Some General Info About Being Pregnant in Japan

     Since I already covered the personal "how I'm doing" details of this pregnancy so far, I figured I should write about generally being pregnant in Japan. As this is my first pregnancy, I don't have anything to compare to...so rather than a comparison, I'll just write what I've learned through research and what I've gone through so far.

    The first thing I learned while browsing the Internet is that most facilities won't give epidurals during the birthing process. So if you want an epidural, you better ask if the facility provides that option. This didn't really bother me because I was thinking about a natural birth anyway, though having the OPTION of an epidural would be nice...

     Another thing I found is that they don't have prenatal vitamins (unless you're in a big city and can find a big drug store). This worried me a little because of course I want to make sure my baby gets the nutrients and vitamins that he/she needs. I have been taking Folic Acid tablets because I heard that that's pretty important for the spinal development. I believe that Japan doesn't focus on prenatal vitamins because the Japanese diet is pretty diverse and nutritional. Before my "morning" sickness started, I had made an easy to follow chart of what foods contain what nutrients/vitamins and how much I would need each day. I found it pretty easy to follow, so hopefully once the sickness subsides I'll be able to get back on track.

    While searching around the Internet I realized that in the USA the first appointment/ultrasound isn't made until about 10 weeks into the pregnancy, and the next ultrasound is much later (if I'm wrong about that, sorry), with a total of only about 4 total. Well here, I had my first ultrasound at 6 weeks with one at each appointment after that. Maybe it was because I was so sick so they were just checking up on the baby, but I don't think so. I've read other moms in Japan had ultrasounds at every visit as well. I think that's pretty neat and helps the excitement.

     As far as payment, I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like how it's done here or not. I don't exactly know how childbirth is paid in the U.S.(insurance I assume?), but here the actual birthing process and hospital stay is paid for by the government. Most facilities require the mother and baby to stay in the hospital for about a week to make sure they get rest and everything is okay. The government pays a lump sum to the FAMILY, not the hospital, which you have to register for AFTER the birth...meaning that WE have to pay the huge amount out of our OWN pockets first, as well as any extra fees.

    A cool thing that they do here is providing coupons and discounts for various things. Once you find out you're pregnant, you receive a paper from the doctor and go to the city office to register the pregnancy. The city office than gives you a big envelope of various booklets and papers that provide advice and help during and after pregnancy.

-there's a Health Handbook that I need to bring to every doctor's appointment. They'll fill out the details of my pregnancy and how I'm progressing so that other doctors can be up to date in the event that I need to switch doctors (which I will eventually when we move yet again). This book is used until the child is 6 years old.

-There's a book of healthy, easy recipes

- A few papers that include schedules for pregnancy exercise classes, breathing, breastfeeding help, and even a cooking class. All these classes are provided by the community center and are free of charge, but they're only once a month.

-There's a booklet that provides information on food/nutrition intake during pregnancy, maternity wear, baby's progress in the tummy, how to care for baby after he/she's born etc

- The office also provides a cute little key chain that's supposed to let the wearer sit in the priority seats on the train and so on. I don't think it really works that well because most people sitting in those seats have their eyes closed "sleeping" or really sleeping, or just ignoring everyone...but it's a good effort and maybe once the 8th or 9th month comes around people will start to notice.

It says: "There's a baby in my tummy" on the front.

Anyway, those are some of the more interesting and exciting parts of being pregnant in Japan. I'll be going to my next doctor's appointment either this week or next week and hopefully I'll get to actually hear the heartbeat this time!