Giving birth at Toyoshima Ladies Clinic, Nishi-Ogikubo

Hi Lara,

Number 2 huh!! That'll be me next year I guess, but I'll be having the
next one in Australia. That'll be interesting.

So I also had a really positive experience at the place I gave birth,
but it's not really ideal for you because it doesn't fit three of your
requirements.

I gave birth at Toyoshima Ladies Clinic in Nishi-Ogikubo. I started
out at a fancier place in Kichijoji but there were so many rules. I
hate rules. Toyoshima has virtually no rules and is very easy-going.

My plan was for a water birth and Toyoshima is one of the few places
in Tokyo that offers this and their pool looked very inviting.
Unfortunately due to my water breaking and the delayed onset of
contractions, this ended up not being an option.

I speak Japanese so I'm not sure whether any of the staff speak
English, but they were all super kind. Dr Toyoshima is not a man of
many words but would answer any of my questions if I had them. The
midwives were wonderful and told me that if I had any questions to
skip asking the doctor and go and knock on their door and they would
answer them anytime. Very reassuring.

Toyoshima is a bit old, but for 430,000 you get a private room and
delicious vegetarian meals for five days. My husband and baby roomed
in with me for the entire stay and friends and family can visit
anytime from 9am to 9pm. There is a special family room that is an
extra 10,000 yen per night and that has it's own private bath and
toilet and anyone you want can stay there (it's a big tatami mat room
with a tv which would be good if you have other children). It can't be
booked though and is first in, first served.

You can write a birth plan and discuss the birth with the midwives
beforehand. I felt totally in control of all aspects of my birth and
felt very supported. You labor in your private room and the midwives
would periodically come in and check on me, and when the time is ready
you can get in the birth pool or move to the delivery room. There are
absolutely no rules about who can be in the delivery room. They have a
cd player if you want music and aromatherapy. I was also given lots of
homeopathic treatments.

I had an active birth with no drugs (not available here) and was
provided lots of different props for labor - the bean bag was amazing.
I pushed on a birthing stool which really worked for me.

So anyway this has ended up being a very long post but I just wanted
to share my experience at Toyoshima.

If you read Japanese I totally recommend checking out the Benesse
Women's Park website - you can search for places to deliver in your
specific area and there are usually reviews on each place. That's how
I found Toyoshima.

Here's the website:

http://women.benesse.ne.jp/

You need to become a member to read the full reviews, but this is a
seriously helpful website if you are looking for pediatricians,
maternity clinics etc all over Japan!!!

cheers,
kat

Giving birth at Seiku Iriyo Center - National Children`s Development Center Hospital, Setagaya

HI Lara,

I had my first baby in Australia and my second the following year 2006 in Tokyo at The National Centre for Child Health and Development ( Seiku Iriyo Centre. aka Seiku Byoin) in Seijo, Setegaya Ku. I know its not in your area of preference but its really worth a look at as ita meets all your other criteria and is an excellent hospital.

The best thing about this hospital is that specailise in babies/children so if anything goes wrong they can handle it and the baby stays in the same hospital as you. They take complicated pregnancies and unlike some other hospitals they are fully staffed all the time so thats a real bonus in a worst case senario.






- pain relief: you can have an epidural. It was much better than my first one in Australia and I could still feel enough to push and I could walk almost right after.


- birth plan: yes! followed to the letter! no cutting!


- language: English is spoken by most of the Doctors and some midwives/nurses. They went out of thier way to make sure I understood and was comfortable before they did anything to me or baby. The Anesthitist ( did I spell it right?) was fluent and I had to meet with him about a month prior to my due date so he could explain all the risks and the proceedure so I was sure I wanted one.


- cost: if you get a private room the cost is more but its around ¥500,000 - ¥600,000. They had to do some extra stuff on me so mine was up around ¥700,000 for a week stay and delivery.



Another good thing is that as its a kids hospital there are plenty of play areas / books/ toys for your older one while you wait, even an outside play area. There is a good bakery/cafe in the basement and a good restaurant on the top floor. They have a pager system so after you check in with your card you can wander around in or outside till your appointment.


I cant tell you how happy I was that I had my baby there, it was better than my experience back home and pre natal care at Seibo ( Mejiro). If you have any other Q,s Id be happy to help.
Good luck!


