Birth Center and Waterbirth Experience in Japan

For my third baby, I chose Sola Birth & Ladies Clinic in Tsuzuki Ku, Yokohama for my pre-natal care and giving birth. I will do a separate post on why I chose them and what the pre-natal care with them was like. If you are interested in that now, feel free to reach out and I’ll be happy to share. For now, I focus on the birth story and 5 day postpartum stay at Sola. So in this post you can find the following:

Birth Story

It was a lovely sunny day the day before my due date and still no sign of baby getting ready to join us. Therefore, I decided to go for a good long walk and brought along my Hypnobabies joyful pregnancy affirmations. About 1.5 hours later I had even set a record for most kilocalories burnt on a walk according to my watch. Back home, I played with my kids for about 1.5 hours and then we had lunch. Afterwards, I put the little down for a nap and joined her listening to my Hypnobabies Hypnosis Track for the day. When we woke up, my husband and the older one were out running some errands. To get some more activity, I took the little one for a walk.

It was around 7:00 PM when I started feeling funny. (Both my kids had had gastroenteritis this week.) A few minutes later I found myself running to the bathroom for the first time. Unfortunately, I was back there hourly and more often. I don’t remember having gastroenteritis in such a bad way ever. If I tried to drink something, I would just be right back in the bathroom. It was miserable. The reason I am sharing this is because I want you to get my real and complete birth story. Hopefully, it serves to show that you can overcome a lot during labour and delivery – without medication and interventions.  

Between the nausea, trying to find a way to lessen it and the effort in the bathroom, I thought I felt some twitching and pressure in my belly. Around 1:00 AM I wanted to get an idea of how long and frequent the pressure waves were. They were not that intense and I could just relax through them. They were coming at 3-5 minute intervals and lasted about 30 seconds. After recording them in the app 5-6 times the app told me to get ready to go to the hospital.

For my previous two births I continued to labour at home and ignored the app’s recommendation many times – almost too often for my second baby’s birth. However, our potential ‘baby sitter’ had spontaneously gone away for the weekend on Friday. Therefore, I knew that I would either go to the clinic by myself or we would go with our kids. That’s why I told my husband about the pressure waves right away around 1:24AM.

He came to me very quickly, knowing the previous birth stories and current situation. I told him to relax but we did call the hospital there and then. He explained the pressure waves and 3rd child situation and they said it was ok for us to come in.

Getting ready

I changed into the clothes I had laid out, grabbed my things and went downstairs. Unfortunately, by that time I still had to go the bathroom. The pressure waves were so welcome compared to that gastroenteritis. It was at that time that I started listening to my Hypnobabies birthing day tracks. (Read my review of the Hypnobabies Home Study Course here.)

In the meantime, my husband got the kids ready to leave, pre-heated the car, loaded it with hospital and kids’ bags so that everything was ready by the time I got in. I hadn’t even closed my jacket when I went outside but the cool air outside just felt like a nice refresher – my worry about the transition from house to car to clinic and how it might affect the labour progress was gone. 

We left by car at 1:54AM. My husband seemed a little rushed to get to the clinic. As the pressure waves were very manageable I told hime to relax. It seemed like forever between them but they were fairly consistent 3-5 minutes apart. I stopped timing the pressure waves at 2:09AM which must have been the time we arrived at the clinic.

At Sola Clinic

The midwife greeted us at the door and was just so present, focused on me and in tune with what I might need, it was amazing. She took my bag from me and carried it, helped with the other bags and kids, etc.

She showed us into our room. We put our kids on the bed who were surprisingly just going along with the flow, calm and relaxed. After I had changed into the hospital clothes she did a cervix check while I was lying on the bed next to my kids. I was only 3cm dilated.

That is of course not very far yet with a long way still to go but at least we had made the transition in time, the kids were relaxed and we were good to stay. So I told myself to just relax and continued to labour on the bed for a little bit.

Then she gave me a drip for an antibiotic I needed. When the pressure waves were becoming a little more intense I changed positions. The midwife was massaging my back and checked my stomach. I kept wondering if she was going to do it the whole time (for who knows how long it would take), whether I liked it or not, etc. 

