In the past they used to bury women, who died during

childbirth, in a separate area in the Bais Hachayim.

The Shu”t Malkieil (2:132) writes the reason for it

is , "we find in the Gemoro (Shabbos 118b) R.Yosi said

on himself ,he wishes to die on the way to do a

Mitzvah. Women while giving birth is like on the way

to a Mitzvah. They are on a higher Madreiga than

the rest and need to be buried separately."

Could be, this to be an additional reason, Rochel was

buried separately, because she was at a different

Madreiga than the other Imahos    אמבצי) )

The reason a mother who gave birth is called a   חיה

Because it was very common to die during childbirth

and she survived ,she is called the live one.

In Loshon Chazal , a midwife is called a  חכמה  

The reason for it *

איזהו חכם הרואה את הנולד

*joke