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Pregnancy

Getting Support​

  • Whatever decision you make about your pregnancy, a wide range of emotions is possible.

  • Please be reassured that your feelings are normal.

  • As with any big decision or life event, it is important to be able to talk to someone you trust about your thoughts and feelings.

  • Talking openly with a supportive partner, friend, or family member can help.

  • TELL Lifeline (03-5774-0992) is also here to listen and support you every day from 9:00 until 23:00.

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References: https://telljp.com/homepage/resources/pregnancy-options/

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  • If you (or your partner) decide to continue your pregnancy and become a parent, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect.

  • Some aspects of pregnancy and having a child (e.g. pain management during delivery, infant immunization schedules) may be managed differently in Japan than in your home country.

  • It’s important to find out what resources and options are available, and to find care that works for you.

  • You may feel a variety of emotions about the future.

  • It’s important to have support from a partner, friends, family, others you trust, or a counselor.

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Useful information

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References: https://telljp.com/homepage/resources/pregnancy-options/

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  • For people who feel that they cannot become parents and choose to carry their pregnancy to term, having their baby fostered or adopted might be the solution.

  • Japan is still behind other countries like Australia  the United States, and South Korea in finding foster homes for children.

  •  However, the Japanese government developed foster care placement guidelines in 2011, and has been improving it so that more children can grow up in a family environment.

  • The Child Welfare Act was also revised in June 2016, to promote raising more children in home environments through special adoption and foster care.

  • The law now requires that municipalities establish “Comprehensive Support Centers for Families with Children that provide seamless support from pregnancy to the child-rearing period.”

  • The Happy Yurikago Project is a good starting point for finding out more about these services in Japan.

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Useful Information

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References: https://telljp.com/homepage/resources/pregnancy-options/

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After the Birth

  • Hospital stays are longer... which means using your vacation days (nenkyuu).

  • CLAIR's contract includes unpaid maternity leave, but your Contracting Organization may not have included unpaid leave in their own Terms and Conditions. Review your contract carefully.

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Compensation

Maternity Allowance

  • 出産手当金 [shussan teatekin]

  • When you are on maternity leave, your National (Social) Health Insurance will cover approximately 60% of your standard remuneration for 42 days prior to the expected delivery date (plus any days after the date if the birth is overdue) and 56 days after delivery, provided you are not employed or receiving other wages at the time.

  • To receive this allowance, you must submit an application. Contact your school's office staff for further details.

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Lump-sum Payment of Childbirth and Childcare

  • 出産育児一時金 [shussan ikuji ichijikin]

  • When a National (Social) Health Insurance member gives birth, a lump sum birth allowance of 420,000 yen may be paid if requested.

  • To receive this payment, you must submit an application at your city/ward office.

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AJET Connect Magazine Japan 66 December

Delivery

Cost

  • ​Natural delivery: ~¥350,000 – ¥550,000

  • ​C-section: ~¥600,000 – ¥650,000

  • The Japanese National Health Insurance doesn't cover the cost of a normal pregnancy and delivery, but if you need special medical tests or a c-section (considered an emergency procedure), you'll be partially covered by NHI.

  • You may also want to tell them the type of cut you want (vertical or horizontal, the latter is easier to recover from and less dangerous to the baby and the mother).

  • ​They may charge you a fee for having the father in the delivery room with you (e.g. ¥10,000).

  • You'll have to pay for a room. The price will vary with the length of your stay, and the size and accommodations of the room (e.g. ~¥800,000 – ¥1,000,000 for 6 days).

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Epidurals

  • They do exist, but they can’t be done last minute; they must be booked in advance.

    • ⚠ And that’s if your baby arrives during standard Monday to Friday, nine-to-five hours, since most places won’t offer an epidural out of hours, due to a lack of trained anesthetists on staff. ​

  • They are, of course, not covered and cost nearly ¥100,000 (e.g. ¥60,000 for two hours and ¥5,000 for each additional hour).

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Regular Check‐ups

  • ⚠ The Japanese National Health Insurance does not cover regular routine prenatal checkups.

  • However, that all maternity costs (prenatal checkups and delivery) are tax deductible. Even your transportation costs (including train fare) are deductible. Keep ALL your receipts as they must be submitted with your tax return. 

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  • If you are pregnant and intend to give birth in Japan, you must register your pregnancy at your municipal office.

