"Please give us time" 11:14 on March 13 to prevent "isolated childbirth"

Do you know the word “isolated birth”?
Birth alone in a bathroom, etc. without attending a medical professional is a very dangerous act that sometimes affects the life of mother and child. In the so-called “Baby Post” established by a hospital in Kumamoto, half of the 144 people entrusted to date have been born with isolated births. The hospital, which has become more critical, is looking for concrete measures by referring to South Korea, which is taking advanced measures, but ... (Masaru Honjo, Kumamoto Broadcasting Station reporter)

Serious challenges of the baby post

Kumamoto City's private hospital, Jikei Hospital, has been operating the only baby cot in Japan, the so-called “Baby Post,” for 13 years, which accepts children whose parents cannot be raised anonymously.

By March of last year, it has protected 144 children. In fact, about half of the entrusted children are “isolated births”, who give birth by themselves in toilets or bathrooms without attending medical staff.

Childbirth can be life-threatening, with massive bleeding and the child getting stuck in the birth canal, so isolated childbirth is a very dangerous activity that can affect the life of the mother and child. In the "Baby Post," there were also children who were stillbirth after isolated births.

Deputy director Ken Hasuda is sorry that many children are at risk of death before arriving at the hospital.

Mr. Hasuda: "I wouldn't have done this if I had a baby at the hospital. It's a good idea to get to the hospital and ask the hospital for help."

Anonymous telephone consultation ...

Jikei Hospital has also provided anonymous telephone consultations on pregnancy to prevent orphaned births. We receive more than 6,000 consultations a year.

"I'm sorry I couldn't talk to my family because I was a child with a former partner
"I'm worried about my surroundings"
Mostly from women who have single marriages and get pregnant.

Counselors give advice on how to tell the family or introduce a government contact, but say that many women cannot act because they fear being accused or scolded.

There is no end to women who can give birth without telling anyone about pregnancy.

Mr. Hasuda said, "When I see women who can't talk to anyone, I think that babies may be hard, but mothers are also hard. If you scolded your mother for being unmarried and getting pregnant, It will not be solved. ''

Jikei Hospital has begun exploring whether she can help women during pregnancy to prevent childbirth. The focus was on Korea, which has a generous support system.

The “advanced land” of support

Mr. Hasuda visited a private unmarried mother and child support facility in Seoul in January. Here, unmarried pregnant women give birth and provide free support until they become independent. Currently, 41 mothers and children are in the facility.

The admission procedure is extremely simple. You can enter without knowing your family members simply by telling them what you want to consult, your name, and your mobile phone number on the form or telephone on the website.

I found this facility on the Internet and talked to an 18-year-old woman who entered the facility.

Two years ago, she became pregnant when she was in her second year of high school. With proper medical support, both mother and child were healthy. The facility allows up to a year and a half of admission, during which time you can receive academic and vocational support.

The woman went on to college this March to become a physiotherapist.

An 18-year-old woman said, "Because there was no one who saw young pregnancy negatively, I was able to spend my life with peace of mind. Without facilities, I would not have been able to grow even if I could give birth alone."

In Korea, there are 22 such facilities nationwide, and the government bears up to 80% of the operating costs.

Complaints of the parties who moved society

However, South Korea used to have insufficient support. Institutional representatives point out that the driving force to change society was the compelling appeal of the suffering parties.

Director Kang said unmarried mothers said, "Please give us 1-2 years, if you live in a facility and receive education for employment, 80% of women will be able to raise their own children." The country also took it forward. "

In 1989, the Maternal and Child Welfare Law was enacted, and a system was established to consistently support the delivery and childcare of unmarried women. As a result, even if they are unmarried, the number of women who are independent and raise their own children has increased rapidly, and the eyes of society have changed drastically.

Japan has many negative voices

On the contrary, what kind of support is available for unmarried and pregnant women in Japan?

If you consult with a government office, you can be temporarily protected at a "women's shelter" or "maternal and child living support facility". However, unlike Korea, there is no system that consistently supports prenatal medical examinations, childbirth, and even financial independence after childbirth.

In the first place, many women say that they are afraid of public criticism and prejudice and have to even consult. In fact, there are many negative voices saying that it may promote unmarried pregnancy and childbirth.

Mr. Hasuda said, "I don't have to reveal my secrets" and "I accept warmly without scolding" These two are not really just about hospitals. It must be. "

The support you need

The women who are using the facility are close to me. I was very impressed to see that she was trying to do her best while receiving a lot of trouble, anxiety, and conflicts during her pregnancy and childbirth while she was unmarried.

Mr. Hasuda wants to accept unmarried pregnant women at Jikei Hospital and provide support like Korea, but Japan has no legal basis to operate such facilities and it is difficult to secure necessary funds. It is the current situation.

Pregnant women are often blamed for their opponent's men, leaving them alone.

In addition, the number of children who died "abused" on the day of their birth was 149 in the 15 years up to 2017, and the government has pointed out that most of them had a significant relationship with isolated childbirth.

Each of us strongly feels that we need to face reality and change society so that women do not become isolated.

Mai Kumamoto Broadcasting Reporter Mai Honjo Joined in 2016 and currently works for Minamata Branch