In order for the mother to have a peaceful and calm gestation, several entities provide support for foreigners’ pregnancies
Having children in a foreign country brings to the pregnant woman a series of insecurities, mainly because of the language and cultural difference. A series of procedures are necessary for pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children in the country. For you to understand, we have created a simplified step-by-step after the pregnancy is confirmed.
- Consult a doctor, preferably an obstetrician-gynecologist ( sanfujinka, 産婦人科医)
- The hospital or clinic where you were hospitalized will give you a Pregnancy Notification
- With the Notification, go to the health department of your municipality and hand in the Notification to obtain the Mother and Child Health Handbook. (Boshi Kenko techo/母子健康手帳)
- Doing health exams and check-ups for pregnant women whenever necessary (Ninpuu Kenshin/妊婦健診)
- Submit the documentation for the maternity allowance (Shussan’ikujiichijikin/出産育児一時金)
- Attend parent training courses (Haha (ryō) oya gakkyū/母（両）親学級)
- Household visit for pregnant women 妊婦訪問
- Hospitalization/Partum 入院・分娩
- Birth Registration Certificate/Application for Child Allowance 出生届・児童手当申請等
- Postpartum care activities/Pre- and post-parto support activities産後ケア事業産前・産後サポート事業
- Embassy and immigration procedures 大使館・入国管理局での手続き
- Newborn home visitation新生児訪問
- Medical Examination of the First-Month-Child 1 か月健診
- Visiting all households with a breastfeeding baby乳児家庭全戸訪問
- Preventive vaccination at 2 months 2か月予防接種
- Medical Examination of the 3-5 month old child 3~5か月児健診
- Food classes (solid food) 離乳食教室りにゅうしょくきょうしつ
- Final stage medical checkup of breastfeeding baby乳児後期健診
ONE YEAR
- Medical Examination of the 1 year and 6 months old child 1歳6か月児健診
- 2-year dental health check-up 2歳児歯科健診
- Medical Examination of the 3-year-old Child 3歳児健診
- Entering daycare/kindergarten保育園・幼稚園入園
- Medical Examination of the 5-year-old Child 5歳児健診
- Health check-up before school entry就学前健診
- Primary School Entrance小学校入学
Source: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare