Pregnant women can attend childbirth classes. Women also learn about pregnancy and childbirth from their midwife. The midwife educates the mother about taking care of herself during pregnancy and how she will know when to go to the hospital for the delivery. At the hospital, the woman is attended by the midwife during labor and the doctor arrives only for the delivery. It is very unusual for a husband to be present at the birth of his child.
Men work hard, long hours in Japan, and job security is extremely important.
Husbands may also be embarrassed or afraid to ask their boss for time off to attend their child's birth. The Japanese also believe that to endure hardship is a virtue. Therefore most women want to give birth to their children very quietly. In most cases, anesthesia or pain medication are not offered during labor. For women, the reward of enduring labor pain is the new baby.