On this latest episode we speak with Juanita who shares her many highs and lows on her pregnancy/birth journey. She is categorised as 'advanced maternal age', being 35 for her first baby & 41 for her last.

Due to a rare condition called Chronic abruption-oligohydramnios sequence (or CAOS) unfortunately they lost their second baby.  After such a tough experience and with time still ticking, they decided to try again which resulted in their "miracle baby", where she laboured on her own due to COVID.

She hopes that sharing her story will help other mums of advanced maternal age or going through grief from the loss of a baby.

+ Minoo clinic, Osaka

+ Hirano Maternity Clinic, Takarazuka Hyogo
+ Toyonaka Shigatsu Byouin

Son Bahyu cream 

Advanced Maternal Age

Chronic abruption-oligohydramnios sequence (CAOS) 

Cremation in Japan

Grief support group which provides programs, self-led programs and free resources @lighthousecirclegriefsupport

Osaka, Hyogo prefecture, advanced maternal age, unexpected episiotomy, older pregnancy, early bleeding, CAOS, voluntary termination, baby loss, cremation, grief, pregnancy at 40, miracle baby, corona virus, COVID-19.

To help other mums see this podcast please hit the SUBSCRIBE button & LIKE this episode. You can also find us on ⁠IG ⁠⁠@birthstoriesjp⁠⁠⁠ for updates & exclusive stuff or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠@BirthStoriesJP⁠⁠ 

On this latest episode of Birth Stories of Japan we speak with Kate who gave birth in Okayama to her beautiful baby boy Fynn. Originally from New Zealand, she talks about how the borders being shut during the COVID-19 pandemic and not having her mum by her side really messed with her expectations of what her first birth story would be like. It was a tough and lonely journey, but with the support of her husband, her in-laws and good old video calling she found the strength to get through. Overall she was very happy with her care at Miyake Clinic, Okayama.

Midwife Cath @midwifecath

Syntocinon - News Medical Life Sciences

JET ALT, fertility shrine, accupressure epidural, induction, Takamatsu, Shikoku, COVID-19, corona virus, pandemic baby, missing support, stitches.

42:27 - Outro

On this latest episode we speak with Lily who is a Malaysian mama of one living in Japan with her Romanian husband.  Her PCOS had quite an effect on her ability to get pregnant, however with the help of the doctors here she was able to conceive.  Although she had quite a list of interventions during her labour (including an episiotomy and fundal pressure) she overall describes her son's birth as a positive one and was very happy with her care at Aiiku, Tokyo.

Her story is one of positivity and joy.

Thank you so much  Lily for sharing your story xx

Birthcare facility:

+Aiiku Clinic (early pregnancy & check ups)

+ Aiiku Hospital (late pregnancy & birth)

Show notes:

PCOS - Hopkins Medicine

Catheter - Very Well Family

Ventouse (vacuum cup) - NHS

Fundal pressure - Birth Injury Health Centre

Morning sickness, PCOS, positive pregnancy, birth advocate, catheter during labour, water therapy, episiotomy, epidural, ventouse (vacuum cup), fundal pressure, postpartum retreat, gaman, confinement period, baby blues.

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To help other mums see this podcast please hit the FOLLOW button & RATE this episode. You can also find us on ⁠IG ⁠@birthstoriesjp⁠⁠ for updates & exclusive stuff or on YouTube ⁠@BirthStoriesJP⁠ #birthstoriesofjapan #birthstories #positivebirthstories #positivebirth #livinginjapan #japanlife #mominjapan #muminjapan #japan #japanpodcast #pregnant

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Opening 

00:48 - Intro

02:17- Getting pregnant

04:35 - Pregnancy

12:58 - Birth story

20:28 - Postpartum recovery

27:59 - Costs

28:54 - Bottle time

In this latest episode Elle offers us her refreshing and positive outlook on C-sections.  She had 3 x C-sections in Osaka and believes that they were truly the best decision for her and her family.

Her story is one of positivity & strength.

Thank you so much Elle for sharing your story xx 

Birthcare facility:

+ Osaka University Hospital,

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Show notes:

Epidural articles -  Tokyo Review & QUARTZ

Meconium poop - Healthline

Girl gender selection gels 

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Opening 

00:53 - Intro

01:36- Getting pregnant #1

05:09 - Pregnancy

07:34 - Birth story

13:04 - Postpartum recovery

17:04 - Getting pregnant #2

18:23 - Birth story

20:49 - Postpartum recovery

22:10 - Getting pregnant #3

23:45 - Birth story

25:33 - Postpartum recovery

27:16 - Costs

29:30 - Bottle time

Mama Brooke is a first-time mum and shares her journey through pregnancy and birth with little cutie Iroha. So far from what she thought to expect, she battled both physically and mentally during her pregnancy. She is currently 6 months postpartum and tells her honest truth - that sometimes it doesn't "just get better".

With the support of those around her she's been able to find some ways to help her in her recovery & hopes that her sharing will help other mums also have those important conversations.

RH factor - ACOG

EDS - EDS.org.nz

Foley balloon method - WhatToExpect.com

Postpartum depression -  Mayo Clinic

Jidoukan (indoor playgrounds) - Tony Tot Tokyo

Kawasaki International Mothers Group

@steph_tokyodoula (IG)

Originally from Australia, Laura, mama of 3, shares how all of her labours in Japan were faster than she could've expected. With her first, she had preterm labour contractions so was monitored regularly and given medications to put things on hold, but for her second, nothing could stop her son from being born premature. The traumatic experience was soon eased by the "top notch" care she was provided with at the NICU facility in Shin-Urayasu.

She also shares with us how she got an episiotomy, dealt with her close pregnancies and postpartum depression while looking after two under 2's & recalls the effects that the 2011 earthquake had on her and her young family at the time.

Her story is one of strength and courage.

Thank you so much Laura for sharing your story x

Birthcare facilities

Oshio Women's Clinic, Urayasu, Chiba

Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital

Yamaguchi Hospital, Funabashi

3'19" - Birth Control in Japan - Gaijinpot.com
4'30" - Swine flu - WHO

5'14" - Preterm labour contractions - Betterhealth.vic.gov.au

17'00" - Norovirus - NHS 

19'25" - Breech position - NHS
21'40" - NICU - marchofdimes.org

32'03 - Bronchitis - health.govt.nz

45'08 - infant and maternal morality in Japan - macrotrends.net & data.worldbank.org

To help other mums see this podcast please hit the FOLLOW button.

You can also find us on ⁠⁠⁠IG @birthstoriesjp⁠⁠⁠ for updates & behind-the-scenes stuff or SUBSCRIBE to our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel @BirthStoriesJP⁠

Ariana takes us through the ups and downs of her pregnancy and birth journey's here in Japan. Her first experiece started off on an uneasy note, which she feels "set the tone" for her daughter's birth. After a traumatic birth experience and dealing with postpartum depression, Ariana and her husband were ready to do things differently with baby number two. Unfortunately they lost the baby early due to a miscarriage. Not long after she gets pregnant again and is able to turn a new leaf with her son's positive birth experience.

Her story is one of strength & hope.

Birth experiences in Tokyo & Kawaguchi, Saitama

Takahashi ladies clinic, Kawaguchi Saitama

5'51" - Anemia - Hematology.org

17'31" - Postpartum depression

To help other mums see this podcast please hit the FOLLOW button.

You can also find us on ⁠⁠IG @birthstoriesjp⁠⁠ for updates & behind-the-scenes stuff or SUBSCRIBE to our ⁠⁠YouTube channel @BirthStoriesJP

Our first birth story is that of your host's. During Tiana's pregnancy with her very first baby she endured the symptoms and struggles of Topical Steroid Withdrawal & consequently also withdrew from the world. She turned to Podcasts to help get her through which sparked the idea for Birth Stories of Japan podcast.

Their baby girl Mellow was born naturally after 38hrs, home-birth style at Ekubo Midwifery clinic in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Although their initial clinics were not going to allow her husband or any other birth supporters in during the labour in 2022, where she ended up allowed both her husband and mum, who helped immensely.

To help other mums see this podcast please hit the FOLLOW button.

You can also find us on IG @birthstoriesjp for updates & behind-the-scenes stuff or SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel @BirthStoriesJP

Show notes:

7'47" - TSW support groups 1) ITSAN fb group and 2) New and Expecting Mothers going through Topical Steroid Withdrawal fb group. Quote from TSW Assist
8'18" - Maruyama Ladies Clinic

9'10" - NTT East Sapporo

9'45" - SEMI (Sapporo English Medical Interpreters’ Group)

11'05 - Home birth stat/quotes from HomeBirth.org and Tokyo Doula Support
11'35" - Ekubo Midwifery 

12'54" - ENA Ladies Clinic