1. We mentioned last week that anything that will put the woman giving birth more at ease is permitted to do on Shabbat, even if it involves melachah. This principle is also relevant to choosing a hospital at which to give birth. It is permitted to choose to travel to a hospital that is farther away if the woman will feel more at ease there for any significant reason (e.g., the care is of better quality or the nurses are more friendly), even if this means that a Jew will have to drive a longer distance in order to get there (Orchot Shabbat 20:88).

2. One may not choose to give birth on Shabbat at a hospital that is farther away if it will involve a Jew driving there for reasons that will not affect her feeling at ease during the birth. Accordingly, she should generally choose the closer hospital even if at the more distant one it is slightly easier to obtain kosher meals (or meals of a higher kashrut standard), or the associated costs are somewhat more expensive (Shevet Halevi 8:88; Halachos of Pregnancy and Childbirth, p.45).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.