CEC Childbirth Classes

Childbirth Education Center (CEC) has been devoted to preparing women and their partners for the journey through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood since 1997. Over 1600 couples hailing from 75 countries have enjoyed and been inspired by our interactive and dynamic teaching style which revolves around three basic tenets: family-centered care, freedom of choice, and empowerment of women. CEC's bilingual capability allows us an extensive network of maternity care providers in both Japan and abroad in order to bring you as much unbiased information as possible upon which to make your own informed decisions. Our classes put YOU at the center. 

Upcoming classes (all classes and consultations are held via Skype;           2013 "live in Tokyo" classes TBA at a later date): 

Birthing Your Baby: covers Japan-specific practices and options, anatomy and physiology of birth, relaxation and comfort techniques, choices regarding medical interventions, breastfeeding and the post-partum period, and more. 

         Next class:

                         Nov. 26th (Session 1 of 3), 9:00am-12:00pm
                         Nov. 30th (Session 2 of 3) 9:00am-12:00pm
                         Dec. 3rd (Session 3 of 3) 9:00am-12:00pm

                         ¥30,000

Baby Basics: offers practical baby-care tips and self-care skills for making the transition to parenthood a smooth one. 

             Next class:

                          Dec. 1st, 9:00am-12:00pm
                          ¥15,000

Choosing a Caregiver: private consultations that provide a clear and precise overview of Japanese maternity care, help you discover your true desires for birth, and guide you to specific caregivers that meet your needs in Japan.  Sessions are 1 - 2 hours long.   ¥10,000

Please contact CEC directly at birthinjapan@gmail.com to register. 

For those members on Facebook, the fastest and easiest way to keep up with our events, classes, last minute updates and the ever-changing landscape of Japanese maternity care is by liking our page: 

http://www.facebook.com/www.fb.ChildbirthEducationCenter.CEC . 

Slingmeet Meeting

Dear Mothers

Do you have a baby that loves being held and doesn’t like to be on the pram, cot, car seat,
etc? Would you like to get some work done in the house while responding to your child
needs? Do you find difficult to attend your older children while looking after your little one?

Many mothers find the use of a sling/baby carrier the perfect solution. But, have you ever
wanted to use one and didn’t know how? How about a place where you can try different
types before buying your own?

Would you like to learn how to make your own?

Slingmeet is a group for parents, or parent’s-to-be, to learn and share about their experience
in baby slings or baby carriers.

GROUP INFORMATION

NAME: Slingmeet Tokyo

WHEN: Thursday, 22nd November, from 10 to 12.

WHERE: If you wish to attend, please contact me at lirubianes@hotmail.com and I will send
the full address.

Next Le Leche League Meeting

La Leche League of Tokyo Central

La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing
education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All
breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding are welcome to come
to our free meetings or call our Leaders for breastfeeding help.

LLL Tokyo Central offers support and information through:
• Mother-to-Mother support
• Monthly meetings
• Telephone and e-mail help from accredited Leaders
• An extensive lending library with books in English on breastfeeding, nutrition,
childbirth, fertility, parenting, discipline, and other related topics.
• Sales of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and other books.

Meeting Details

Date:
Friday 9th November, 2012.
Time:
10:00am – 12:00 am
Location:
Franciscan Chapel Center
Address:
4-2-37 Roppongi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Babies and toddlers are always welcome. We meet in a very spacious hall and toys are available.

Meeting details can be also found on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LLLTokyoCentral

For information about the other English speaking groups, please check:
http://www.llli.org/japan.html

Group Leader Tokyo Central

Loreto Tel: 080-2187-6323
e-mail: loreto@llljapan.org

Akachan Honpo Guided Tour

Kate and Tomoko from TokyoUrbanBaby, have organized a guided tour to Akachan Honpo on November 7th. RSVP asap if you want to join the tour and find great products here in Japan.

Here is a message from Kate:

"Tomoko and I were invited to speak at the Tokyo Pregnancy Group (TPG) meeting yesterday! We had a great time meeting all the expecting mums and talking about our birth experience and ideas for getting out and about in Tokyo after baby is born.
There was particularly a lot of interest about baby products and what to buy for birth and after baby is born. One of the biggest challenges with having a baby in Japan is that all the products are in Japanese! On top of that, most of the brands are different from overseas, so it can be quite overwhelming when you’re trying to prepare for the birth of your baby.
In order to help these mums and mums-to-be, we decided to do a Guided Tour to the Akachan Honpo store in Tokyo on 7th November to explain about all the products! For details see invitation below!"

Please RSVP to Kate if you would like to join! What a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with products and packaging that are not in our native language.

Interview from TokyoUrbanBaby

At the last TPG meeting, Kate and Tomoko from TokyoUrbanBaby.com, came to speak about their birthing experiences in Japan and baby products available here in Tokyo.

Kate interviewed two TPG members about their experiences being pregnant in Japan. Check out the interviews HERE!

