Another matter, “when a woman conceives and bears a male child” – that is what is written: “You granted me life and grace, and Your command preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said three [things, the first of which is]: The way of the world is that if a person takes a purse of coins and places the opening facing downward, do the coins not scatter? But the fetus is situated in his mother’s womb and the Holy One blessed be He protects it so that it will not fall out and die.
Is this not praise? That is, “You granted me life and grace.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said another: The way of the world is that the animal walks with its body horizontal and the fetus is situated inside its womb like a sack, but the woman walks erect and the fetus is situated inside her womb and the Holy One blessed be He protects it so that it will not fall out and die. That is, “You granted me life and grace.”
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said another: The way of the world is that the teats of an animal are in a place [near the entrance to] its womb, and the offspring suckles in the place of its shame. But the woman, her breasts are in a place of beauty, and the baby suckles in the place of her glory. Is that not life and grace? That is, “You granted me life and grace.”
Rabbi Elazar said: If a person were to remain in hot water for a short while, would he not die? Yet the innards of a woman are boiling and the fetus is situated in her womb, and the Holy One blessed be He protects it so that it will not become a fetal sac, it will not become a placenta, and it will not become a sandal. Is that not life and grace? That is, “You granted me life and grace.”
Rav Taḥlifa of Caesarea said: If a person eats slice after slice, does the second not force the first downward? The woman, how much food does she eat, how many drinks does she drink, but it does not force the fetus downward. Is that not life and grace? Rabbi Simon said: A woman’s womb is constructed compartments upon compartments, rings upon rings, bands upon bands.
When she sits on the birthing stool, she does not cast it out all at once. In the parable it is said: One band is loosened, two bands are loosened.12The bands preventing the fetus from falling out are loosened gradually so that the process of birth occurs in a gradual and safe manner. Rabbi Meir said: All nine months that the woman does not see blood, by right she should see. What does the Holy One blessed be He do?
He diverts it upward to her breasts and transforms it into milk so that when the offspring emerges, he will have food to eat. This is especially if he is a male, as it is stated: “When a woman conceives and bears a male child.”13One should be thankful for all the care and kindness God has granted from the time of conception until birth, and even more so if the baby is a male (Etz Yosef).