She's having a baby

Several of the park moms are pregnant.  It's a very exciting time to see their families growing.  Since I've never been pregnant in Japan, I didn't hesitate to ask a few questions.  I appreciated hearing their stories and comparing them to my experience in the US. 

When a woman believes she is pregnant in Japan, she makes an appointment at the hospital to confirm the pregnancy.  Once it is confirmed the mom obtains a Maternal and Child Health Handbook and "maternity mark" badge from the municipal office.  She will take the handbook to every appointment and will use it to track all the key information during the kid's first 6 years of life.  The badge is often hung on a woman's purse or bag, notifying everyone that they should be welcomed to sit in preferred seating on busses and trains or given other common courtesies.  The badge says "There's a baby inside me."

I see these tags a lot.  There are posters in train stations and other public places to educate the public about what these badges mean.  I find the whole concept to be very interesting.  Japan has one of the lowest birthrates in the world.  Supporting growing families is a top priority - through social courtesies and extra services.

Some interesting things I learned from the moms include:

• Women are expected to only gain 10 kg (22 lbs).  Gain any more and the doctor lectures you endlessly.
• Giving birth in a hospital is the norm.  After delivery, women look forward to the hospital stay for 4-7 days.  Even though they usually have shared rooms at public hospitals, the moms enjoy gourmet meals and limited visiting hours.
• In Nerima, when a woman gives birth to a third child, she walks out of the hospital without a hospital bill and with ¥30,000 cash - $274.  (This is unverified.  But even just the thought is exciting!  Interesting way to support larger families.)

As their pregnancies progress, I look forward to learning more.  I find this topic very fascinating.