maternity
Natural Birth
自然分娩 (shizen bunben)
Natural birth, also called vaginal delivery, refers to giving birth through the birth canal without major surgical intervention. Japan widely encourages natural birth, and many hospitals promote physiological approaches with minimal medical intervention when safe. Pain management options vary by facility, as epidural analgesia is not universally available. Hospital stays after a vaginal birth in Japan are typically four to five days, which is longer than in many Western countries but allows thorough postnatal support.
Some Japanese maternity facilities operate as midwife-led birth centers (josan-in) specializing in natural low-intervention birth for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Natural Birth |
| Japanese (日本語) | 自然分娩 |
| Chinese (中文) | 自然分娩 |
| Korean (한국어) | 자연 분만 |
| Portuguese | Parto natural |
| Spanish | Parto natural |
| Filipino | Natural na panganganak |
| Thai | การคลอดธรรมชาติ |
| Vietnamese | Sinh thường |
| Romanization | shizen bunben |
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Read the guide →Last reviewed: September 2026