Where Are the Midwives?

Here is a WaPo article about a serious dearth of obstetricians in Japan, leading to the proposed separation of women from their home for the last month of pregnancy. It's hard enough being pregnant and worrying about the delivery and the health of the baby without being uprooted and sent away, possibly without your family or other support system.

With Japan stridently opposed to large-scale immigration that could alleviate the problem, the obstetrics crisis has raised serious questions about how this country can continue to operate the world's second largest economy and cover the costs of its huge elderly population. One in five Japanese are 65 or older.

What about small-scale immigration? What about importing health care workers from countries that can afford to lose them? How about taking some of the doctors that have had to retire here in the US because of rising malpractice insurance, pay their insurance for them and set them up in Japan? Oh sure, that's a naive and simple suggestion, I know that, but heck it is a starting place anyway.

I am baffled by the complete lack of discussion of midwifery in the article. Not even on word? Are there really no midwives at all in Japan? That would be suprising and sad. I've been really pleased by the spread of small birthing centers here in my local area.

I'm well aware that a midwife can't handle certain emergencies but a good midwife can deliver a baby in most situations and quite frankly midwives are generally more caring and compassionate, exactly what these isolated mothers to be need. Not only that but they could free up the scant obstetricians for the true medical emergencies.

My heart goes out to these women and I hope someone helps them, sooner rather than later.