The official announcement

A student who reads my blog recently commented that the cutesy references (bun in the oven, etc) in my announcement post a few weeks back went right over her head, and even the picture of my enormous tummy might not have clued her in if she hadn't already known me and heard the news (because, you know, some women just have naturally big bellies). So for the benefit of any readers who are not native English speakers, or are used to seeing women with giant beer guts, or are just tuning in, here is the official announcement: I'm expecting. I have a pea in the pod. I'm with child. I'm knocked up, in the club, enwombed, in an interesting condition, full of fetus, eating for two, gestating, in the family way. I'm preggo, preggers, pregtacular, pregsellent. Let me just spill it out then: I'm pregnant.

I hope that clears things up.

Now for the details. I'm due September 18th, which makes me six months pregnant (or seven if you're Japanese- more on that another time). I don't know the gender, nor do I want to. We have a boy name picked out but are completely stumped on a girl name. Whatever it turns out to be, it will be the cutest, smartest, bestest baby ever.

I'll be having the baby here in Japan, hopefully at a midwife-run birthing centre called Mejiro Birth House. If all goes well it will be a water birth, and completely natural. That's not necessarily because I am a crunchy granola earth mother type, it's more because a Canadian style birth (with an epidural, husband present, and the choice to room in with the baby; and without an unnecessary episiotomy and ten thousand dollar price tag) is not available to me. So if I can't have it pain-free, then I'd like as few interventions as possible. I guess I'm an all-or-nothing kind of girl.

I've had an easy pregnancy so far, with only the occasional bout of very mild morning sickness (more like a gentle hint of queasiness) and a few other minor symptoms in my first trimester. I have a healthy appetite and although I have no wacky cravings, I did have a few general preferences and a whole bunch of strange aversions in my first trimester, all of which have gone away. I am full of energy, inexplicably happy and I love being pregnant. In some ways I wish the baby would stay in there forever. It's cute when kicks and hiccups, I can sleep all night (usually), and I don't have to deal with crying, dirty diapers, or sore nipples.

I was hoping to keep working (I only work part-time anyway) until the birth, but for reasons unrelated to my pregnancy my contract ended in April, and it didn't seem like a good idea to go job-hunting while pregnant considering I do want to stay home with the baby for at least the first year. So except for a few private classes per week I'm unemployed, which is the norm in Japan, as most women are expected to quit their jobs early in their pregnancies. I thought I'd be bored to death but am actually loving all the free time I have. I'd also love to have an income, but you can't have everything so I'm just enjoying this time off because I know it won't happen again for many, many years.

Being pregnant in Japan is really different from not being pregnant in Japan. Here's a hint: if you're feeling lonely or alienated in this country, if you hate the lack of human interaction and the way people go out of the way to avoid each other, if your neighbors ignore you and strangers refuse to understand your Japanese, then get yourself knocked up. Seriously. It's an instant ticket to acceptance. My neighbors have become way friendlier. Strangers automatically speak Japanese to me, without even seeming to notice I'm not Japanese. Strangers smile when they see my belly. People offer me seats on the bus and train (well, sometimes). A woman offered me her umbrella on a rainy day last week, "so the baby doesn't get chilled". Shop clerks tell me to be careful on my way home. A few cashiers at the supermarket have carried my shopping basket to the bagging station for me. Everyone is just so nice all of the sudden! It's like before I was just some random foreigner, maybe a tourist or maybe here for temporary a work contract, but certainly not part of the community. And now that I'm visibly pregnant I'm obviously here to stay, and thus a full-fledged member of society.

Of course, this society treats pregnancy quite differently than the one I grew up in. I could fill post after post with all the differences I've encountered so far, but based on my blogging habits of late I doubt that will happen. I would maybe like to write a bit about pregnancy and childbirth in Japan though, as there is not much information out there for people in my situation. I have no intention of changing the focus of Blue Lotus, so please don't worry about this becoming a mommy blog. But since pregnancy has pretty much taken over my life right now, you can expect a few baby-related posts in the future. So please bear with me while I bear this child.

Comments

[kat]

great post! especially liked the part about being accepted into society! (seems so true!) hope your delivery goes smoothly. take care.

[lil]

yay do write about being pregnant and mommy hood as a foreigner in Japan it would be so interesting, Also interesting what you say about being instantly accepted more into society, I suppose it's like that in every country, you do get better treatment overall with a baby belly.

Congratulations again!

[astrorainfall]

I'll be interested to read about the differences between being preggos in Japan and Canada. I may not be having kids now but the cultural differences are always fascinating.

[illahee]

oh, so you're up the duff?! that's great news!!

my birthday is september 20 and i keep telling people due in september that i'm more than happy to share my birthday! but it's ok if you give birth before then. even my own daughter didn't want to share with me! lol

[Karen]

Hi Amy! Been a reader of your blog for quite sometime, but only actually comment on it this time. Congrats on your pregnancy! Hopefully you'll find a perfect name for the baby soon if it's a girl!

[Su-Lin]

I love reading about the cultural differences with pregnancy! I wonder if things will change again when your baby is out?

[Helen]

Congrats! I normally pop in through my google reader, and I must have missed your announcement, although I clued in from the shrine post. I would love to know what the official "word" is on sushi while pregnant. In the US, my midwife was cool with it as long as it was flash frozen and made at a reputable place, and I did enjoy some here and there, but most people act like you might as well be playing Russian Roulette if you dare set foot in a sushi bar. I felt OK about it, but I felt like I had to sneak around.

