This is my first pregnancy (after about 6 months of infertility treatment) and I’m having twins next summer. All the hospitals I have looked at that are near me only provide c-sections as a rule if you are having twins and above. I’ve already accepted this (not thrilled about the recovery period, but oh well) and have chosen a hospital near my house. Naturally I’ll talk to the doctors about everything at the time, but I wanted to ask about people’s experience giving birth via c-section (especially with twins) in Japan.
For location-specific information, I live just outside of Omiya, Saitama and do not currently have a car.
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Hey there! I didn’t have C-section but I live close to you. And I am in several parents group, like Japanlife parents LINE group, or Saitama Parents Facebook Group. If you’re interested you can DM me and I’ll send you the links? It’s nice to talk to fellow foreigner parents and you can ask more senpai parents
Ask ask specifically about who will be allowed access to the three patients (you and your two children). First, will *you* have unrestricted access to *your own* children? Will your husband have unrestricted access to his own children? Will your husband be able to visit you as much as you want? Will friends be allowed to visit you as much as you want? You may find that the answers to these questions plays a big part in where you choose.
Congratulations! My friend had twins via c-section in Japan, and it was a positive experience (she later went on to have a single via c-section). Together with the doctor, they chose the date for the c-section and all went smoothly. From what I have seen/heard, if you get a c-section, you and the babies stay in the hospital longer (around 10 days instead of around 4 for vaginal births). I think for the first few days, the food served after the c-section is very light, like okayu, and then later in the hospital stay they will switch you to the “regular” menu.
Please go to check out your local ward office to see what kind of parent groups they have. Some ward offices offer special prenatal groups, as well as groups especially for parents with multiples. I know my friend enjoyed being able to befriend and talk with other parents raising twins, triplets, etc.
I’d definitely double check the hospital’s policy during the recovery period. With one of my c-sections I wasn’t allowed to hold my baby until several days after the birth. With another I could hold and breastfeed the baby the day of the surgery. So it varies a lot.
I’m interested in how much a C-section and aftercare would cost if anyone know that info
We had twins born by C Section. My wife’s third operation, the other baby was a breech birth. And the last one came out the old fashioned way.
the twin babies are now big strong healthy adults.
The birth itself was pretty uneventful, my wife went to sleep with a massive belly, woke up with two babies to meet. Obviously it was a lot longer recovery than vaginal birth, those abdominal muscles were sore for about a month. You will need assistance at home so either lean on your MIL or a very good friend hopefully with mothering experience. Not sure what questions you may have but feel free to ask.
And massive congratulations, you will be anxious but as much as possible accept what you can’t change and keep talking to those babies. Summer a good time to have babies, get an excuse not to go out into the steaming Saitama sun.
Congratulations! I had a c section for a single birth in 2022 (baby was breech). It was a great experience! My anesthesiologist held my hand during the procedure and I lucked out that he spoke fluent English and we chatted about snowboarding. I also go to listen to music of my choice and had aromatherapy during the surgery. The only downside was my husband was not allowed in the operating room, but this was still during covid so it may have changed.
The aftercare was a little rough for me. It was quite painful afterwards and it took me a little longer than usual to walk again (three days vs two). But, the doctors and nurses and midwives were all fantastic. I’ll deliver again at that hospital, it was a very positive experience.
Edit: typos
We had twins born by C Section. My wife’s third operation. Last baby was breech.
the babies are now big strong healthy adults.
The birth itself was pretty uneventful, my wife went to sleep with a massive belly, woke up with two babies to meet. As twins are typically low weight and c-sections are done at about 37-38 weeks they might be small and spend some time in NICU but this is standard and shouldn’t be a concern.
Obviously it was a lot longer recovery than vaginal birth, those abdominal muscles were sore for about a month. You will need assistance at home so either your MIL or a very good friend hopefully with mothering experience.
Not sure what questions you may have but ask away.
And massive CONGRATULATIONS. Summer babies are great, all that time spent indoors out of the hot Saitama sun. And when it cools off the bubs are big enough to for walks in the double stroller.
I did an emergency c-section and a VBAC.
A planned C-section will take a lot of stress and guesswork out of the experience. I’m jealous!
