Giving birth in Japan can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not confident in Japanese.
This guide walks you through what typically happens on the day of labor, so you can imagine the process and feel more prepared.
If you haven’t chosen your hospital yet, start here!
π Read: Choosing the Hospital Deliver Your Baby in Japan
1. Signs That Labor Is Starting
There are three common signs that labor may be starting:
Bloody show (oshirushi / γγγγ)
A small amount of blood-tinged discharge that means your body is preparing for birth. Not everyone experiences this.
π If bleeding is heavy or continues, contact your doctor.
Water breaking (hasui / η ΄ζ°΄)
This happens when the fluid around the baby (amniotic fluid) is released. It may come out suddenly or slowly, and can sometimes be confused with urine.
π Because of infection risk, contact your hospital immediately.
Regular contractions (jintsuu / ι£η)
There are contractions of the uterus that help push the baby out. They become regular, stronger and closer together. Labor is generally considered to have started when contractions come every 10 minutes, or about 6 times per hour.
2. Call the Hospital First
In Japan, you usually call your hospital before going in.
They will ask:
- How often are your contractions?
- Is this your first baby?
- Has your water broken?
Based on your situation, they will tell you when to come.
Not sure what to prepare for the hospital yet?
π Read: What to Pack for Hospital Birth in Japan
3. Going to the Hospital
When you arrive, you may have an internal exam.
Doctors and midwives will check:
- how open your cervix is
- your babyβs condition
- contraction patterns
If labor is still early, you may be asked to wait or go home temporarily.
4. Labor Progress
Labor is usually divided into three stages.
Stage 1: Cervix Opening
This stage lasts from the beginning of contractions until the cervix opens fully (about 10 cm).
At first, contractions may come every 10 minutes and last about 20-30 seconds.Over time, they become
- closer together (every 2-3 minutes)
- longer (around 60 seconds)
- more intense
When the cervix is fully open and contractions reach their peak, you will usually be moved to the delivery room. For first-time mothers, this stage may take around 12 hours (about 7 hours for those who have given birth before).
Itβs best to decide early to secure your preferred option.
You may feel like pushing, but wait until staff tell you. Breathing slowly, applying pressure to your lower back, or focusing on exhaling can helo manage discomfort.
Stage 2: Delivery of the Baby
In this stage, your baby moves through the birth canal and is born.
With each contraction, your baby naturally pushes, and your baby gradually moves downward, rotating to pass through the birth canal.
Contractions are strong and come about every 1 minute.For first-time mothers, this stage usually takes about 1 hour (around 30 minutes if you have given birth before).
What you do
- push when instructed
- breathe between contractions
What you may hear
- γεΌεΈγγ¦γγ γγγ (kokyu site kudasai / breathe)
- γγγγγ§γγ γγγ (ikinde kudasai / push)
Between contractions, relax your body and take slow, deep breaths to help your baby get enough oxygen.
Before this stage, you’ll likely have attended regular prenatal checkups:
π Read: What to Expect During Prenatal Checkups in Japan
Stage 3: Delivery of the Placenta
After the baby is born, the placenta which provided nutrients and oxygen during pregnancy is delivered.
After delivery:
- your baby will be checked (breathing, weight, condition)
- you may hold your baby
- any necessary treatment will be done
- Then you move to a recovery room.
In Japan, hospital stays are usually about 5-7 days
Make sure you’re prepared for your hospital stay:
π Read: What to Pack for Hospital Birth in Japan
Birth Day Flow (Quick View)
5. Key Phrases & Next Step
You donβt need perfect Japanese – simple words are enough:
I’m having contractons
β ι£η (jintsuu) γγγΎγγγ
My water broke
β η ΄ζ°΄ (hasui) γγΎγγγ
It hurts.
β ηγ (itai) γ§γγ
Is everything ok?
β 倧δΈε€« (daijobu) γ§γγοΌ
Please help or Thank you
β γι‘ (nega) γγγΎγγ
Useful Links (Official & Trusted)
- Hospitals with Foreign Language Speaking Doctors (Kyoto City)
- Maternal & Child Health Interpreter Consultation (SHARE)
Multilingual support for communicating at clinics and hospitals. - AMDA Medical Information Center
Helps you find clinics and hospitals with foreign-language support
