I start by saying this is long but I do this not just to share but to document our journey as well. This may ramble at times but it is how I remember it.
As I sit here thinking about Meagan's 6th birthday tomorrow, I can't help but remember back to our time in Japan. I lived in Japan as a single a few years prior, however Danny and I returned in 2006 already 5 months pregnant and ready to begin a new chapter in our lives.
If you have ever traveled on a mission trip or out of the country for a short period of time, you are constantly in a state of awe and wonder with the sights, smells, people, traditions, etc. When you actually live in another country, that awe and wonder wears off at about the 5 month mark. Missionaries call it the honeymoon phase. There is a day you wake up and realize this is your new normal and you begin to just create a new life.
Let me first state thst I have never had a baby in an American hospital and to this day do not know how things are done here. My normal, in the context of pregnancy and birth in Japan, is what I experienced. Nothing seemed odd to me at the time. My doctor was actually an American man who married a Japanese national. He spoke fluent Japanese and in many ways was more Japanese than American. He had been there for 26 years and was excellent. We actually chose the Adventist Hospital because of the handful of English speaking doctors on staff. Note: remember this later in the story.
The birth of our Meagan six years ago today (Japan time) was one I will never forget. I remember every second of the experience because the labor lasted 29 hours. We were admitted two weeks prior to my due date because they said the baby was already 8 pounds and that was big enough. They did not want to deliver a 10 pound baby.
Difference #1 - Japanese women have babies that range from 4.5 to 6.5 pounds usually. Anything bigger than that and they do everything within their power to try to not do a C-section. Only 21% of Japanese babies are delivered by C-section.
Back to the story....I was put into a bed in a room with four other beds separted by curtains. It basically looks like the pre and post opp area at a US hospital. That is where I stayed until I was 9.5cm dialated. With 29 hours of labor....well, that was a long time. If you have seen the Friends episode where Jennifer Anniston is going to deliver and everybody and their dog comes in after her and leaves before her? That was me!
Every lady in that room heard everyone else's moaning and groaning. I also learned how to say "painful" in Japanese because numerous ladies who gave birth before me were saying it over and over. Itai! Itai! Yes, they kept the door to the delivery room open for every glorious noise.
I won't give the great details but I will tell you that I spent much of my time in my cubicle with my head in a barf bag while Danny held my hair back or held my hand so I could use him as a place for my teeth to anchor on to during the bad contractions. My friend Connie was there and was a great distraction from the pain at times. She also traded out with a Danny so each could have a break at times.
I was fed three meals a day while in labor(from contractions up until 7 cm dialated). Yep, you are probably saying right now...."they fed you?"
I knew no different and had no reference for comparison.
Difference #2: Japanese hospital food consists of a salad, soup, rice and yogurt for breakfast. Lunch and dinner included rice, jello, soup, and either tofu or some form of cabbage vegetable mix.
I actually enjoyed the food in Japan. You learn to live with what you have. You just really don't want to see your food again and again and again while in labor. Yep, food and petosin do not mix well with me.
Back to the story....since it took 29 hours, my delivery fell on a day when my doctor (who spoke English) was to be the keynote speaker at an event in Tokyo. I received a very nice non English speaking doctor. They brought in one nurse who knew enough English for me to know what was going to happen next.
Difference #3: you must wear slippers in the delivery area and of course they do not fit American feet so Danny walked around with his heels hanging off the back.
Difference#4: Japanese hospitals do not have cafeterias, coffee kiosks, or gift shops. It is plain a simply a hospital with waiting areas that have plastic chairs, a vending machine and Japanese television.
When you are 9.5cm dilated they wheel you from your cubicle about two bed lengths down to the delivery room. The door stays open as numerous people come in and out. My friend Connie and my husband were in the room and they spent much of the time laughing. From Danny complaining that his feet hurt with the little slippers they made him wear to the nurse asking if I needed anything to drink and Danny responding with, "I don't know about her but I could use a drink!"... It is all humorous now but Connie helped to keep my husband calm and set him straight when he mentioned how he was feeling. LOL
Between the pushing, the Japanese language flying around the room, and my husband's humor, it was not dull.
The one thing I will never forget is when the doctor signaled for Danny to watch as Meagan came out. Danny's immediate response was "ooohh, that is gonna hurt tomorrow!"
Again, I won't give all the details but my recovery took a few days so I was glad to find out that Japanese hospitals keep moms post birth for a minimum of 3 days. They want you to rest and bond with your baby.
Side note....Meagan was quite a hit in the nursery. Every morning, the chimes would ring at 10am and the curtains to the window nursery would open. All visitors got to experience rows and rows of black hair and brown eyed babies. However, tucked in the midst of all these identical looking babies was our blonde haired blues eyed little girl.
That day started a journey that has been a complete joy for us as parents. We look forward to the journey continuing.