Simonne.

Giving Birth at Toho Fujinka, Koto-ku

Hi Lara,

Perhaps this clinic is too far for you but it's worth considering...

Toho Fujinka nr Kiba Station in Koto-ku. I had my second baby there and it was a much more positive experience than the one I had at Aiiku. Their philosophy probably doesn't match your criteria, however, I think you (and others) should know about it.

It's a private clinic so more expensive than the norm though pretty much all the private clinics I checked were around 500,000 yen whereas the local hospital nr me was much less though spaces were limited due to the usual medical downsizing of departments

They offer no pain relief but after having an epidural for my first delivery, I opted for no pain relief. Epidurals are not all they are cracked up to be! Longer delivery, more medical intervention is usually required (fetal heart monitoring, oxytocin drip and of course an episiotomy!) My recovery was long and painful. I seemed to be the only new mum who was still walking like John Wayne the day I was released from hospital. I also had a week long headache. Though not everybody has a bad reaction from an epidural. Second time round I had no episiotomy and was up and about immediately!

They accept Japanese health insurance which I'm guessing you and your husband have. Check ups can be expensive but you'll get some free with your mother and baby book. Check out your ward office as I know Koto-ku now offer free antenatal check ups for residents of that ward (as of April this yr - bad timing on mine and my husband's part!)

You'll be expected to write a birth plan and have several opportunities to meet the midwives at your check ups. No English spoken by the midwives - my delivery was at night just me and a midwife. The owner of the clinic speaks pretty much fluent English but you'll only get to meet her when you are discharged. She 's more hands on with the fertility side of the clinic. I'm guessing other Drs speak some English but if you have a Japanese surname Japanese people usually speak to you in Japanese.

Very friendly and personal feeling to the clinic not like at some other bigger hospitals. My son was with me and my husband at the hospital though he did not witness the birth! Both he and my husband were asleep in my suite whilst me and the midwife got on with the delivery. No need to worry about last minute babysitters! Rather a luxurious stay aswell - great food which can be eaten in the lounge area with other mums so you're not confined to your room all day. Free aromatherapy massage during your stay too. Several gifts of baby clothes, baby towel blanket, baby care bks etc... all part of the 500,000yen 5day package! You'll need the chance to relax as once you get home with a toddler to look after aswell, you won't be having meals cooked for you or have any chance for a massage!!

Rather long..... There must be other places that offer high level of service. Some of the midwife birth houses I've heard are good. Perhaps there is one near you?

Hope this helps

Gina Sawamura

Birth Houses in Tokyo

This is veering even more off topic, but several of the midwives from
Aqua Birth House attended our home birth. They were wonderful. When
you are starting to look into birth options, or if anyone else wants
to know more about Aqua Birth House, let me know (although I have not
visited the birth house itself, I know the people who work there). I
have heard of 2 other birth houses which would be similar and would
let you stay with your family during your stay.

They recommended Nisseki (Red Cross) to me as a backup hospital, and
said it is very midwife-friendly. Nisseki is the main backup hospital
for Aqua Birth House (as well as for several other clinics and
hospitals, I have heard -- which means they definitely must have the
option of anesthesia, although they are natural-birth oriented).