    • ​You will receive a Mother and Child Handbook, which will record the course of your pregnancy and your baby's growth and immunization until age 6.

    • You will need to bring this handbook with you to all related doctor visits.

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  • There are more check‐ups and more ultrasounds (one every check‐up).

  • You will get a book to update with information about your pregnancy and stickers to tell people around you that you are pregnant.

  • Doctors will be strict on weight gain,the recommendation will likely be lower than in your country, within 11 pounds or 5 kg.

    • ⚠ Make sure it’s safe for you to follow the same guidelines and that it won’t create complications.

    • You might be scolded by your doctor and midwife if you gain more weight than recommended, but don't let them get you down.

  • You may be told to stop exercising or having sex.

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Rh factor

  • There are four blood types: A, B, O and AB.

  • Within these four groups, each person is either positive or negative for the “Rh factor,” a protein found on the red blood cells.

  • As blood types are genetic and inherited from parents, the prevalence of different blood types varies from country to country.

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  • In Japan, studies indicate that fewer than 1% of people are Rh-negative, while in Europe, Australia and the US, often 10-15% of people are Rh-negative.

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  • The Rh factor is only a concern when the pregnant person is Rh-negative, and their developing fetus has inherited a positive Rh factor from the other biological parent.

  • In this case, the host's immune system will become sensitized during the pregnancy, and if they later becomes pregnant again, their immune system will make antibodies against the Rh factor.

  • These antibodies will attack the baby’s red blood cells, causing a lot of problems.

  • Even if a pregnancy only lasts a short time, the host’s immune system can become sensitized, putting possible future pregnancies at risk.

  • Fortunately, treatment of these antibodies is available to prevent problems in the future if you are Rh-negative.

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How can problems be prevented?

  • A simple blood test can tell you if you are Rh-negative and therefore if you should have antibody treatment.

  • Because the chance of Rh-related problems is very low in Japan, doctors in Japan may not always think to check your Rh factor.

  • If your doctor doesn’t mention it, be sure to ask your doctor about it.

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  • If you are Rh-negative, an injection of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg, known as “Rhogam”) can prevent sensitization.

  • You can also request an antibody screen (a kind of blood test) to see if you have developed antibodies to the Rh factor.

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More information about the Rh factor:

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References: , https://telljp.com/homepage/resources/pregnancy-options/

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Costs

  • None of the costs around pregnancy and delivery are covered by the JET Insurance or the National Health Insurance.

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References: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/

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Home Pregnancy Tests

Cost

  • ~¥300–¥600 (per test)

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  • Home pregnancy test: 妊娠検査用品 [ninshin kensa youhin]

  • Easily accessible in pharmacies and drugstores, you will usually find them with the condom and lotion section.

  • There are different brands and they will vary in prices, but they usually follow the same rules: positive when you get two blue/pink lines or the word "pregnant" (sometimes in kanji).

  • A few common brands are:

    • Clearblue (クリアブルー) 

    • Check One (チェックワン) 

    • P-Check (P-チェック)

    • Do test (ドゥーテスト)

  • ⚠ You can get false negatives on pregnancy tests, but it’s almost impossible to get a false positive.

  • So, if you’re still not sure, you may want to arrange for a doctor’s pregnancy test. Those are available at any OB-GYN or ladies' clinic.

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Doctor's Pregnancy Tests

Cost

  • ~¥300–¥500 (per test)

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References: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/, https://telljp.com/homepage/resources/pregnancy-options/

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Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

Prenatal Care

Prenatal Care

Delivery

Delivery

Maternity Leave

Maternity Leave

Adoption & Fostering

Adoption & Fostering

Parenting

Parenting

Support

Support

  • Inflammation of bladder
    膀胱炎 bokoen

  • Yeast infection:
    イースト菌感染病 iisutokin kansen byo

  • Candida:
    カンジタ kanjita

  • Vaginal discharge:
    おりもの orimono

  • STD:
    性病 seibyo

  • Hemorrhage:
    不正出血 fusei shukketsu​

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  • Morning sickness:
    つわり tsuwari

  • Pregnancy:
    妊娠 ninshin

  • Miscarriage:
    流産 ryuzan

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References: https://tokyojet.wikia.org/, https://japanhealthinfo.com/pregnancy-and-childbirth/pregnancy-and-delivery-costs/, https://gynopedia.org/Japan#IUDs

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Useful Terms

Useful Terms

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