Birth Stories of Japan

By Birth Stories JP

Each episode one mum tells us about their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey in Japan. From pregnancy syptoms, to C-sections, home births, premature deliveries and postpartum depression, this is ... more

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FAQs about Birth Stories of Japan:

How many episodes does Birth Stories of Japan have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.

Birth Stories of Japan episodes:

September 23, 2024 #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
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Show notes: Covid-19, government hospital, no pain medication, natural birth, crowning, tearing, play groups
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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
...more
53min
July 22, 2024 #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!
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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
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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
...more
49min
July 01, 2024 #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
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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
...more
40min
June 10, 2024 #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
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Show notes:
Moving to Japan mid-pregnancy, episiotomy, Alexia Leachman, Fear Free Childbirth Podcast, paternity leave, foreign support, breastfeeding, breast engorgement, blogger, Kansai
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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
...more
44min
June 03, 2024 #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.
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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
...more
36min
February 19, 2024 #15 | Romanian mama with Hashimoto's disease and low platelet count in Miyazaki, Japan
On this episode we speak to Sorina whose passion for foreign languages led her to Japan where she'd meet her husband and give birth to baby Luca. Although she initially hoped to have a natural birth, Hashimoto's disease and her low platelet count deemed her as 'high-risk' which resulted in being induced & then ultimately a C-section.She talks about having to accept her modified birth plans & how alone she felt being 'the only one' she knew of with such health issues.Care facility:+ Nobeoka Hospital
------------------------------------------------- Show notes:Miyazaki, Hashimoto's disease,
Thrombocytopenia, low platelet count, induced, foley bulbs, oxytocin IV,
left occiput anterior (LOA), c-section, jaundice, NICU, anemia, mama guilt, RH negative, Birth Stories of Japan------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS:00:00 - Opening00:50 - Intro 03:02 - Journey to Pregnancy06:18 - Pregnancy09:39 - Birth Story19:23 - Postpartum recovery25:59 - Costs27:00 - Bottle time32:37 - Outro
...more
36min
February 12, 2024 #14 | Sheila - Honduras mama gives birth in Chiba with consent to episiotomy & vacuum delivery
On this episode we speak to Sheila who is from Central America and moved to Japan 7 years ago with her husband (Japanese-Hondureños). An online prenatal course helped her decide on her birth plan, however when it came to delivery time both her and her hospital were happy to make changes.
Care facilities:
+ Yamaguchi Womens Hospital, Funabashi
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Show notes:
Chiba, vacuum delivery, episiotomy, La Leche League, kangaroo care vs skin to skin, postpartum rage

Join our Birth Stories of Japan Facebook group!
------------------------------------------------CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Opening
01:07 - Intro
02:41 - Journey to Pregnancy
04:43 - Pregnancy
12:26 - Birth Story
26:15 - Postpartum recovery
30:59 - Costs
31:46 - Bottle time
34:53 - Outro
...more
36min
February 05, 2024 #13 | Hikari - Japanese mama, baby girl born by C-section in Aiiku Hospital
In this episode we speak with Hikari who is Japanese with an English husband. She talks about the pressures that she felt within her own culture around pregnancy + body image and the relief she felt being able to speak to her foreigner friends about it.
Birth facility:
+ Aiiku Hospital, Tokyo
-------------------------------------------------
Show notes:
Questions around being able to conceive, happy pregnancy, morning sickness, conscious of weight gain, body image, epidural, C-section, blood loss, breastfeeding issues, super tired post-birth, weight gain articles - CNN Japan , Tokyo Pregnancy Group
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Opening
00:49 - Intro
01:26 - Journey to pregnancy
04:50 - Pregnancy
09:14 - Birth story
15:43 - Postpartum recovery
22:03 - Cost
22:58 - Bottle time
25:44 - Outro
...more
27min
January 29, 2024 #12 | Aubree - American couple, two homestyle births in a midwifery centre
In this episode we speak with Aubree who moved to Japan with her husband from the USA and has since had two babies here. Due to her positive experience the first time round, both of her babies were born homebirth style at Kishimoto Midwifery in Osaka. Stone and Lila are very close in age and mama Aubree says that having family over during those early stages really helped her recover and not feel the mama guilt of leaving Stone while attending newborn Lila's needs.
Care facilities:
+ Yodogawa Christian Hospital
+ Kishimoto Josanin / Midwifery -------------------------------------------------
Show notes:
Homebirth style, close age of babies, irish twins, postpartum hemorrhage, breastfeeding issues, mama guilt, loneliness, isolation, 12hr labour, 90min labour, positive experience
Join our Birth Stories of Japan Facebook group!
-------------------------------------------------
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Opening
00:59 - Intro
01:39 - Journey to Pregnancy #1
02:48 - Pregnancy
12:25 - Birth Story
18:07 - Postpartum recovery
21:54 - Journey to Pregnancy #2
23:20 - Pregnancy
24:03 - Birth Story
32:49 - Postpartum recovery
38:25 - Costs
38:39 - Bottle time
43:35 - Outro
...more
46min
January 22, 2024 #11 | Alex - Mina's 19 hour labour & birth story in Tokyo Japan
On this episode we speak to Alex @alexleefilms who is from Malaysia and gave birth to her beautiful baby girl in May of 2023 in Japan. She went through labour on her own until the very end when her husband was finally allowed to join, but says that the long labour was very much worth it.
Birth care facilities:
+ Teikkyo University Hospital
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Show notes:
alexleefilms.com
Powerspot gym
Kanagawa, suction cup support, refused induction, 19 hour labour, videographer, photographer, pilates, postpartum depression. breastfeeding issues, confinement period
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CHAPTERS
01:03 - Welcome Back
02:23 - Intro
03:55 - Journey to pregnancy
05:55 - Pregnancy
09:38 - Birth Story
19:42 - Postpartum recovery
24:54 - Cost
25:23 - Bottle Time
28:10 - Outro
...more
30min

FAQs about Birth Stories of Japan:

How many episodes does Birth Stories of Japan have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.