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More on the Fureai Hospital in Yokohama

Following up my Diary entry about the Fureai Hospital in Yokohama, Japan, I have received a lovely email from Dr Tomako Saotome who would like me to mentioned that the Head of this lovely maternity unit is Dr Keiji Satoh. It was his idea to establish the mother and baby friendly maternity unit and he enlisted the help of the midwives in the area and together they collaborated, with Dr Saotome and a few others, to establish this outstanding facility.

All of them deserve praise and recognition for their dedication and vision and it is to be hoped that the owner of the private hospital understands the importance and potential of the unit he has within the hospital.

Here are some images of this unique birth place.

The main birth room, with its traditional tatami matting, bamboo walls and sliding doors is a haven of peace and tranquility. The room is set up with three mats in readiness for the breastfeeding clinic, which was about to begin.

The garden can be glimpsed through the door of this small room, once used for Japanese Tea Ceremonies and now a special cosy birth place for some lucky babies.

The breastfeeding clinic in progress. This mother is nursing one baby while the midwife gently massages her engorged breasts to ease discomfort.

Posted by andrea at December 22, 2005 08:46 AM