日本語
English
नेपाली
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, we held the "Childbirth and Postpartum Workshop for Foreign Pregnant Women" at St. Luke’s International Hospital! This was the third time hosting this workshop, which was attended by 16 participants including pregnant women and their partners. We provided practical advice and useful information for couples preparing to give birth in Japan.
Pregnancy and childbirth abroad come with both excitement and many concerns. In this workshop, we created a relaxed atmosphere where participants can feel at ease, providing useful information for childbirth, emotional support, and opportunities to connect with others sharing similar experiences, all to help you approach childbirth with greater peace of mind.
Preparing for a Safe and Confident Birth in Japan — A Time for Learning and Connection
One of the main themes of the workshop was understanding how maternity care is provided in Japan. Taking into account the differences from other countries, we clearly explained the process of prenatal checkups, procedures during childbirth, delivery methods, and postpartum support using diagrams and videos. Participants also shared feedback such as, "The use of images and videos made it very easy to understand."
We also covered many practical topics such as when to contact the hospital, what to bring for delivery, the process from labor to recovery, and baby bathing and postpartum self-care. Dr. Igarashi provided advice based on expert knowledge and extensive experience, and participants shared feedback like "clear and compassionate explanations".
The workshop carefully addressed mental preparation for childbirth and postpartum mental care. We discussed pain management, breastfeeding, recovery, and emotional changes after birth in a calm and reassuring atmosphere.
"I learned so much about pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, and I feel mentally and physically prepared." and "Joining this class again has helped ease my worries a bit. Thank you so much." were some of the feedback we received.
Participants also appreciated the opportunity to meet others in similar situations and share their experiences. Many shared feedback such as "It was great to connect with other expectant mothers" and "I was grateful for the thorough answers to all my questions until the very end." One participant mentioned, "It was very helpful that my husband, who isn't very confident in Japanese, had the chance to understand Japan's childbirth system in English." Seeing couples ask questions together, take notes, and practice hands-on highlighted the importance of learning together.
Preparing for the Next Event
Many participants gave us high praise, saying "The content was very meaningful and easy to understand" and "The staff were kind and made me feel at ease". On the other hand, we also received feedback such as "I wish there was a bit more time for questions" and "It would be great to have hands-on practice with diaper changing and swaddling".
Moving forward, we aim to offer even more engaging workshops by incorporating interactive and practical elements.
We sincerely thank Professor Igarashi for her cooperation, the volunteers for their support, and everyone who actively participated.
The next "Childbirth and Postpartum Workshop for Pregnant Foreign Women" is scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 29, at the same venue and time.
Expectant foreign mothers and their families preparing for childbirth in Japan, please feel free to join us.
We will continue to support foreign families so they can approach childbirth and childcare with peace of mind.
Details & Registration: (Japanese) https://j-ii.org/event/2025foreignpregnant/
(English) https://global.j-ii.org/eng/event/2025foreignpregnant/
If you have any questions or would like to apply, please contact us at info@j-ii.org. We look forward to your participation!