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.

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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.

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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