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Active Birth workshop in Japan

This program was facilitated by the Japanese Birthing Association with the help of Austrade (the Australian Government’s overseas business assistance agency). Nanako Oba, the driving force behind both the Birth Sense Institute and the Association, had been working with the Australian Embassy in Tokyo on another project (importing Australian made organic cotton sanitary pads) when she approached them for help with the workshop. A venue was needed and help with translation.

The head of Austrade in Tokyo, Catherine Taylor, was enthusiastic and readily offered help. She has two small children herself, and had had good birth experiences in Tokyo. She knew of me already, as her sister had sent her a copy of Preparing for Birth: Mothers when she was pregnant and so she was pleased to have the chance to support my work in Japan. The Embassy staff were very welcoming and the facilities were excellent. My two translators, Mai and Airi were fantastic, and got right into the subject matter, being young and single themselves.

The group was made up of midwives from many hospitals, and some had travelled from the furtherest reaches of the country to attend. Several were involved with midwifery education and a number of independent midwives also came. It was a diverse group and we had a lot of fun working together during the two days.

The Japanese translation of my book, The Midwife Companion, will be published in March 2007. I have been working with Yoko Yuille (who translated for me at the workshop in Tokyo last year) as she now lives very conveniently in Sydney. The publisher is very excited about this book and there are already many pre-publication orders. I hope it enables more midwives to develop their skills around being “with women” and encourages midwives to stay working in this field.

There are other joint projects between the Japanese, the Australian Embassy in Tokyo and myself in the pipeline. I have really enjoyed working with these wonderful people and believe that we can make a difference for women giving birth in this amazing country.

Posted by andrea at December 16, 2006 12:57 PM