I had to go to the bathroom twice while I had this drip. The midwife was kind to bring it along to the toilet and I just felt so bad she had to witness me vomiting. After the second time, I lay down in bed again as I was tired and exhausted. My kids had luckily fallen asleep by then. The midwife did another cervix check when I was around 4-5 cm dilated. She informed me that we would soon move to the bath. She took the drip out before we went to the bathroom down the hallway. We left our kids sleeping in the room but my husband went back to check on them.  

The Waterbirth

It was around 4AM when we moved to the bathroom. The bath was filled with water, the lights dimmed. I entered the bath and it was such a nice feeling. Not sure if it was the warmth or simply the feeling of being in water but it was really nice. I was kneeling in the bath, facing my husband and the midwife, leaning forward and resting my arms on the edge of the bath.

The midwife kept pouring warm water over my shoulders. She had switched on a little atmospheric light, and played some relaxing music in the background. ‘This feels like a spa’ is what I said to my husband.  

Pressure waves were getting more intense. I was still listening to my Hypnobabies on my headphones. They had no rules or restrictions regarding any of this.

At some point the midwife checked and said that baby was 2/3rds of a finger away from crowning. That seemed like good news. Whereas with my last baby I had felt her moving down, I had no clue this time except for feeling that the pressure waves were getting stronger. As the midwife was calm, I remained calm and focused on trusting baby, my body and the process.

I was tired and felt dehydrated so I took a sip to drink. Unfortunately, a bad idea. Luckily the midwife had brought a little bowl.

The pressure waves were powerful by then. The midwife suggested a position I should try but when the pressure wave came I just couldn’t hold that position as it was too intense. She was ok with me doing what felt good for me though. Then, I felt baby’s head deep in the birth canal and crowing. All I wanted was to push her out but I knew that that was not good for me, possible tearing etc. I focused on breathing and humming and laboring the baby out. I think it took 3-4 pressure waves which seemed to take far too long and so intense.

Finally, the midwife said that the head was out and just one more pressure wave until the baby was born. I felt that “swish” of baby coming out and looked down to see it coming up between my legs facilitated by the midwife. I reached down to grab it and pull it into my arms and onto my chest. There are no words to describe this amazing moment and feeling!!! Our baby was born at 4:56AM.

After Birth

We stayed in the water for about 30 minutes. Then the midwife asked me to step out of the bath and to lie right next to it. She had prepared the floor with towels and hospital sheets. My husband took the baby to place her back on my stomach once I was lying on the floor. This wasn’t so easy as I was exhausted and baby still had the umbilical cord attached. My husband was allowed to cut the umbilical cord and the midwife facilitated the birth of the placenta. She showed it to us as well as the amniotic sack and umbilical cord. Very interesting to see. She also informed me that I didn’t have any tears or other birthing injuries.

Then, she took the baby to measure, weigh and dress it and I took a shower (in the same bathroom). She helped me to dry my hair, get in my clothes and put on the postpartum diapers. She offered me a wheel chair but I said I could walk to the room.

Our kids were still sleeping and I just lay at the end of the bed and was so happy to lie next to them with our new baby in my arms. The midwife measured my blood pressure and temperature. Then she suggested to feed the baby, checked the bleeding one more time and then we were able to get some rest. 

5 Day Postpartum Stay

Around 30 weeks pregnant, the midwives gave me an information leaflet (only in Japanese) regarding what to bring in my hospital bag, what would happen during the stay after birth, when to call etc. You can find the schedule as mentioned on the leaflet as well as how it actually played out for us in the table below.

The experience at Sola continued the same way as it was for the birth. Everything was very gentle, calm and relaxed. The ‘interruptions’ of staff coming to my room were few, always calm, usually just one person at a time.

Every morning around breakfast time they would pick up the baby for a change of clothes and to measure the weight. Someone would clean the room (not with a loud vacuum cleaner but a broom type cleaner) and exchange the towel in the in-room bathroom. Between breakfast and lunch on Day 1 and 2, someone would bring a set of 3-4 hot wet towels to wipe down the body. They would help to wipe the back and give a little massage if I wanted to. Besides that, lunch and dinner would be served and picked up.

