What Giving Birth to Babies in Japan is Really Like

Our experience as foreigners living in Japan in 2003 was horrible. Our firstborn was born in Tokyo at Sanno Hospital. Pre-natal care up to the birth day was fine, but the actual birthday was not. Nurses did not want to give my wife an epidural (this was our first, and she was in a lot of pain), I eventually argued them into doing it, and initially, they gave so little it didn't help and then gave so much my wife lost all feeling from her pelvis down. Plus lots of other little problems along the way. It was over after 19 hours of labour (including inducing and suction). After that, we always flew back to Australia to have the rest of our children. When we described what happened to our Australian obstetrician, he commented, "That's barbaric; that's the process we followed in the 50s".

It does look like its improved based on this video, but I can not recommend giving birth in Japan if you can avoid it.

Ok i dont typically like babies but dang Zen is so cute

all this puts perspective to how beautiful and dinive women are, doing all this, to bring life their unique seed of love.

Whew your boy looks just like you.

Great healthcare system. In Ireland, and I think The UK too, the mother and baby would be sent home the next day unless there were complications

What a darling cute child 🥰

Congratulations

Such a beautiful birth story, well done all & congratulations! I’d love to share your story on my podcast for other mums in Japan to hear. Please let me know if you’d be interested. よろしくお願いします🙇‍♀️ 💛✨

Congrats

I can't begin to imagine how you must feel holding your child for the first time. Congratulations, Shogo!

Beautiful man, conglatulations

already the middle child being told off just for holding lego. I hope she is not feeling neglected in a few years!

Seeing a thrilled new-father always makes me smile.

Oh my goodness!! Congratulations!! What a sweet baby. I cried seeing him just born. Very touching!

Man. I know this is kind of off topic, but if Zen is going to use the kanji for his name, he’s going to be so grateful to you when he gets into school 😅

🎉 congratulations of your first son you guys 🎉🎉🎉

🌺🪅🎉🎊🌸 Shogo-san and Harumi-san, new baby O-medetou gozaimasu! 🌸🎊🎉🪅🌺 Your friend (Always), Wendall 🇺🇲🤓🇯🇵

He's adorable! He looks like a old warlord from old movies and I just love it. ❤️ Of course he'll grow out of the old man look within 2 weeks. I think most boy babies have that old man look their first few weeks. It's those wrinkles. Just love it.

Congratulations! 🎉😊

Aww, you have such a beautiful family!! ❤Congratulations on baby #3!! I had to pause the video because my neighbor's baby started crying before your baby was born, and I thought it was the video!! 😲😂 I hope your daughters love their new baby brother. This video made me smile

Your kids are adorable, Shogo and Harumi! And I don't know how women in Japan do this usually without epidurals...Harumi, you're tough!

Congratulations man

congratulations !

What's a complete cost giving birth in Japan hospital would you please tell us.

So, so wonderful Mom! And Dad, and Sisters, and Zen! So precious family <3

Your oldest daughter looks exactly like Harumi 😊 Happy birthday and welcome home Zen!!

Please do not exploit your baby for views.

Why am I crying this is so precious

please, reproduce, i need your culture alive for more super sentais and anime in general

Oh man this made me cry. Congratulations!!
Thank you for letting us come with you for that amazing experience!!

Congratulations

Aaahhh wonderful job Harumi and Zen! Wow, nurses there are so much nicer than the ones I dealt with in Maryland, USA. And that food looked AMAZING 🤩

happe 3 weeks old zen live a long happy life little one

Congratulations

I am curious about homebirth in Japan. I have had all of my children at home here in the USA, and it is an option that is gaining popularity due to the medical establishment failures. Congratulations!

Congratulations

I will be an older brother in 2 months pretty happy and exited

Harumi is a champ! Congratulations!

I like how you just say "Nice to meet you" like your greeting a possible friend at school

Much health and happiness to you all

I know in late but congratulations on giving birth and baby is cute

Congratulations you two! He is very beautiful ❤
Your daughters are super cute and hopefully they get along as they keep growing older.

what a beautiful family! I am from Michigan, not too far from U of M Congratulations

I like the name Hinata

By the way...Congratulations

Congrats🎉 you guys are such a lovely family.. I’m in the USA and they don’t even let you into the hospital unless you’re so many centimeters dilated, they will literally send you home if you’re not in pain.. also that food looked amazing obviously it’s a different culture but our food is nothing like that.. it’s all just hospital food. Nothing like a home cooked meal, your spread looked amazing.. great job Harumi❤

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Congratulations.

Thank you so much for sharing this.