In the project "By Your Side"- Midwifery support, each woman is assigned a dedicated team of 2-3 midwives, who provide multiple meetings throughout the pregnancy, 24/7 telephone assistance, and on-site support during childbirth, extending care for six weeks postpartum. Each midwife is equipped with the necessary resources to ensure optimal care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, emphasizing a continuous midwifery model to promote maternal and fetal health and ensuring that no woman navigates this journey alone.

When we initiated the project, we could not predict the number of women who would require this support. Unfortunately, as the war progressed, an increasing number of pregnant women entered the cycle of bereavement. Israeli midwives responded with remarkable mobilization, showing both compassion and dedication. Every widow referred to us received comprehensive and holistic midwifery care.

The project has since expanded to offer similar support to women who have been injured, both physically and mentally.

To prevent secondary trauma among midwifery teams supporting women, the Israel Midwives Association established a support system for the midwives as well. Each midwife was paired with a mentor experienced in pregnancy support throughout the process. We also organized a range of enriching lectures on trauma and bereavement, along with professional emotional therapy.

The project is conducted with the Ministry of Defense and the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization. It is offered to women free of charge, thanks to the generous support from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

As of September 2024, the project has provided support to 27 widowed women and 8 injured women, with the assistance of over 70 midwives.