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Giving birth in Tokyo

During the past few days I have been in Japan as the guest of the Japan Birthing Association and the Birth Sense Institute. It has been another fascinating trip, and one in which I have learned a lot more about birth in Japan.

There is a strong sense of midwifery in Japan, although this is under threat (just like the rest of the world!) mainly because of the diminishing number of midwives due to retirements and a shortage of obstetricians many of whom are also reaching retirement age. The response of the Government has been to attempt to concentrate birth into large hospital facilities where the presence of a doctor can be guaranteed in a time of need.

This has meant that many of the wonderful “midwife houses” that dot Japan are closing. These mini birth centres offer a real “home from home”. Instead of labouring in one’s own home, which in Japan may not be entirely suitable for a home birth, the woman goes to the midwife’s house, where they give birth on a tatami mat, and stay cocooned in a quiet, cosy room for the next five days. All meals are provided and there is a constant presence of a midwife who helps with breastfeeding and any problems.

During this trip I visited another Midwife House in Tokyo ( I have visited others on a previous trip) and it was lovely to meet Shoko So, the midwife, and her sister Akiko Miyakawa, who offers a variety of complementary therapies including massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy through an adjoining clinic. There were two women in residence, both of whom had given birth in the preceding days. One had her other child with her and the whole family could stay with her overnight until she was ready to go home.

Here are some views of Shoko’s Midwife House

The birth room

Clinic room - note the footprints around the wall!

Birth announcements

Preparing dinner for us in the kitchen

L to R: Akiko, Shoko, myself and Nanako Oba from the Birth sense Institute

One of the new mothers

Newborn in his traditional kimono (kimonos are worn for the first 3 months)

The entire setup is delightful. The house is just another in a quiet residential street and birth is clearly part of the local community. The births are rarely complicated and many women give birth in the pool or tub. Transport can be arranged to a nearby hospital if needed.

At the present time, Japan has a very low birth rate, and the Government is trying to encourage women to have more babies. If all women could have access to a midwife house like this one, then surely women would find birth such an enjoyable experience they would want to have another baby, just for the pampering alone!

Posted by andrea at December 16, 2006 12:32 PM