scopus for over 40 years.

"From the age of zero I dreamed of becoming a midwife and I knew that this was the profession I would pursue for the rest of my life," says Afriat, who describes the delivery rooms as her second home. "The day I entered the delivery room at Hadassah I knew I was in the right and natural place for me. Over the years I have accumulated many exciting experiences that are engraved in my heart and I will always remember them, as part of my journey.

Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, archive (Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90)

Working with women and mothers in particular is not a normal job and no day is the same as the previous one,' she notes. "The women who come to me are in a very sensitive place, many times they are full of concerns, and my job is to listen to them, identify their needs – which change from one to the next, and together achieve a safe and pleasant birth. Over the years, I've had birth mothers who have become almost family to me,' she describes excitedly. "There is a woman who gave birth to you four times in a row and I gave birth to each of her daughters three times and the hand is still tilted. I am part of their family and they are completely in my heart. It started with the mother who gave birth to me, and she always says that at every birth of one of her daughters she prays that I will be the midwife and when we meet in the delivery room she calls her husband and says and tells him "guess who's here".

"Being part of such a circle, for so many years, is crazy happiness for me," she said with a smile. "One day I received a phone call from a young girl I didn't know. She told me she wanted me to adopt her because she heard about me from a friend, and said she had a bad experience during her first birth in a hospital in the center of Israel. We talked deeply, and then for a period of time she kept in touch with me And I was there for her every moment."

Babies in the nursery (Photo: Reuters)

"Several weeks later, on Saturday I arrived on the morning shift and she was there. Although I had never seen her – I knew right away that it was her and she recognized me immediately. I gave birth to her and it was very exciting for both of us, after the long period in which I accompanied her from afar and was a listening ear and a counselor . I got to give birth to her again twice after that. As a midwife, I gain an experience that no other job has. I could write a book about all my experiences, and maybe in the future I really will," she said.

Afriat is close to retirement age and still chooses to work shifts on Saturdays, nights and holidays. "I'm connected to a delivery room in every branch of my body," she said. "When my midwife is happy and relaxed and the birth went the way she dreamed of – I succeeded. Birth is a wonderful experience, full of strengths and emotions and I do everything I can to make it the best possible. I was and still am privileged to be a part of a significant moment for many women and families and I consider myself lucky every day.'

Etti Afriat, the oldest midwife at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital (photo: Hadassah Mount Scopus Spokesperson)

And as such an old and experienced midwife, Etty's occupation of course did not pass over her daughters and her private family. "My five children were born in Hadassah Mount Scopus, and I was also blessed with 14 grandchildren who were also born in Hadassah Mount Scopus, most of whom I gave birth to, of course," she says excitedly. "It is not obvious to me that my daughters-in-law and my daughters chose me to accompany and give birth to them. I appreciate it and the privilege given to me and am always grateful for it. Even after decades, I get excited in the delivery room. From the first moments of life, from the effort of the mother who concentrates for a period of time that requires all her energies and strengths, from the baby's cries and the happy smile on her face. I get excited every time."