The C-section meant two days without the baby with me and being bedridden. Had the worst pain in my life around day 4 regarding gas. Brief but horrible. My husband had to bathe the baby, and I was restricted in carrying things for about four weeks. However, after healing, I was pretty much back to normal in three months.
VBAC brought me a lot of personal satisfaction, and the after birthing euphoria was glorious! Even better than after the C-section. I was ready to dance down the hall. Since I was a “professional mama”, I was able to get the baby in my room earlier. I had to go with a big hospital for the risky VBAC, so maybe they were more casual. However, the healing was something else. I tore & needed stitches, and still have a lot of problems with easy tearing in the area. And my plumbing was permanently messed up. I still have trouble pooping sometimes if I don’t keep on top of it. No medical guidance for fixing these things, either. YMMV. My youngest was born more than two decades ago.
Conclusion: I’d still go for v-birth because I’m hard-headed like that. But I realize if I were logical, I’d totally choose the planned C-section. What matters most is bringing home a healthy baby! Or double blessings, in your case!
Hope your pregnancy goes smoothly and so does the birth process. If you really want v-birth, check with a bigger hospital equipped for emergencies.
I’ve had 2 C-sections in Japan – I have low blood pressure which got lower as both my pregnancies progressed (this bad). I am also allergic to latex, and many pain medications (this very bad).
The surgeries themselves were uneventful however most of the problems I had were related to why I had a C-section in the first place …. Sadly my childrens births were not the most pleasant experiences.
I would ask if you will be able to see the surgery, will you be able to hold your babies after birth (many hospitals don’t allow you to see your baby until 6 hours after birth) and if your husband can hold your babies – my husband held my babies before I did. I would also ask about if they have a formula policy because you are having twins – if they have it they will ignore your breastfeeding only request (among other requests).
I would ask about the procedures regarding if your babies end up in the NICU – as C-section twins have a higher likelihood of being there. Hospitals are extremely risk adverse here to a point where they are cruel. I always felt like an afterthought once my children were born.
I found the doctors to be hit and miss (being at a hospital means you won’t likely have a consistent doctor). Female doctors tended to be better and more caring/understanding than male ones. You may find that your monthly care from 4-7 months will be done by an outside affiliated clinic. I found the clinic doctors to be nicer than the hospital ones.
After the surgery you may not see a doctor until you leave and will only see the nurses – this can be a problem if you are prescribed something you can not take and want to discuss with a doctor an alternative treatment option.
After the C-section, they will haul you out of bed very quickly (like evening if its a morning surgery or the next day). I wasn’t able to have any pain medication and had to keep reminding staff of this point (it hurts so please be gentle). I also was often served food I was allergic to (and was written on my name card…). This happened at 2 different hospitals, I ended up skipping meals especially after my first pregnancy where I started vomiting and coming up in hives after eating something I was allergic too.
Usually you are nil by mouth until you pass gas or poo. This is to make sure your intestines did not twist during the surgery. I found hospital food to be flavorful but soft and mushy – got my husband to sneak in some good stuff especially after the allergic reaction.
Post COVID means you will likely not be able to leave the ward (so no outside for a whole week). Check the water policy of the ward but I recommend bringing some bottles of water/tea to drink. You will need to bring clothes for yourself, it is recommended that you bring nightdresses to wear (no leggings or pants). There’s a high chance they will get blood on them so don’t bring your nicest silk PJs.
When you return home, you want to think about how you will get out of chairs and out of bed. Standing up and sitting down (and post C-section poo) were still very painful and difficult to do for weeks afterwards. Also recommend getting a breast pump, its helpful to get the supply up.
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TL:DR – complications = a bad time.
Congratulations!
I have heard that you should ask what material they will use to stitch you up– staples, disolvable stitches, surgical glue, etc. It might make a big difference to you which of those is used. I haven’t had a C-section myself, but my doula in Japan highly recommended I ask about this if I were to have one here.
Also might be worth checking into the pain management afterward. Most hospitals do not allow outside medicine to be brought in to my knowledge and some may only provide 3 tylenols or equivalent per day tops afterward.
I hope that everything goes smoothly!
Edit: I just remembered one more thing. It might be worth asking if they will do a horizontal or vertical cut (on the outer skin, not on your uterus– that’s usually horizontal no matter the case). Some hospitals still do the vertical cuts on the outside, but most only in emergency situations or when dealing with a transverse orientation.