Yoga Tree in Hiroo

Updated on April 4th, 2014

This class is based on how to do a yoga practice that builds strength, flexibility and vitality, which cultivates breath awareness, deep relaxation techniques, to bond with your baby, rehearse for labor, and to prepare for a faster recovery.  It is a wonderful time to experience the changes in your body with yoga in a safe and nurturing environment and to share with other pregnant women your feelings and discomforts you may be experiencing during your pregnancy.

It is appropriate to join after the 12th week of pregnancy until delivery of your baby. 

Date:   Wednesdays

Time:  1:00pm - 2:30pm

Instructor: Megumi Hirasawa

Yoga Tree also provides Postnatal Yoga every Tuesday. Please see Website for more details. 

Usual Cost:

Drop-in      3000 yen   

5 classes  11,500 yen   

10 classes  21,000 yen

Location: 

5-5-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo  150-0012, Japan

 www.yogatree.jp

Le Leche League

     On Thursday we had a wonderful meeting with Loreto Iglesias-Rubianes from Tokyo Le Leche League. She provided the group with a wealth of information regarding preparation for child birth, and breastfeeding techniques. Please contact the Le Leche League if you are interested in becoming a member, joining their meetings, or find difficulty with breast feeding.


Le Leche League Website : http://www.llli.org/resources.html?m=0

FURLA PRE-NATAL YOGA SCHEDULE

Hello Ladies. Please find below the new schedule for Pre-natal Yoga at Furla.

For more information about Furla Pre-natal Yoga check click HERE

TPG Lunch, Thursday September 27th

As our newsletter mentioned, we have to cancel our meeting for October 11th, due to a last minute cancelation from the speaker. However, we would still love to get everyone together for a lunch. We have reserved a table at Roy's in Roppongi Hills for Thursday, September 27th at 11:30. Roy's has a wide selection of menu options, from salads, seafood and burgers and fries. http://www.roys-tokyo.com/category/menu/lunch/

Here is the address:

6-10-1 Roppongi Hills

Westwalk 511 C

ACCESS: http://www.roppongihills.com/en/guide/access/

Please RSVP as soon as possible and no later than next Tuesday to TokyoPregnancyGroup@gmail.com.  Also, when making the reservation the woman informed us that it will be a busy day at the restaurant, so if you could please come about 10 minutes early we can choose our menu options and avoid a long waiting period for the food. 

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Slingmeet Group in Tokyo

Do you have a baby that loves being held and doesn’t like to be on the pram, cot, car seat, etc? Would you like to get some work done in the house while responding to your child needs? Do you find difficult to attend your older children while looking after your little one?

Many mothers find the use of a sling/baby carrier the perfect solution. But, have you ever wanted to use one and didn’t know how? How about a place where you can try different types before buying your own? 

Would you like to learn how to make your own?

Slingmeet is a new group for parents, or parent’s-to-be, to learn and share about their experience in baby slings or baby carriers.

GROUP INFORMATION

NAME: Slingmeet Tokyo

WHEN: Thursday, 27^th September, from 11 am till 1 pm.

WHERE: Children and Family Support Center (nickname: Everyone and support center of kids), located on the 2^nd Floor.

ADDRESS: Zip 108-8315 1-4-10, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo. BEWARE that the Children Centre is quite a new building; your GPS may take you to the street behind. Children and Family Support Center is located next to "Saiseikai Hospital", along the inner circular route of the expressway

NEAREST STATION: the metropolitan Oedo line Akabane bridge station.

For further meeting information, please check our website:

http://slingmeet-tokyo.jimdo.com/

TPG Excursion to Suitengu Shrine

A few TPG members headed to Suitengu Shrine to pray for an easy birth. Members followed all the rituals of washing, tossing in a few coins into the collection, ringing the bell and praying.

Some members purchased amulets to keep with them or place in their hospital bags to ensure a safe birth.  Since dogs are thought to have an easy labor, the shine features a dog statue with her puppy. Everyone was sure to give the mother dog a rub.  It was a fun afternoon! 


Suitengu Shrine
2-4-1 Nihonbashi-kakigaracho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3666-7195
Open daily 8:00 am to 7:00 pm

TPG Dinner at Ivy Place

TPG members and their partners met for dinner at Ivy Place in Daikanyama. The turn-out was great with eighteen members and partners attending. It was wonderful to get to know some of our members who are working full-time and unable to attend our Thursday meetings. We will definitely plan another evening or weekend event very soon.

Article about doula in Metropolis

Our own TPG member Jane Kitagawa who is about to give birth any day now has written the following article for Metropolis about Olivia Arakawa:

http://metropolis.co.jp/features/body-soul/birth-control/

Once Your Little One Arrives - Slingmeet

NAME: Slingmeet

WHEN: 4^th Friday of the month (next meeting 27^th April), from 11 am till 1 pm.

WHERE: Children and Family Support Center (nickname: Everyone and support center of kids), located on the 2^nd Floor.