Christine

Giving birth at Red Cross Hospital

Hi
>
> I gave birth to my first child at the Red Cross (Nisseki) hospital
> in Hiroo and am back there again for second due in December. I can
> highly recommend it.
>
> They did not offer pain relief, but I heard from a fluent Japanese
> speaker that it is possible if you know how to ask and are
> determined. She had 2 babies there both with epidural I think. They
> also now have a water birth facility which you can use if your
> doctor gives the OK and you take a course. They will also help out
> as much as possible with Aroma oils, foot baths and a hot tub if
> your (waters haven't broken). They were also very supportive about
> an "active labour" allowing me to wander the halls and stairs at
> all hours and had a lot of equipment such as birthing stools to
> help things along. Though I could not give birth standing if I'd
> wanted to.
> They are very pro natural birth and will not intervine if at all
> possible, though I had to ask several times to get a status exam to
> tell me how many centimeters I was dilated!!!
>
> They encouraged me to write a birth plan and tried very hard to
> stick to it, although I got an episiotomy, which seemed to be
> expected, they tried very hard to avoid it.
>
> Several doctors speak English, I was with Kasei sensei for Nick but
> am with Kido sensei for the next one, both are ladies. The midwives
> generally don't speak English but for the birth and labour I seem
> to have been assigned two English speakers who were extremely helpful.
>
>
> The cost is reasonable, it was about 700,000 but I had a private
> room and was in for 6 days due to a long labour. The quoted cost is
> about 500,000. By the way. Meguro-ku now gives 14 vouchers for
> discounted antenatal check-ups with Japanese insurance, my last
> visit cost just 1,500.
> With the private room the midwives were very flexible with letting
> my husband visit very late, though he could not stay over. The food
> was not bad at all.
>
> As it is a "baby friendly" hospital they encourage rooming in and
> are very helpful with breastfeeding and also after care for those
> unwanted cases of mastitis!!!! Theyare happy to take care of the
> baby for a few hours and for the first night if you want though.
> And they give the husband a lesson in baby bathing!!!
>
> All in all we were very satisfied. I Think theystill hold a tour
> Mondays at 3pm.
>
>
> Hope it helps
>
> Norma
>

Deliverying at Red Cross Hospital, Private Midwife

Open system

Hello Lara and all,

Well Lara I know I talked to you a bit about my fantastic birth
experience here in Japan but thought I`d post to let everyone know a
bit about it. I used a relatively new system here called `Open
System`. What it mean`t was that I had a private self-employed midwife
who took care of me all through my pregnancy, birth and aftercare. It
was basically the same principal as preparing for a home birth except
this midwife has a special arrangment with the hospital where I
actually went to the hospital and `borrowed` a room to give birth in.
None of the hospital staff were directly involved in my delivery,
though it was a quiet night and a nurse came in to help out a little
from time to time. What was reasurring about it was that in the case
of anything going wrong there were hospital doctors there who would
take over. It was fantastic, she was fantastic and I wouldn`t dream
about using anyone else but...

..big downside is location. She lives out my neck of the woods (Adachi-
Ku) and is based in Katsushika ward. I gave birth in a room at
Katsushika Ninnseki-byoin (Red Cross hospital)..so it might be an idea
to check out Hiroo Ninnseki in case they have a similar arrangment
going on there. I`m going to contact her this weekend to see if she
can recommend anyone over your side of Tokyo.

On the plus sides..
...continuity of care. She used to come to my house on Saturdays so my
hubby was home to help translate. Her fee for a visit was 5000yen but
she would stay as long as I wanted to talk things through, give
advice, and sometimes even massage me!! Sometimes she stayed 2 hours!!
She also attended all my appointments at the hospital..for blood
tests, scans etc..she even went to the hospital early and picked up a
ticket so I never had to wait in line. She doesn`t speak much English
but seemed to understand a lot of what I was saying..but you`d
probably need to speak some Japanese of have a Japanese partner to
help out. It was wonderful to see the same person everytiem and I
really build a bond with her..in short, I love this woman!!!!

...great with birth plan..she forced me to write one and spent a whole
session going through it..a believe me ANYTHIng goes. Right down to
the track lisitings for the CDs... My sister-in-law gave birth two
months after me with her and was allowed and I`d say encouraged to
have her toddler present during the birth..very cute..she was fanning
her Mummy down to help out. I should probably mention now that she
doesn`t do pain relief..when I asked about gas and air she just said I
wouldN`t need it and at first I was sceptical but went with it and her
confidence and was reasured. She also doesn`t cut. When I asked her
she simply said 90 per cent of her mothers don`t tear again I was
sceptical but went with it and came out unscathed. Don`t know how much
this was down to my lucky fluke with an easy birth or with her
expertise but she did apply counter pressure to my prenieum (forgot
how to spell that!) the whole time with her fingers...she`s very hands
on by the way..a lot of massage, aroma and even breast massage to get
the milk flowing..a bit weird for us gaijin but supposedly standard
practise here in Japan.

..she`s also a qualified breast-feeding consultant like Iona and put
babs to me tummy immediately without cutting the cord and let her
crawl up to my breast to latch on..babies CAN do it themselves..it
toook about 40 mins. She`s also relly flexy with who does what..hubbys
are welcome to be as involved as they wish..

