Israeli Mother Defies Medical Advice to Keep Triplets, Credits Rabbi's Blessing for Healthy Birth
At 24, Adva Goldenberg from Mazkeret Batya discovered she was expecting triplets during her first pregnancy. Despite medical recommendations to reduce the number of fetuses due to health risks, she chose to continue the pregnancy with full faith. Early in the pregnancy, doctors suggested fetal reduction, citing potential complications including a mysterious edema detected in one fetus. However, after consulting Rabbi Yigal Cohen and his assistant Shimon Bardi, Adva decided to trust her intuition and religious belief that each soul was meant to be.
Adva experienced a turning point at Beilinson Hospital, where the medical staff adopted a more supportive approach, informing her of the risks but leaving the decision to her. Remarkably, the edema disappeared in subsequent scans, allowing the pregnancy to progress. The pregnancy was challenging, involving prolonged hospitalization and coinciding with heightened regional tensions, including a conflict with Iran.
At 33 weeks, Adva gave birth to three healthy daughters, whom she named Amour, Emmanuel, and Milan, each name chosen to reflect their unique personalities. She credits Rabbi Cohen's blessing and the support she received for helping her persevere through uncertainty. Now four months old, the triplets have brought joy and fulfillment to the family, who currently live with Adva's parents to manage the demanding early months.
Adva encourages other women facing similar situations to listen to their inner voice and not rush to decisions based solely on fear or external pressure. She emphasizes the importance of faith and personal conviction, calling her daughters a "gift from heaven" and expressing gratitude for not giving up on them despite the difficulties.
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