Satogaeri Shussan: Giving Birth Back Home in Japan
🌸 Introduction
In Japan, there’s a unique cultural practice called “Satogaeri Shussan”, or returning home for childbirth. It means a pregnant woman returns to her parents’ home before delivery and stays there during and after childbirth.
As a working couple living near Tokyo, we chose this traditional method for the birth of our first child. In this article, we’ll share why we made that decision, how we prepared, and what we experienced along the way.
Traveling to her hometown in the late stage of pregnancy
🏡 What is “Satogaeri Shussan”?
“Satogaeri Shussan” refers to the practice of a pregnant woman moving to her parents’ home in the late stages of pregnancy, giving birth at a nearby hospital, and receiving postnatal support from her family.
Typically, women return around 30 to 34 weeks of pregnancy and stay for about a month after birth to rest and recover.
🌍 Differences Between Japan and Other Countries
In many countries, people usually give birth where they live. Some may invite their parents to help, or use postnatal care centers, but it’s rare for the expectant mother to return to her childhood home.
In Japan, support from the family—especially the mother—is considered essential, so Satogaeri Shussan is a very common choice.
Consulting with a familiar hospital through family connections
👩👧👦 Why We Chose Satogaeri Shussan
- My wife’s sister had already given birth at the same hospital, so we felt more secure with her experience.
- As this is our first child, my wife wanted to be in a familiar environment to ease anxiety.
- She took maternity leave 6 weeks before the due date and returned to her family home.
- I, the husband, continued working in the city and lived apart for over a month.
It was the longest time we had lived separately since our marriage, so I did feel a bit lonely. But putting the baby’s and my wife’s health first made this the best choice.
✅ Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Family can help with housework and childcare | Being apart as a couple for a long period |
| Wife can rest in a safe and known environment | Husband might miss the birth |
| First-time motherhood is supported by the wife’s mother | Traveling long distances in late pregnancy is tiring |
Ultrasound checkup at a local hospital after arriving
💬 A Husband’s Perspective
Spending the last weeks before childbirth apart was emotionally tough, but knowing my wife was in a supportive and comforting place made all the difference.
📝 Conclusion
Satogaeri Shussan is a uniquely Japanese childbirth style that makes the most of family support. It might not be for everyone, but for us, it helped ease fears and ensure a safe and warm delivery experience.
We hope this gives insight to those expecting a baby or international readers curious about childbirth in Japan.