[beritbunny]

Hi! I'm a long-time lurker, but never commented!

I do enjoy travel and food blogs, but find myself intensely interested in the "Japanese Child-birthing Experience" sounds funny, but there it is. I do hope you'll share more along the way! I found it really interesting the way that everyone is suddenly so friendly.

In any case, best wishes for your pregnancy and childbirth! :)

[Theresa]

Congrats!
It is a wonderful post, a good read about different customs, culture and food.
...someone told me that "being a Mother was a sweet sacrifice."
But to me, it is enjoying a little miracle grow right before my eyes.

[J. B. Rainsberger]

Congratulations, Amy! I wish you the best of health, hope your baby greets the world smoothly, and that your neighbors still like you in four months. :) Big hugs.

[Mariko]

Congratulations! I was among the clueless. I guess I should be reading more carefully!

[Marijoe]

Congratulations from Seattle, Amy!!

[Amy]

Kat, It reminds of when I went through a phase of very early morning walks at the local park. People were super friendly and I felt really accepted, at least with the geriatric morning bird crowd.

Lil, I go home for a visit in a few days so I'll find out how pregnant women are treated in Canada. Probably just like you say, everyone's nice to ladies with a baby bump!

Astrorainfall, most of the pregnancy related cultural difference I've come across so far have been really annoying rather than fascinating! I'll be blogging about that soon.

Illahee, I missed one! I've actually never heard "up the duff" and if I didn't know the context I'd have no idea what you meant!

Karen, we still have no idea about a name and at this point I've given up on "perfect" and am just hoping for "decent"!

Su-Lin, from what I can gather the cultural difference become even greater once the baby arrives.

Helen, I'll be posting about that eventually but the short version: there is no official word on sushi, and nearly all women continue to eat it as they did before pregnancy. However, many doctors and midwives do caution against eating raw and undercooked meat, fish and eggs, including sashimi (sushi with cooked toppings is just fine), a fact that shocks women who hear it. Like you I still eat sashimi and sushi though, and just make sure it's fresh and handled properly.

Beritbunny, I've always been interested in childbirth in Japan too, even when I was convinced I didn't want kids! I'm really glad I paid attention and I feel like I already know a lot (although there is still much to learn).

Theresa, in Japan they say "women are weak but mothers are strong". It might have a wee bit of truth to it, but I like your saying better!

J.B. thanks for bursting my bubble! Totally hadn't thought about that but you're right- if the baby is anything like I was then our neighbors will hate us! I follow your adventures on your blog and love your Mexico experiment. I'd trade Japan for Mexico any day!

That's OK Mariko, I only recently announced it. It will be pretty hard not to notice from now on though, because what else am I going to post about?

Thanks Marijoe!

[terri]

congratulations! your baby WILL be the smartest, prettiest and cutest little bundle of joy!

don't eat for two, eat well. i ate for two n have silver stripes all over.

[yamaonna]

I found this post very very intresting. I had no idea that you would be treated differently if you were pregnant in Japan. Previously I knew some ladies of Japanese descent born in Canada but pregnant in here, and their expericences were very different. I guess they were just another face in the crowd to the average Japanese person.
Interesting also to read about the customs around pregnancy in Japan, not something you would learn without experience I think!

[Jennifer]

I would like nothing more than to see this become a mommy blog, for I am a mom myself, now. My focus has changed from foodie to mommy! In the early days with a baby, sometimes there's no time for anything but chips for lunch. Your priorities change! I can't wait for entries about your baby and how you find life as a mom in Japan! Congratulations!

[Tori]

Congratulations!!!!

[Oanh]

Congratulations Amy! I don't comment on your blog enough. Reading your blog helps me feel connected to Japan again. I visited Kyoto in High School as part of an exchange program and I fell in love with the culture and people. I've forgotten the majority of my Japanese by now.

[Gaijinwife]

Congratulations! I'm not sure if I've commented before. I hope the pregnancy is going well. Ditto on the being accepted into society - pregnancy and cute babies work wonders for that.

Also, thanks for the biwa jam recipe. I'm going to write that down. MIL gave me a whole lot and they sat and rotted in the fridge as I think they are a pain to eat individually. They do remind me of home though as we had a big loquot tree in our garden. Glad I will be able to do something with them next season :)

[Camemberu]

Congratulations on the baby! I love Japan and I love your blog! Hope you'll keep it going, even with baby on board. Looking forward to see what it's like to raise a little one in Japan.

[Amy]

Thanks Terri. There is actually no concept of "eating for two" here and in fact it's not unheard of to DIET during pregnancy here.

Yamaonna, I've heard of plenty of women, both Japanese and foreign, have to endure constant advice, warnings and scoldings from strangers. I've been spared so far, except for a very mild admonishment from an old lady who thought I shouldn't be on a bicycle.

Thanks Jennifer! I'm already perfectly happy with chips for lunch- I wonder if it will get worse than that?

Thank you Tori.

Oanh, thanks!

Thanks Gaijinwife! I guess I better make sure my baby is cute. A homely, colicky baby will probably get me ostracized!

Thanks Camemberu!

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