1 post tagged “new mom”
For those of you still reading now that you know this post has nothing to do with the above subjects, there are lots of reasons to love Japan - but here is my top one this week:
In Japan, they love new moms.
The average stay in the hospital after giving birth is ONE WEEK. Not 24-48 barbaric hours, like in the states. I spent a week and a half in a private room ($100 a night), being monitored by nurses. I had lactation consultants on hand 24 hours a day, a midwife who spoke English and taught me how to bathe, weigh, change and dress the baby, and pediatrician consultations every morning. They delivered a congratulatory bento box to my room on Ava's one week birthday, sent a reflexology masseuse to my room to give me a foot and calf massage that lasted...AN HOUR, and sent me home with a keepsake album that included a nightgown for Ava and pictures they had taken of her in the nursery. ROCKIN.
Every department store has a nursing room for new moms. This is pretty much unheard of in the states. By nursing room I mean a large and comfortable resting area that has a 4-5 padded changing tables on one side, with large trash cans for diapers, and a row of curtained cubicles with chairs on the other side.There is a lot of space for parking strollers, and chairs for waiting dads. There are usually a couple of baby scales too, in case you want to weigh your kiddo before and after feeding. These places are always clean, quiet, and comfortable. UNITED STATES, ARE YOU LISTENING? Women shouldn't have to feed their babies in the bathroom when they want a discreet nursing area.
Japan knows where it's at for new moms.
