What is childbirth like in Japan?

You are here to work in Japan. I am happy to say that I have decided to marry a Japanese. Congratulations on your marriage! And congratulations on the birth of your child. I think it’s hard to give birth without being able to return to your own country. Still, there are many subsidies for childbirth in Japan.

I pray that a healthy baby will be born. May you have a happy childhood!

I hope this page will help alleviate any concerns you may have.

Could I be pregnant?

First, go to a drugstore and buy a pregnancy test. You can tell if a baby has come to you in 2 minutes by pouring urine on it. If the test shows two lines, it means you are pregnant. You can buy the test medicine for about 650 yen. Please do an inspection. If you don’t know where it is in the store, ask your husband to buy it for you. The shop staff will be happy to advise you.

I go to the obstetrics and gynecology hospital.

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant with a test, you should immediately look for an obstetrics and gynecology hospital. A place near your house would be nice. During pregnancy, I go to the hospital once every three weeks for a checkup. The closer the distance, the better. By the time you take a pregnancy test, your baby is about 6 weeks old.

At the hospital, you will receive a certificate that you are pregnant. This certificate is very important, so I will cherish it. If you don’t have the certificate, you won’t be able to get your baby’s passport. In Japan, this passport is called the “Mother and Child Health Handbook”. You have to cherish it until you give birth and even after you are born. Your passport will serve as proof that you are a mother.

If you are working in Japan, you have either company insurance or national health insurance. Please show your health insurance card at the counter when you see a doctor. If you go to a hospital for the first time and find out that you are pregnant, you will need to pay about 3,000 yen. Pay the fee and get a pregnancy certificate.

Go to city hall.

Then go to city hall. Get a maternal and child health handbook at the city hall. You can get it by showing the pregnancy certificate written by the doctor at the hospital and your ID card. The purpose is to report that a baby will be born in the town where you live. Depending on the town you live in, in addition to the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, you can also learn important things about raising a child and giving birth. If you don’t understand the language and feel uneasy, go with someone who understands Japanese.

If you are a first-time mom, there are many things you don’t know. There are circles where you can interact with people who are raising the same child in your city, and classes where you can teach parenting to moms and dads. Ask the city hall for information.

I go for regular checkups.

Regularly visit the hospital to check if the baby is healthy. Come to think of it, your mother is worried too. Check if the mother is sick or if the child is sick. A subsidy will be issued depending on the town where the payment has been made. If there are no problems with your baby, you will not lose money from your wallet until the baby is born with just the subsidy. You can get a supplementary ticket when you receive your Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Your baby is said to be a healthy baby.

childbirth costs

Here is the painful part. In Japan, treatment for pregnancy and childbirth is not considered a “disease”, so subsidies based on the National Health Insurance are not available. Luckily, the government has a system of receiving a fixed amount (usually 420,000 yen) on invoices, so even if the cost of regular inspections is not fully covered by the local ward office, vouchers distributed by the government in advance can be used. should at least help.

From April 2023, the amount received has increased. Until then, it was 420,000 yen, but I will receive 500,000 yen. In order to receive the money, if you write a paper and submit it to the hospital when you are hospitalized, you do not have to pay for the delivery directly.

Costs: Medical costs vary depending on the type of health insurance, coverage, and method of delivery (normal delivery, caesarean section, etc.). Also, costs may differ between public and private hospitals. Below is a general cost range, but please check with your healthcare provider or insurance company for the most up-to-date information.

Public hospitals: Since public hospitals are covered by health insurance, most of the medical costs associated with childbirth are often covered by insurance. However, there may be additional charges for room plans and special services.

Private hospitals: Private hospitals vary in cost depending on insurance coverage and room type selected. In the case of a normal delivery, the cost of childbirth at a private hospital can range from several hundred thousand yen to over one million yen.

The period of hospitalization is one week.

Hospitalization and costs during childbirth in Japan depend on several factors. The information below is based on a general case, but please understand that your specific situation will vary.

Hospitalization period: Generally, in the case of a normal delivery, hospitalization for 2 to 4 days after childbirth is common, unless a caesarean section is required. However, the length of hospitalization may vary depending on the health condition of the mother and child and the progress of childbirth.

Important procedures after leaving hospital

Procedures related to family registration after giving birth in Japan follow the steps below. Specific procedures may vary from region to region and municipality to municipality, but the general flow is explained below.

Submission of birth notification: After the birth of the baby, the newborn baby’s birth notification must be submitted. The birth certificate is submitted with the newborn’s name, date of birth and parental information. The birth notification is submitted at the municipal office (city, ward or town hall) of the place of birth. The deadline for submitting the form is usually within 14 days of the birth, although extensions are possible in some cases.

Preparing documents for the birth registration: the following documents may be required when submitting the birth registration

Application form for birth registration (sometimes provided by the municipality)

A copy of the parents’ family register or certificate of residence

Copy of health insurance card (if the baby is to be covered by health insurance)

Submission of birth notification and payment of fee: Bring the prepared documents to the municipal office and submit the birth notification. You may have to pay the necessary fee at the time of submission. The amount of the fee and payment method may vary from region to region.

Receive a copy of the family register: once the birth notification has been accepted, a copy of the newborn’s family register will be issued. The family register is the official proof of the newborn’s family registration information. Multiple copies can be obtained if necessary.

The birth registration procedure is an important one and it is important to complete it as soon as possible. For information on specific procedures, required documents and fees, it is important to check the website or contact the municipal office of the place of birth or call to obtain accurate information.

What do you do after the birth is over and you leave the hospital?

After the birth is over and the mother and baby are discharged from the hospital, there are several steps that must be taken to care for the mother and baby and the procedure. The general steps are described below, but they may vary depending on your individual situation and region, so it is important to follow instructions from the medical staff and relevant agencies.

Postpartum Care: After discharge from the hospital, health care for the mother and baby begins. It is important for the mother to monitor her own health and get the rest and nutrition she needs. Follow the advice of the doctor or midwife for appropriate care.

Newborn Care: After discharge from the hospital, care for the newborn begins. Feeding the newborn, changing diapers, and managing sleep are important. Support your baby’s growth with advice from doctors and nurses.

Checkups and Immunizations: Routine checkups and immunizations will be performed to ensure the health of your newborn. It is important to follow the scheduled schedule for checkups and receive necessary vaccinations.

Family registry-related procedures: It is necessary to register the birth of the newborn and complete family registry-related procedures. Submit the birth certificate, register the newborn in the family register, and complete the necessary procedures.

Insurance-related procedures: You may need to complete insurance-related procedures and applications after the birth of your child. Submit the necessary documents to receive benefits such as lump-sum childbirth and childcare payments.

Health care for newborns: To support the growth and health of newborns, regular health care is required, including visits to the Maternal and Child Health Center and pediatrician.

These steps are based on common cases and may vary depending on the actual situation. It is important to follow the advice of medical staff and professionals to provide appropriate care to support the health and well-being of the mother and child.