...it was cheap...I think we paid about 280000 but her fee for the
birth and afteracre visiting me at home was about 110000 and the rest
went to the hospital ..so with the 350000 back from the gov we cut it
about even..but I didn`t stay in the hospital at all..I came home the
same morning (crazyfool!) Of course a stay would have bumped up the
price a bit. The hospital was lovely and I gave birth on a futon bed
in a tatami room with shoji and a sofa..very nice.

Anyway, enough of my gushing...I let you know what she says when I
speak to her this weekend
and if anyone is interested in her details just get in touch. Her name
is Mika Yanagisawa.
Cheers, Helenxx

Heather`s review of Seibo Hospital - giving birth

Hi Lara,

I gave birth at Seibo Byoin with Dr. Sakamoto. He's expensive so if cost is
an issue - this may prevent you from using him. However, I heard from a
friend that he recently opened a clinic in Omotesando and that he takes
Japanese health insurance at that clinic. You'd probably still need to pay
for the birth, but at least the check ups would be covered.

Dr. Sakamoto has a reputation for cutting - but I managed to have a totally
natural birth with no episiotomy. He offered but I was determined and had
coached my husband on how to keep me going. Seibo totally respected my birth
plan even to circumvent hospital rules in administering the Vit K supplement
by syringe instead of in a bottle.

I doubt that Dr. Sakamoto will be your first choice, but thought it was at
least worth sharing a different perspective. That being said, we are hoping
to deliver at one of the birth houses next time around. The trouble with
most hospitals is that you can't bring in your toddler except during
visiting hours. For this reason we hope to get into the Aqua Birth House or
similar next time.

Good luck,
Heather

Seibo Hospital - what to expect when going into labor

Congratulations! You are almost there! It is very
exciting. I hope this helps!

If you want to keep track of your contraction, there
is a cool website, called Contraction Master.

If you can, get in a bath or shower, it REALLy helps
with the pain. The TENS machine might help also. It
really made a difference for me. You will not feel
anything when you use it but if you turn it off, you
will feel the pain.

Regarding Seibo

1. They will give your child a robe like outfit to
wear. So no need to bring clothes for your baby except
going home clothes.

2. They will give you a robe and you will have to
bring your own PJ. I would bring several pairs so you
dont have to wash them.

3. They will also provide you with industrial size
sanitary pads and you should have enough to take home.
You might want to buy an extra box when you go home if
you bleed alot. They are a lot softer than normal
sanitary pads. You will bleed on and off for a while.

4. Things to bring to the hospital

a plastic cup for drinking
slippers
a clock
a pen
baby themometer ( need to check their temp. every
morning)
CDs, DVDS,...anything to entertain yourself.
Dont think they have an internet connection

5. There will a be heaps of people coming in and out
of the room during your stay. They all just walk in
unannounced. Dont be surprised.

Think at 6 am - a nurse brings a clean robe and
reminds you to weigh your baby. Remember to calculate
their weight with diapers and robe. You will write
down the gross and net weight on the sheet next to the
scale.

Then breaskfast lady with breakfast. She will bring
breakfast for husband if you request it. Fill out the
form they bring with your meal.
Your choice is Japanese style or Western style.
She will pick up the tray an hour later.

Then the cleaning lady will come to vaccum and clean
the bathroom (I am assuming that you will have a
private room )

The nurses come around in the morning to check
jaundice and they will tell you a number and if it is
in the safe zone. Most babies have jaundice so dont
worry about it.

Then the nurses will come and collect your baby for a
check up with the in house pediatrician. Since they
collect all the babies, it will take at least an hour
or two.

....etc.

I think on the 4th night at midnight, they will come
to collect your baby to give him/her Vit K. If you
want them to take your baby at a later time, pls tell
them to come back later. Some mothers ask them to come
later when their baby wakes up.

You will have to record the number of times your baby
pees or poos everyday. They will give you diapers and
wipes at the hospital.


Midwives are helpful during labor. They are great.

If you have problems latching on, pls call Iona with
Le Leche League. Some of the midwives will tell you
differnt things at Seibo and they have their own rules.
ie. they will not let you use a cup to feed your baby.
only a bottle for legal purposes.