Partners were invited to this one.
Since it was Sunday, the hospital was mostly closed down. We accidentally arrived about 30 minutes too early, so we went down to the Tully's coffee shop in the lobby and got drinks while we waited. Nice of them to be open on a Sunday morning!
Once it was time for the class, we marched back upstairs and were led into one of the classrooms. There were about 7 couples this time. I think everyone was different from the last class I took before, which surprised me a bit, since the classes are only offered once a month.
The class largely focused on the anatomy involved in labor as well as the general process. The dads-to-be got to wear a pregnant suit and try out tying their shoes or picking things up of the ground. One fellow absentmindedly just shifted the belly off to his left to lean over and tie his right shoe. This did not net him any creativity points.
We also learned when to contact the hospital (unlike what I've been reading for the US, the hospital here advised we call in if the water breaks or once contractions are coming 6 in an hour. We will apparently be advised from there on whether to make the trip in or wait longer at home. We were also advised to have taxis on speed dial and to learn the commute time to the hospital.
Next, they had a massage lesson for the fathers to be. They were instructed in several different massage techniques and told to keep checking with the mother about what felt good and what didn't. Of course, the mothers were on the receiving end of this lesson. I approved of this part of the class. :)
One interesting thing that came up during the class was the question of a birth plan. I had been reading all about birth plans and what to include in them while reading books from the US, but I hadn't heard a peep about them in Japan. What little I had read of foreigners' experiences in Japan, it didn't seem like you had much say in the birthing process. My ears did perk up today, however, when the midwife reminded us to bring our birth plan with us when we check in to the hospital. They do that here? What are our choices? Is there a special form we are suppose to use? Russell and I went to investigate.
From what I can tell, birth plans in Japan are a somewhat watered down version of what I've been reading about. We asked what sort of things we should specify and the midwife suggested things like how much the father would be involved, what sort of environment the mother would like (bright lighting vs dim lighting, music or not, etc) whether the mother was very scared of pain or any images she may have of how labor would be. Things like that. No mention of any sort of medical intervention - epidural, episiotomy, etc. Actually, now that I think about it, no mention was made at any point of episiotomies... which surprises me a little. My understanding is that they are still basically automatic in Japan (they used to be in the US as well, but seem to be more in an "as needed" status as of the last 10 years or so). We'll have to ask about that at our next appointment.
Finally, we gathered our things and got a tour of the facilities on the way out. We got to see the shared and private rooms as well as the birthing rooms. The birthing rooms had all sorts of furniture and props to use during labor, which is nice. The private rooms, for recovering after birth, are downright spacious with furniture for visitors, a private shower, etc. The shared rooms aren't bad either. Each curtained area has a bed with lots of pillows, room for the father and presumably for the baby's cart. Showers may have to be taken down the hall, thought.
We also got to peek in the nursery, where one baby was completely conked out and the other was screaming his head off. One of the nurses mentioned that they do rooming-in at the hospital, so I think the babies only go to the nursery if the mother requests the chance to sleep.
So anyway- we've got about a month and a half to go. I am eligible to start maternity leave on August 23rd, but I'm planning to push it back to the start of September. I recently got the good news that I will still be paid 80% of my salary - not 2/3 as I had believed. So that's really nice. I'm not sure yet if its 80% until the baby is born and then 2/3 pay for the first two months, or 80% clear through. I'll get more information when I talk to the finance lady on Monday. I have to say, once again, that maternity leave in Japan is outstanding.
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