On this episode we speak to Nina who has 3 birth stories at 3 different clinics for us to listen to and compare. At each birth she felt more and more empowered and although the journey was never 'perfect' and postpartum recoveries were hard with her husband having no paternity leave, there was always a positive outcome. She talks about navigating cultural differences, advocating and negotiating for certain birth practices and also coming to peace with birth preferences that she was denied. Care facilities: + Hirano Maternity Clini, Hyogo Prefecture + Santa Cruz Maternity Clinic, Takarazuka + Mom Clinic, Kita Kobe You can read more on Nina's blog here ------------------------------------------------- Show notes: Moving to Japan mid-pregnancy, episiotomy, Alexia Leachman, Fear Free Childbirth Podcast, paternity leave, foreign support, breastfeeding, breast engorgement, blogger, Kansai ------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Opening 00:41 - Intro 03:25 - Journey to Pregnancy #1 05:04 - Pregnancy 07:17 - Birth Story 13:05 - Postpartum recovery 16:22 - Journey to Pregnancy #2 17:23 - Pregnancy 21:07 - Birth Story 27:05 - Postpartum recovery 28:36 - Journey to Pregnancy #3 29:07 - Pregnancy 31:01 - Birth Story 34:53 - Postpartum recovery 36:37 - Costs 37:17 - Bottle time 43:08 - Outro