Besides, there were a few other one time ‘interruptions’. On the one hand, to discuss paper work such as baby’s birth certificate and the settlement of the invoice. On the other hand, there was baby’s first bath. They accommodated time and date so that my husband could join the bath. Moreover, they brought the bath into our room so that it was a private experience. After the bath they gave us a leaflet regarding baby treatment once at home as well as a list of hospitals for the hearing check. Day 3 seemed to be about ‘mother care’. First, I got to take a shower after breakfast. Shampoo, soap, towels, hair dryer was all provided by Sola (see also below in the next section). In the afternoon, there was a ‘body care’ session. It reminded me of chiropractice, yet it was different. I felt straightened out and good afterwards.

Besides the check of my blood pressure, temperature and bleeding right after birth, there were no further checks of my condition, neither on a daily basis nor on the last day. Besides the very strong aftermath (is that the right word for the continued contractions after having had the baby?) I was feeling fine so that I didn’t make anything of it. In the big hospital, they had provided me with pain killers without me asking (I don’t know if my condition at the same had made them do it or if this was done for all). At Sola, they didn’t. When I mentioned my strong aftermath, they offered a hot water bottle or pain killers. Also, one nurse seemed to be concerned that I wasn’t eating enough after one day. Therefore, I believe that if there was any issue with someone’s condition they would of course take care accordingly.

Overall, I enjoyed the stay at Sola a lot more than staying at the big hospital. At the big hospitals, the interruptions by doctors, nurses, admin and cleaning personnel were more frequent and less caring. Sola was a lot quieter than the buzzing new born station of the big hospital. I was able to actually catch a few good naps during the day.

Sola Amenities & Hospital Bag

Sola Amenities

• 1 bag of newborn diapers (Pampers)
• 1 pack wet wipes (forgot the brand) 
• Hot Water Bottle upon request, renewed upon request
• Hot tea refills for my 1l bottle upon request
• Handtowel (changed daily)
• Handsoap
• Toilet paper and bidet (no peri-bottle)
• 1 pack large and 1 pack medium size postpartum pads
• Body soap, shampoo, conditioner, towel, hair dryer for taking a shower
• Baby Kimono (changed daily)
• Large muslin cloth to wrap or swaddle baby
• Vase for flowers (upon request)

Hospital Bag (Sola recommendation what to bring)

• Pyjamas (as required for 4-5 days)
• Underwear in which you can wear postpartum pads (4-5 pieces)
• Undergarments such as camisoles (4-5)
• Socks or leg warmers (keep your feet warm after giving birth)
• Toiletries & hair brush
• Basic cosmetics
• Baby clothes for hospital discharge
• Towel (1 towel provided everyday, if you need more, please bring it)
• Tissue paper (as needed)
• Info: Kimonos for child birth are available at Sola
• Body soap for showers and bath towels and dryer are available

Hospital Bag (What I actually used)

• 3 big and 3 small towels for waterbirth (they got thrown out after)
• 2 PJs
• Nursing Bras and post partum panties
• Leg warmers (Long Room Socks)
• 1 pack of large post partum pads
• Normal Toiletries (toothbrush, face lotion, hairbrush, etc.)
• 1 Set of baby clothes for last day
• 1 baby jacket with hoodie to wear during the stay (they washed it once while there)
• Baby nest (Baby slept in it in bed next to me)
• 2 little blankets to wrap baby in (I felt like room was a bit cold sometimes but I don’t know what the actual temperature was)
• My own hot water bottle 
• Snacks & Water
• Phone, head phones, charger
• Book

What I missed

• A small reading lamp in the room (there was only the ceiling light that you could dim and set to a night mode)

Sola Birth & Ladies’ Clinic Food

Conclusion

I would never give birth in any other way again and can only highly recommend it to anyone (if you, your baby and your pregnancy are healthy). The approach to letting momma and baby birth, rather than doctors and nurses, and the calmness, relaxed and unexcited atmosphere from arrival to discharge, the ease of birth without medication, interventions and injury free birth is what makes me call this an absolute dream birth (despite my on-going sickness throughout the process).