Birth Stories of Japan

#20 | Loneliness, prenatal depression, positive natural birth in Hyogo prefecture

In this episode we speak to Laura about her first birth experience in Japan which she's using as a bit of a 'baseline' for her second baby's arrival later in the year.  Although it took her sometime to really process the experience, she does say that it was a positive natural birth. Being new to the country (Sanda, Hyōgo) her pregnancy was quite lonely and she did experience some prenatal depression. Birth care facility: + Sanda Shimin Byouin Follow on IG @birthstoriesjp ------------------------------------------------- Show notes: Covid-19, government hospital, no pain medication, natural birth, crowning, tearing, play groups  ------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Opening 02:39 - Intro 03:44  - Journey to pregnancy 06:04  - Pregnancy 19:01 - Birth story 44:08 - Postpartum recovery 46:53 - Bottle time 51:13 - Outro

#19 | Hospital vs midwife home birth in Sapporo, tasting placenta, Mother's blessing

In this episode we speak with @suzukibears a mother of two originally from Toronto, Canada. After a positive birth experience at Sapporo Maternity Women’s Hospital in 2020 (during the pandemic) she heard about Ekubo Midwifery during her 2nd pregnancy and decided to have a home birth there in 2023 for another positive birth experience. She shares the unique experience of tasting their 2nd baby’s placenta, a Mother’s Blessing & gives her advice for others that are considering changing their birth care providers mid-pregnancy. To hear more about Amy's first birth experience you can listen here Care facilities: + Sapporo Maternity Women's Hospital + Ekubo Midwifery Clinic + ENA Ladies Clinic (partner clinic) PS. Amy & I both gave birth in the same midwifery home just one year apart from each other! ------------------------------------------------- Show notes: Covid 19, birth partners, positive births, University hospital, breastfeeding, lightning crotch, natural birth, midwifery, home birth, eating placenta, afterbirth, Mother's blessing, blessingway, Stephanie Kawaii, Tokyo Doula cafe, fetal scope, fetal heart rate monitor. Pregnant in Japan Podcast ------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Opening 04:40 - Intro 06:17 - Journey to pregnancy + pregnancy #1 09:06 - Birth story 15:24 - Postpartum recovery 16:50 - Journey to pregnancy + pregnancy #2 25:31 - Birth story 41:04 - Postpartum recovery 43:18 - Costs 44:48 - Bottle time 47:17 - Outro

#18 | Brazilian couple, liver issue, Tokyo birth 35 weeks & NICU stay during COVID 19

In this episode we speak to Gabi who walks us through her pregnancy and birth journey with daughter Satsuki.  Satsuki was born prematurely in Tokyo during the pandemic which meant a solo labour for Gabi and then having to deal with the hospital's policies around NICU visits, limiting her abilities to be next to her daughter for the first two weeks. She also found out about a liver issue during her pregnancy, discusses the language barrier at her hospital and takes us through her breastfeeding journey with a prem baby. Satsuki was born August 2022 at 35 weeks and weighing 2028g. Care facilities: + Sho Hospital, Kita ku, Tokyo + Nihon University Itabashi Hospital -------------------------------------------------  Show notes: Brazil, Brazilian couple, Tokyo, symptoms of yellow eyes, liver health issue, hospitalisation, asthma, weight loss, early water breaks, PROM, 31 hours labour, IV drip induction, Ferguson reflex, premature, NICU, COVID restrictions, breastfeeding journey-------------------------------------------------   CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Opening 01:49 - Intro 02:57  - Journey to Pregnancy 06:03 - Pregnancy 15:54 - Birth Story 25:56 - Postpartum recovery 33:17 - Costs 33:54 - Bottle time 36:17 - Outro

#17 | Bulgarian mama, 3 birth stories in Kansai, Japan

On this episode we speak to Nina who has 3 birth stories at 3 different clinics for us to listen to and compare.  At each birth she felt more and more empowered and although the journey was never 'perfect' and postpartum recoveries were hard with her husband having no paternity leave, there was always a positive outcome. She talks about navigating cultural differences, advocating and negotiating for certain birth practices and also coming to peace with birth preferences that she was denied. Care facilities: + Hirano Maternity Clini, Hyogo Prefecture + Santa Cruz Maternity Clinic, Takarazuka + Mom Clinic, Kita Kobe You can read more on Nina's blog here -------------------------------------------------  Show notes: Moving to Japan mid-pregnancy, episiotomy, Alexia Leachman, Fear Free Childbirth Podcast, paternity leave, foreign support, breastfeeding, breast engorgement, blogger, Kansai -------------------------------------------------    CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Opening 00:41 - Intro 03:25  - Journey to Pregnancy #1 05:04 - Pregnancy 07:17 - Birth Story 13:05 - Postpartum recovery 16:22  - Journey to Pregnancy #2 17:23 - Pregnancy 21:07 - Birth Story 27:05 - Postpartum recovery 28:36  - Journey to Pregnancy #3 29:07 - Pregnancy 31:01 - Birth Story 34:53 - Postpartum recovery 36:37 - Costs 37:17 - Bottle time 43:08 - Outro

#16 | Q&A with a Japanese midwife *BONUS EP*

On this episode we speak to Eriko Lalanne a Japanese midwife based in Tokyo (e_tokyomidwife & josanshi_english). I've taken some of our followers most asked questions and thrown them her way: • Where can we give birth in Japan? • How can we say no? • Why are epidurals so expensive? • What happens if I don’t want to weigh myself at every appointment? …The list goes on! We discuss the standards of Japanese care, cultural differences and some possible fixes to our communication issues when we're going to check ups or are in labour. -------------------------------------------------  Show notes: ⁠Japan Midwives Association⁠ Tokyo, Japan, midwife, japanese, birth facilities, FAQ, interventions, refusing, care in Japan, epidurals, episiotomy, cultural differences, birth in Japan, painless birth, natural birth, weight gain, appointment schedule, filing a complaint. -------------------------------------------------    CHAPTERS 00:00 - Opening 01:59 - Pregnancy update 05:41 - Intro 11:09 - Who do I ask? 12:37 - Where to give birth in Japan 14:52 - Saying no to a test/check up 20:21 - Differences between Japan and elsewhere 21:38 - Epidurals 22:42 - What is the 'norm' in Japan, painless or natural? 23:45 - Appointment schedule 25:34 - Refusing things during labour 27:52 - Filing a complaint 29:57 - Topic of weight gain 33:33 - Cutoff for choosing your birth facility 35:18 - Outro