Tackling all the Hidden

Problems

after Childbirth

MadreBonita

Hi, my name is Maco Yoshioka. I am a founder and executive director of MadreBonita.

Madre Bonita is supporting mothers’ mental & physical healthcare.

Providing a holistic fitness program designed for women after childbirth.

Not only for the physical fitness but also for the mental wellness of mothers .

Now you are looking at mothers with big smiles.

But I ask you please not to take their smiles for granted.and I would like to share some issues with you.

There is

a paradox.

There is a paradox concerning childbirth in Japan.

When you have a baby. First thing you hear is Congratulations.

Neonatal deaths per1000

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Somalia(61)

Congo(56)

Pakistan(53)

Japan(1)

per1000

The graph shows that we can give birth safely in Japan.With good sanitation and medical treatment.

Not so simple

But things are not so simple.

100,000/year

suffer from

postpartum depression.

Every year in Japan 100,000 mothers suffer from postpartum depression within a year after childbirth. That is 10% of all mothers with babies under 12months.

80% feel

I was nealy

there.80% said I was nearly there even though I wasn’t diagnosed as depression.

So many mothers are living on the edge with little babies in their hands.

QUESTIONWhat would you do

if your best friend told you

that she’s depressed

with her baby?

Now I would like to ask you a question. What would you do if your best friend told you that she can’t feel happy being with her baby ?

You don’t want to believe it. But…Would you accuse her?Or What can you do to help her?

What could’ve been done to prevent it?

60%

child abuse

victims babies under 12

month

Actually 60% of the child abuse victims reported are babies under 12 month.Such a heart breaking news.

After Birth CrisisWife→Husband• pregnancy74.3⇒12month45.5

Husband→Wife

• pregnancy74.3⇒12month62.2

Research by Benesse Institute for the Development

of the Next Generation（2011）

There is a data showing that

affection to her husband keep decreasing

after childbirth.

After birth Crisis

Divorce within 2years after

childbirth

39,000／year

30% of the total

Postpartum depression,

abuse of 0-year-olds, Marital

problems

All those problems

happens

after birth .

Is this mother’s fault?

No it’s our society’s fault.

Now that this is not somebody else’s problem. This is what Madre Bonita is tackling.

To bring solutions you have to find the reason causing the problem.

Now please listen to my story.

1998 March

In 1998 I gave birth to my little son. Now that I am a mother of a teenager.I still remember the hardest time I had. A year after childbirth.

1998 AprilThe doctor told me the baby was growing well so there is nothing to worry about.

But I myself was feeling very unstable and exhausted.Everyone’s attention was concentrated on the baby.

The mother was left alone with pressures and fatigue.

1. Had never been

informed

2. No support or

education for mothers &

familiesI was surprised for 2 reasons.

First of all because I had never been informed I was going to be like this.It was never taught at school. It's all hidden.

Secondly because there is no system for mothers to stay healthy.

maternal healthcare paid at public expense

mother

Pregnancy

Birth

BABYWhen you look at the Japanese maternal healthcare paid at public expense.For expectant mothers free parenting class,

regular checkups, a lot of information.The National Health Insurance takes care of the cost of birth.For babies free immunizations, free checkups, free medical care.But there is almost nothing for mothers.

My son in now

16 years old

What I experienced

16 years ago

Is a strong drive

to MadreBonita.

My son brought me

a misson

I pursue in my life.

I survived thanks to my friends.

Never blame

mothers.

So I don’t want you to blame mothers for depression or child abuse or marrige crisis.

・Understanding

・Professional

support

・Social supportLack of understanding lack of professional or social support are causing such problems.

That’s I found out 16 years ago.

Holistic fitness program

for

mothers after childbirth

Here is how we support mothers. We have a network of 22 certified trainers in 12 prefectures from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

50 classes are held every week.

Mothers tend to be the last to be looked after because their voices are hidden in their house. What we do might be a small step but I believe the power of each individual and each organization

and the power of connecting each other with strong bond will make a big impact. Please come to me to talk about this issue if you think you have any good ideas.

Thank you so much for this opportunity

and all your support !

Madre Bonita