After your pregnancy is confirmed, the next big step is:

👉 Find a hospital or clinic where you can give birth!
If your first check-up was at a large hospital with a delivery ward, you can usually continue there for birth.
But if you went to a women’s clinic or small OB-GYN, you need to find where to give birth since many of them do not offer childbirth services.

Also, different hospitals offer different experiences. Think about how you want to give birth, what kind of support you need, and how much you want to spend.

🏥 Tips for Choosing a Birth Hospital or Clinic

💰 1. Cost
The cost of giving birth depends on the hospital.
But you can receive ¥500,000 as a birth allowance (Shussan Ichi-jikin).
If the total cost is more than that, you’ll pay the rest yourself. So choose a place that fits your budget

🛏 2. Birth Style
Do you want natural birth, or are you hoping for painless birth (epidural)?
In Fukuoka City, only a few hospitals offer epidural births, so check in advance.
Even with natural birth, hospitals offer different methods (like breathing techniques).
Think about what kind of birth experience you want, and find a hospital that supports it.

🏠 3. Distance from Home
Labor (contractions) and water breaking can happen suddenly!
If your hospital is far, it can be stressful.
I recommend choosing a hospital close to your home if possible.

🤱 4. Care During Your Hospital Stay
Each hospital is different.
Some offer rooming-in (keeping baby and mom together), some give breastfeeding support, or even massage for recovery.

Meals and services during your stay also vary.
Choose a place that matches your needs and preferences.

👶 5. Classes and Support Before/After Birth
Some hospitals offer prenatal classes for parents, or postnatal yoga and exercise classes for moms and babies.

These can be a great way to learn and relax—especially when you feel tired after birth.
Ask OB-GYN what kind of support services are available.

　

1, Ask Your Current OB-GYN (産婦人科)
If you already visited a clinic for your pregnancy check-up, ask the doctor or nurse:

• “Can I give birth here?”
• “If not, can you recommend a hospital?”

They may give you some advice where to go based on your pregnancy and health condition.

2,Search Online ~Use Japan’s Official Website to Find a Birth Hospital~
Japan has an official website where you can search for hospitals and clinics that offer childbirth services:

👉 Shussan Navi (出産なび)
(Provided by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare – in Japanese only)
You can search by location, facility type, and birth support services (like epidural, breastfeeding help, NICU, etc.).

I created an explanation image in Easy Japanese (やさしい日本語) to help you understand better.
Please use it as a reference!

3．Ask at Your City Office
Some city offices or public health centers (保健センター) can give you a list of nearby hospitals for birth.
They may also know which hospitals have English-speaking staff.

By taking small steps like asking, searching, and calling, you’ll be able to find the right place for your baby’s birth.
You don’t have to do it all alone—help is out there!