We will be holding our London Birth Seminar for the third time on February 24th.

For those experiencing pregnancy and childbirth for the first time, it's filled with unknowns, especially if childbirth itself is a new experience.

And when it comes to giving birth abroad, the uncertainty can be even greater.

Even for experienced mothers, while they may have gone through childbirth before, the prospect of giving birth overseas can still bring about anxiety, whether it's their first time or not.

I, too, once found myself pregnant for the first time just two months after arriving in the UK. Amidst all the confusion, I craved information in Japanese! That's when I came across the "Maternity Book" published by Nakayoshikai.

Additionally, attending Nakayoshikai gatherings during pregnancy and hearing firsthand birth stories from fellow moms was incredibly helpful.

Childbirth is a major event in life. With the desire for it to be a satisfying experience without anxiety, we started the London Birth Seminar with hypnobirthing instructor Hiroko Wilson.

Nakayoshikai collaborates with professionals involved in childbirth and childcare. So, before each seminar, we consult doctors and midwives working for the NHS (National Health Service) to gather the latest information from the field and keep ourselves updated.

Now, a common question from pregnant women who attend the birth seminar or Nakayoshikai gatherings is:

"Is it okay to give birth in the NHS? Is a private hospital better?"

Even six years ago, the information I found while surfing the net was mostly negative about the NHS, so I understand the feelings of those who ask this question.

But how does it actually fare in reality, not just on the internet?

I've given birth twice in the NHS in the UK, and from listening to the birth experiences of hundreds of mothers at Nakayoshikai, while some may not have had good experiences, the majority overwhelmingly express that giving birth in the NHS was either good or unproblematic.

Of course, there are instances where there's a shortage of staff in the NHS, resulting in delays in receiving attention, long waiting times, or less-than-ideal hospital food (laughs).

However, the doctors, midwives, nurses, anesthetists, and others on the ground are all professionals.

In the UK, healthcare professionals undergo revalidation every 3 to 5 years to renew their licenses and improve the quality of healthcare. (Doctors revalidate every 5 years, while nurses and midwives do so every 3 years.)

Unlike in Japan, where healthcare professionals are typically left to improve their skills individually after obtaining their national qualifications, in the UK, they go through this revalidation process every 3 to 5 years. This makes me feel that everyone is a professional due to this system.

Now, getting back to the main point, is it better to go private than to use the NHS? There are two things that I always tell everyone during the seminar:

Doctors and nurses working in private hospitals are the same personnel as those in the NHS (some may work in both).

If highly specialized medical care is needed, you will be transferred to the NHS.

When I first heard this from a doctor friend, I was surprised. But in reality, healthcare professionals working in private hospitals and the NHS are the same.

There may be some who work exclusively in private hospitals, but from a doctor's perspective, relying solely on private practice isn't ideal for their status.

And when it comes to highly specialized medical care, patients are transferred to the NHS, so those requiring complex treatments might feel more assured starting off with the NHS.

The advantage of private hospitals is that you can get consultations done immediately and, after childbirth, you can stay in the hospital for as many days as you wish as long as you can pay for it.

Even in the NHS, pregnant women and babies have a high priority, so you will get same-day consultations. After childbirth, the average stay is 6 hours to 1 day for normal deliveries and about 48 hours for caesarean sections. The length of stay may increase if observation is required.

So, when it comes to the question of whether the NHS is okay or if private is better, my response is:

"The NHS is fine. The healthcare professionals are professionals, so there's no need to worry. If you don't mind spending over £10,000 in medical expenses and want to stay in the hospital for several days after childbirth, then private might be better."

I would be delighted if you could consider this information as one of your choices between giving birth in the NHS or going private.

Please refer to pages 8 to 11 of Nakayoshikai's Maternity Book for a comparison table and more details on the differences between the NHS and private hospitals.

The London Birth Seminar is held once every four months in February, June, and October. Pregnant women and their partners are welcome to join us.

Wishing you all a childbirth experience free of anxiety.

Yuko Murao, Director of Nakayoshikai UK