If you’re preparing to have a baby in Japan, it’s natural to feel both excited and anxious. The journey is full of unknowns, especially in a foreign country. But fear not, you’re not alone. Many expectant mothers, myself included, have braved the same path. I’m here to share my story with you.
My birth story
I had my baby in 2023 at a specialized maternity hospital. Naively, I wanted an unmedicated birth. After 10 hours of intense labor, I chose an epidural. Thankfully, my little one arrived safe and sound, marking the start of a beautiful chapter in my life.
Finding out I was pregnant
My husband and I were traveling in the Philippines when I found out I was pregnant. I confirmed it with an at-home pregnancy test and consulted a doctor for my first check-up. Amidst our travels from the Philippines to Malaysia, we attended several appointments and ultrasounds, navigating differing medical advice. Fortunately, we had an acquainted doctor in Japan. So, we decided to move back and spend the rest of my pregnancy and childbirth in Tokyo.
Choosing a Hospital: Why Aiiku Hospital?
One challenge we faced was the language barrier. We needed an English-speaking doctor and a hospital that felt safe and clean. After consulting friends and family, we chose Aiiku Hospital.
Specialized Maternity Care
I wanted to give birth at a hospital specializing in maternity care. Aiiku Hospital has high-quality medical care and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing added peace of mind.
24-Hour Epidural Availability
Aiiku Hospital offers 24-hour epidural availability. Though I initially wanted a natural childbirth, I appreciated having the option. Some hospitals do not offer epidurals on weekends, holidays, or at night, but Aiiku does. However, the epidural cost at Aiiku Hospital is 250,000 yen, which is expensive. By watching an informative video and passing a quiz, you can reduce this to 200,000 yen.
Postpartum Support and Care
Aiiku Hospital provides comprehensive postpartum services, including lactation support and newborn care guidance. I struggled with breastfeeding at first, but the midwives were supportive and helped me find positions that worked. After a few days, my baby latched well.
Labor and Delivery Room (LDR)
At Aiiku Hospital, you stay in a waiting room until labor starts. Then, you’re transferred to the LDR where you go through contractions, give birth, and rest for two hours after birth in the same room. This setup avoids unnecessary and difficult moves during labor.
In other hospitals, you have to move multiple times during labor. Waiting room → delivery room → recovery room (where you rest after giving birth). I think it’s unnecessary and difficult to walk to the delivery room during labor, especially on your own.
Please check if your hospital has an LDR, when choosing a maternity hospital.
English Communication
I wanted my American partner to advocate for me during labor. Most staff could communicate in English. When needed, they used Google Translate, which was good enough for us to understand. Aiiku Clinic also has an International Unit, which many foreigners use.
What to Prepare When Having a Baby in Japan
Preparing for childbirth in Japan entails a lot of considerations, from hospital stays to dietary adjustments. Here’s a rundown of essential preparations to ensure smooth birthing experience:
- 1-week Hospital Stay: I stayed at the hospital for about a week after giving birth. They monitored both me and the baby, providing breastfeeding support, which was very helpful. Aiiku Hospital offered a bath class for the baby – I personally didn’t enjoy this part.
(With a cesarean section, the recovery takes longer so it is expected for mothers to stay in the hospital for about one to two weeks.) - 10-Month Pregnancy: Japan counts 10 months of pregnancy based on the lunar calendar. This was confusing when discussing how far along I was.
- Weight management: My doctor emphasized managing my weight to ease delivery. I consulted a nutritionist to help with my diet.
- Baby essentials: I used Amazon’s Raku-Raku Baby (らくらくベビー) for my baby registry. It helped familiarize me with baby products and allowed friends and family to send gifts I actually wanted.
- Maternity Taxis: We set up a maternity taxi with KM Taxi. It was easy to arrange, and they send a card for confirmation. You can call the taxi when labor starts to go to the designated hospital.
- Healthy Food over Supplements – Our doctor emphasized nutritious food over prenatal vitamins. I consulted with a nutritionist to ensure I got the right nutrients for the baby.
- Registering Birth at Local Municipal Office: After giving birth, you need to register your child at the local municipal office within two weeks. This involves getting the child’s health insurance, applying for child allowance, and other administrative tasks.
- Epidural class: I got a 50,000 yen discount for taking an epidural class at Aiiku Hospital. Other hospitals may offer similar classes and discounts.
Giving birth in Japan
Signs of Labor
At 39 weeks, I noticed my mucus plug, indicating labor was near. My doctor advised packing my hospital bags. After two days, during a regular check-up, I chose to check into the hospital and waited in the waiting room.
Labor and Delivery
At midnight, I went into labor and was transferred to the LDR. I used a yoga ball and birth chair to help with labor. After six hours of intense labor, I asked for an epidural. My labor wasn’t progressing, so they induced me with Pitocin. After another six hours, my baby was born.
Post-Delivery Care
The midwives cleaned my daughter and did routine checks before bringing her back. I did skin-to-skin contact for a few minutes. My husband and I stayed in the LDR for two hours before going to my room.
What Happened Right After Giving Birth?
Hospital Stay
I stayed in the hospital for a week since I gave birth naturally without complications.
Support and Care After Birth
I rested for a few hours before my midwife briefed me on what to expect during my hospital stay. They helped me with breastfeeding and baby care.
Checks on Baby
They conducted various checks on my baby, such as hearing tests and jaundice screenings. They weighed her daily to ensure she was getting enough breastmilk.
Checks on Mother
The midwives monitored my recovery daily. I did blood and urine samples and had an internal examination before discharge. Due to anemia from heavy bleeding, I had an IV drip and took medications.
Meals
The hospital served well-balanced and nutritious meals three times a day. They also had a restaurant and convenience store for snacks.
Cost of Childbirth in Japan
Now, let’s dive into the practical aspect of childbirth in Japan: the cost. Here’s what you need you need to know about the expenses associated with childbirth in Japan:
How Much is it to Give Birth in Japan?
The cost varies depending on the type of delivery, hospital facilities, and additional medical interventions. Here are my expenses:
* Since I was a resident in Edogawa Ward in Tokyo, they offered a lump-sum allowance for childbirth of 500,000 yen (used to be 420,000 yen until March 31, 2023).
- Delivery assistance – 535,000 yen
- Epidural – 200,000 yen
- Newborn nursing/hospitalization – 155,000 yen
- Tests, examinations, etc. – 22,596 yen
- Hospitalization – 19,000 yen
- Partial payment, etc. – 60,020 yen
- Room charge – 0 yen (used a free shared room)
- *Hospitalization application fee – 200,000 yen (deposited in advance)
| Total charges | 991,616 yen |
|---|---|
| – Government Allowance | 500,000 yen |
| – Hospitalization fee | 200,000 yen |
| Amount paid at the counter | 291,616 yen |
Summary
Experiencing pregnancy and childbirth in Japan can be both exciting and challenging. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the quality of care and support at Aiiku Hospital was excellent.
I hope this article provides useful insights into childbirth in Japan. If you have questions or need more information, feel free to leave comments. Thank you for reading, and best wishes on your journey to parenthood.