ADDRESS: Zip 108-8315 1-4-10, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo

NEAREST STATION: the metropolitan Oedo line Akabane bridge station.

Please check the following link for the map: http://trans.city-minato.jp/LUCMINATO/ns/tl.cgi/http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kosodatesien/kodomo/kodomo/shienshisetsu/15/03.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XPARAM=keyword%2c&XCHARSET=utf-8&XPORG=%2c

FACILITIES: The Children and Family support are kindly offering us this room for free. The meeting room can hold up to 20 people. They kindly offer us playmats and a set of toys. Food is not allowed in the room, however, just outside of the room there is a snack area with few tables. They also have a children room with some toys for any parent and child to enjoy.

There is no parking area.

BOOKING: it is not necessary. However, as the room is up to 20 people, I would appreciate if you send an e-mail to confirm your attendance at: lirubianes@hotmail.com

The advantages of baby carrying are numerous for both parents and babies. Please find some of the examples taken from LLLI website: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbbabywearing.html

Why Wear Your Baby in a Sling?

• Babies whose mothers wear them in slings are calmer and cry less.
• It is easy to nurse discreetly when the baby is in a sling as the fabric shields both the baby and the mother from the public view.
• Mothers find it easier to carry on their normal daily activities. Both their hands are free and their babies are quickly soothed. Looking after older children, housework, shopping, walking for exercise and even using computers become more manageable tasks.
• Travelling is easier when babies are tucked securely into slings.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Loreto

Infant Sleep Consultant

Deborah Taylor offers advice on how to prepare for and help young babies to sleep well and self settle. She is English and lives and works in Hong Kong as an Infant and Child Sleep Consultant. Her website:

http://www.infantsleepresources.com/
Her facebook page may also be of interest as it contains regularly added tips, testimonials, upcoming events etc
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Infant-Sleep-Resources/194108337284572

TGP Tokyo (Trying to Get Pregnant)

TGP Tokyo (Trying to Get Pregnant) is an infertility support group in Tokyo which provides informal opportunities for women and men experiencing with infertility to connect with one another, to discuss their situations and to receive support from others who have had similar experiences or who are struggling with similar issues.

Group moderators are volunteers and are not mental health professionals.
Attendance is free.
For more information about joining the group, please visit http://www.tgptokyo.com/

Yoyo Market

Yoyo Market brings you the finest goods from IKEA and Costco straight to your door anywhere in Japan. On top of everything you need from IKEA and Costco we also carry a massive selection of imported foods and organic goods from importers across Japan. We are the only IKEA home delivery service in English in Japan, and we have the best shipping rates, prices and speed of delivery in the business. We know that in Japan finding everything you want and getting it home can be a huge hassle so we've tried our best to get you everything in one place and top it all off with the fastest shipping in the business. How fast? If you order before 12 noon on a weekday we can have it at your door the next morning for most parts of the country. We don't charge extra for cold or frozen shipping, and have a free shipping policy for orders over 30,000 yen. And, we think our prices stack up well against any other online supermarket, hands down. Basically we try our hardest to bring you more of what you want faster and cheaper than anyone else, and what's more give you unparalleled and personal customer service. Give Yoyo Market and try and see what everyone is talking about! We are your one stop online supermarket serving all of Japan.

For all members of the Tokyo Pregnancy Group we'd like to offer a 500 yen discount for orders over 10,000 yen until the end of March 2012. Just type in TPG-001 in to the coupon code space on the checkout page to receive your special discount, and then sit back and relax until your order arrives at your front door! 

Pregnancy Sewing Classes

Pregnancy Sewing Classes

The Sewing Circle is offering special Sewing Classes for international pregnant women

in Tokyo!

If you have difficulties finding pregnancy clothes in Japan, learn to make your own 

or get a better fitting for the garments that you already have.

With much creativity and a few simple techniques it is easier than you think

and maybe you are even getting in the mood to sew some items for your new baby.

Please check http://sewingcircle.wordpress.com/sewing-classes for details.

Prenatal Yoga in Roppongi

PRENATAL YOGA

Prenatal yoga is an excellent way to prepare for the birth of your baby.
Many expectant mothers discover the inner joy and balance that is benefited from the practice and certainly continue after giving birth.


PRENATAL YOGA OBJECTIVES: 
Discover the potential to influence your body and mind in a positive way.
Experience and practice the emphasis on self-awareness, relaxation and equanimity which is the perfect preparation for your childbirth.
Adjust to your inner and outer changes with extraordinary flexibility and release physical tension in your muscles and joints.
Increase your energy and vitality and learn how to relax deeply and quieten your mind.

Classes are held by Rajay Mahtani who has been offering prenatal yoga classes in Tokyo for TPG since it’s inception by Elena de Carplus.
Furthermore, the location of the classes in the tranquil space of the Japanese Yoga Room at the Azabu Civic Community Center offers a unique opportuity to savour the experience of being pregnant in Tokyo and making new friends with other class members!

Please do not hesitate to contact Rajay for enquiries at :

rajay@gol.com