When she was having difficulty during her delivery, the midwife said to her, "Do not fear because this one, too, is a son for you."
The Ohr Hachaim asks, what was Rochel’s fear that she was being told not to be scared? If she was scared of dying in childbirth, how would she be consoled with the fact that she was giving birth to another son? Additionally, what does the possuk mean when it says that this too is a son for you? In addition to what does the possuk say that this is a son?
The Ohr Hachaim explains that Yosef was born to Rochel, with one twin sister. Binyomin however, had two twin sisters born along with him.
Rochel must have suffered terribly when she was giving birth to three children at once. She must have thought she was dying or about to become an invalid when she was giving birth and the midwife consoled her with the fact that this pregnancy was different to all others, because she was giving birth to triplets.
Another explanation offered by the Ohr Hachaim is based on the Gemara that a woman giving birth to a male child will not find herself endangered, whereas a woman who is having difficulty giving birth to a female child is in danger.
The midwife consoled Rochel’s fear of death by saying that the child is male, and she would not be in danger.
