Maternal Health Care after Childbirth in Japan While Japan has very low rates of neonatal mortality, many issues surrounding maternal mental and physical health after childbirth go unaddressed. Over 100,000 mothers in Japan suffer from postpartum depression each year, though 80% feel they experienced near-depression without an official diagnosis. The founder of Madre Bonita started the organization after struggling with her own mental health in the year following childbirth when support systems for new mothers are lacking. Madre Bonita aims to address this issue by providing holistic fitness programs for mothers designed to support both physical and mental wellness after childbirth.

1. Maternal Health Care
after Childbirth in Japan
Madre Bonita
Hi, my name is Maco Yoshioka.
I am a founder and executive director of MadreBonita.

2. Madre Bonita is supporting mothers’ mental & physical healthcare.

3. Providing a holistic fitness program designed for women after childbirth.

4. Not only for the physical fitness but also for the mental wellness of mothers .

5. Now you arelooking at mothers with big smiles.

6. ButI ask you please not to take their smiles for granted.
and I would like to share some issues with you.

7. There is
a paradox.
There is a paradox concerning childbirth in Japan.

8. When you have a baby. First thing you hear is Congratulations.

9. Neonatal deaths per1000
Japan(1)
Pakistan(53)
per1000
Congo(56)
Somalia(61)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
The graph shows that we can give birth safely in Japan.
With good sanitation and medical treatment.

10. Not so simple
But things are not so simple.

11. 100,000/year
suffer from
postpartum
depression.
Every year in Japan 100,000 mothers suffer from postpartum depression
within a year after childbirth. That is 10% of all mothers with babies under 12months.

12. 80% feel
I was nealy
there.
80% said I was nearly there even though I wasn’t diagnosed as depression.
So many mothers are living on the edge with little babies in their hands.

13. QUESTION
What would you do
if your best friend told you
that she abused her baby?
Now I would like to ask you a question. What would you do if your best friend told you that
she abused her baby? You don’t want to believe it. But…What can you do to help her?
What could’ve been done to prevent it?

14. 60%
child abuse
victims
babies under 12
Actually 60% of the child abuse victims reported are babies under 12 month.
Such a heart breaking news.

15. So this is not somebody else’s problem. This is what Madre Bonita is tackling.

16. To bring solutions you have to find the reason causing the problem.
Now please listen to my story.

17. 1998 March
In 1998 I gave birth to my little son. Now that I am a mother of a teenager.
I still remember the hardest time I had. A year after childbirth.

18. 1998 April
The doctor told me the baby was growing well so there is nothing to worry about.
But I myself was feeling very unstable and exhausted.
Everyone’s attention was concentrated on the baby.
The mother was left alone with pressures and fatigue.

19. 1. Had never been
informed
2. No system for mothers I was surprised for 2 reasons.
First of all because I had never been informed I was going to be like this.
It was never taught at school. It's all hidden.
Secondly because there is no system for mothers to stay healthy.

20. maternal healthcare
paid at public expense
Pregnancy
Birth
mother BABY
When you look at the Japanese maternal healthcare paid at public expense.For expectant mothers free parenting class,
regular checkups, a lot of information.The National Health Insurance takes care of the cost of birth.
For babies free immunizations, free checkups, free medical care.But there is almost nothing for mothers.

21. Never blame
mothers.
So it is wrong to blame mothers for depression or child abuse.

22. Understanding
Professional
support
Social support
Lack of understanding lack of professional or social support are causing such problems.
That’s I found out 14 years ago.

23. Holistic fitness program
for
mothers after childbirth
Here is how we support mothers.
We have a network of 23 certified trainers in 9 prefectures from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
50 classes are held every week.

24. Since mothers and babies tend to be the last to be looked after because their voices are not very loud.
we are really impressed that people from overseas pay attention to mothers and babies in Tohoku
and understand the strong needs to support them to empower themselves.

25. Thank you so much for this opportunity
and all your support !
Madre Bonita
What we do might be a small step but I believe the power of an individual
who will be making a big impact. and the power of connecting each other with strong bond.
We are looking forward to sharing the process and results of our project.
Thank you so much for this opportunity and all your support !