This page Sumida City Guide Pregnancy and Child Rearing

Pregnancy and Child Rearing

Pregnancy Registration and Mother's Handbook (Ninshin todoke to boshi techo)

In Japan you should register your pregnancy with the Public Health Division of the City Hall, public health centers, and branch offices of the City Hall. When you register, you will be given a "mother's handbook" (boshi techo in Japanese), and a mother and child health bag. The bag contains your Pregnancy and Health Checkup Card, among other items.

For further information, contact the Health Promotion Division, Sumida City Hall, 4th Floor, Tel. 5608-6191.

Mother and Child Health Handbook (Boshi kenko techo)

All tests received by the mother until the time of birth, as well as the overall health of both mother and child, are recorded in this handbook. It must be submitted whenever the child receives a medical check-up and/or immunization. This handbook may also be obtained after the birth of a child.

Pregnancy and Health Checkup Card (Ninpukenko shinsa jushinhyo)

It you present it when you receive a health checkup for an expected mother, for specified checkup items, you will be subsidized with a certain upper limit.

Toxemia During Pregnancy (Ninshin chudokusho ni nattara)

Sumida ward has system to subsidize medical fee when an expected mothers has to be hospitalized due to High Blood Pressure syndrome for an expected mother.

For further information, contact the Mukojima Public Health Center (Tel. 3611-6135) or the Honjo Public Health Center (Tel. 3622-9137).

Assistance with Medical Expenses (Nyuin josan)

If you cannot afford the cost of hospitalization for childbirth, you can receive Assistance with Medical Expenses.

Please consult the Public Assistance Division, Sumida City Hall, 3rd Floor, Tel. 5608-6154.

Free Milk Supply (Konamiruku no shikyu)

Either liquid or powdered milk will be supplied for one year after childbirth to households below a certain income level.

For further information, contact the Health Planning Division, Sumida City Hall, 4th Floor or Mukojima and Honjo Health Center.

Infant Health Checkup (Nyuyoji kenko shinsa)

Free health checkups for infants three to four months, 18 months(Dental Checkup, etc), and three years old are available at public health centers on designated dates. Also available are health checkups for infants six months, nine months, and 18 months(Internal Medicine Checkup) at designated city hospitals - all at no cost. Parents of eligible infants will be sent a health notice by the appropriate city's Public Health Centers.

Vaccinations (Yobo sesshu)

In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, infants at certain ages can receive vaccinations. Parents with infants at the mandatory vaccination age will be notified by the city's Public Health Centers.

For further information, contact either the Mukojima or Honjo Public Health Center.

Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus:DPT vaccine (diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine) or DT vaccine (Diphtheria-Tetanus vaccine) is used for the 1st Phase and DT is used for the 2nd Phase.
1st Phase Initial Vaccination…Those between 3 to 90 months old
1st Phase Booster Vaccination …Those between 3 to 90 months old after an interval of at least 6 months from the 1st Phase Initial Vaccination
2nd Phase …Those aged 11 to 13

Acute Poliomyelitis (Polio): Those between 3 to 90 months old

Measles:
1st Phase…Those between 12 to 24 months old
2nd Phase …Those aged between 5 to 7 who are in the period between 1 year before entering elementary school.

Japanese Encephalitis:
1st Phase Initial Vaccination…Those between 6 to 90 months old
1st Phase Booster Vaccination …Those between 6 to 90 months old after an interval of around 1 year from the 1st Phase Initial Vaccination
2nd Phase …Those aged 9 to 13

BCG vaccination:those younger than 6 months old (this is executed at the timing of 3 month old / 4 months old checkup.)

Routine Vaccination (Teiki yobo sesshu)

Polio: Infants three to 90 months old.
Diphtheria/whooping cough/tetanus: 1st shot of 1st period - infants three to 90 months old, 2nd shot - infants three to 90 months old, six months or later after the fist shot.
Measles: Infants 12 to 90 moths old.
German measles: Infants 12 to 90 months old and children 12 to 15 years
BCG: Infants four to 48 months old (usually administered at the three-to-four-month medical checkup).
Japanese encephalitis: 1st shot of 1st period - infants six to 90 moths old, 2nd shot - infants six to 90 moths old, around one year after the first shot.
2nd period - children nine to 12 years old, 3rd period - children 14 to 15 years old.

Child Allowances (Jido teate)

There is an income ceiling to be eligible for these allowances.
This allowance is provided when there is a child elementary school age.

Please check with the Children's Welfare Division, Sumida City Hall, 3rd Floor, Tel. 5608-6160.

Child Rearing Allowance (Jido ikusei teate)

This allowance is paid to a parent or guardian, single due to the death of a spouse, who is raising a child, or the parent or guardian who is severely handicapped and is raising children before the first March 31 after the 18th birthday.

Challenged Child Allowance and Special Child Support Allowance (Jido ikusei teate [shogai teate]/tokubetsu jido fuyo teate)

This allowance is paid to families raising challenged (mentally, physically, or both) children under the age of 20.

Child Support Allowance (Jido fuyo teate)

This allowance is paid to guardians who raise children under the age of 18 without a father, or if the father is handicapped, or if the child is handicapped and has a child before the first March 31 after his/her 18th birthday (including a handicapped child under the age of 20).

Subsidized Medical Costs for Young Children (Nyuyoji iryohi no josei)

Out-of-pocket expenses will be partially subsidized for expenses incurred for medical treatment for children up to six years old who have not yet entered elementary school covered by health insurance. There are income restrictions for parents or guardians of children over three years of age.
Applicable persons will be issued a medical treatment card upon application.

For further information, contact the Children's Welfare Division, Sumida City Hall, 3rd Floor, Tel. 5608-6160.

Emergency Nursery Care (Kinkyu ichiji hoiku)

Sumida City can provide temporary nursery care service for children aged six months to elementary school age if the mother is ill or pregnant.

For further information, contact the Public Welfare Division, Sumida City Hall, 3rd Floor, Tel. 5608-6150.

Useful Phrases

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