Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Giving Birth in Japan – Complete & Practical Guide
Are you living in Japan and preparing to welcome your baby? Understanding key Japanese medical terms related to childbirth is crucial for communicating effectively with doctors, nurses, and midwives. This guide provides a complete list of 40+ essential Japanese words to help you feel more confident during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care in Japan.
📌 1. Vocabulary for Labor and Contractions
| Japanese Term | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お産 | osan | Childbirth |
| 出産 | shussan | Delivery |
| 兆候（サイン） | choukou (sain) | Sign / Symptom |
| 陣痛 | jintsuu | Contractions |
| 前駆陣痛 | zenkujintsuu | False labor |
| おしるし | oshirushi | Bloody show |
| 陣痛の間隔 | jintsuu no kankaku | Interval between contractions |
| 破水 | hasui | Water breaking |
| 前期破水 | zenki hasui | Premature rupture of membranes |
📌 2. During Delivery
| Japanese Term | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 内診 | naishin | Internal exam |
| ノンストレステスト (NST) | – | Non-stress test (fetal monitor) |
| 分娩室 | bunbenshitsu | Delivery room |
| いきむ | ikimu | To push |
| 深呼吸 | shinkokyuu | Deep breathing |
| 微弱陣痛 | bijaku jintsuu | Weak contractions |
| 導尿 | dounyou | Catheterization |
| 点滴 | tenteki | IV drip |
| 合併症 | gappeishou | Complications |
📌 3. Types of Delivery
| Japanese Term | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自然分娩 | shizen bunben | Natural birth |
| 予定帝王切開 | yotei teiou sekkai | Scheduled C-section |
| 緊急帝王切開 | kinkyuu teiou sekkai | Emergency C-section |
| 無痛分娩 | mutsuu bunben | Painless delivery / Epidural birth |
| 吸引分娩 | kyuuin bunben | Vacuum-assisted delivery |
| 鉗子分娩 | kanshi bunben | Forceps delivery |
📌 4. Medical Interventions
| Japanese Term | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 卵膜剥離 | ranmaku hakuri | Membrane sweep |
| 人工破膜 | jinkou hamaku | Artificial rupture of membranes |
| 会陰切開 | ein sekkai | Episiotomy |
| 会陰縫合 | ein hougou | Perineal stitches |
| 陣痛促進剤 | jintsuu sokushinzai | Labor-inducing medicine |
| 全身麻酔 | zenshin masui | General anesthesia |
| 区域麻酔 | kuiki masui | Local anesthesia |
| 硬膜外麻酔 | koumakugai masui | Epidural anesthesia |
| 腰椎麻酔 | youtsui masui | Spinal anesthesia |
| 子宮壁 | shikyuu heki | Uterine wall |
| 縦切り | tatekiri | Vertical incision |
| 横切り | yokokiri | Horizontal incision |
| 傷跡 | kizuato | Surgical scar |
| 鎮痛薬 | chintsuuyaku | Painkiller |
📌 5. After Delivery
| Japanese Term | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 悪露 | oro | Lochia (postpartum bleeding) |
| 弛緩出血 | shikan shukketsu | Postpartum hemorrhage |
| へその緒を切る | heso no o wo kiru | Cut the umbilical cord |
| 初乳 | shonyuu | Colostrum |
| 初期母子接触 | shoki boshi sesshoku | Skin-to-skin contact |
| 新生児 | shinseiji | Newborn |
| 黄疸 | oudan | Jaundice |
| 胎便 | taiben | Meconium |
| 胎便吸引症候群 | taiben kyuuin shoukougun | Meconium aspiration syndrome |
| 子宮の回復 | shikyuu no kaifuku | Uterus recovery |
📌 Tips for Expecting Mothers in Japan
- Memorize these words to communicate clearly during labor and postpartum care.
- Print this list or save it to your phone for easy reference.
- Practice pronunciation if possible to feel more confident during conversations with hospital staff.