Mom-to-Be Day (Pre-Mama no Hi)

What Is Mom-to-Be Day?

December 3rd is "Mom-to-Be Day" (Pre-Mama no Hi). "Pre-Mama" refers to a mother who is pregnant — a mom-to-be. The date comes from reading 1 as "ii," 2 as "ni," and 3 as "san," together forming "ii o-san," meaning "a good birth" (12/3 = ii-ni-san = good birth). It was established by a company that runs a portal site and magazine for expectant mothers, with the goal of spreading understanding and support for pregnant women.

Things to Know During Pregnancy

• Maternity Mark: A mark recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare so that women in early pregnancy — when the belly isn't yet visibly showing — can comfortably use priority seats on trains. It's attached to a bag or item to signal pregnancy to those nearby
• Maternal and Child Health Handbook: A handbook received from the local municipality after registering a pregnancy. It's an important document that records prenatal checkups, vaccinations, and developmental milestones
• Subsidies for Prenatal Checkups: Many municipalities subsidize the cost of around 14 prenatal checkups

Support for Moms-to-Be

• Maternity classes / parenting classes: Courses run by municipalities and maternity hospitals to prepare for childbirth and child-rearing
• Prenatal and postnatal helper dispatch: Services that provide household and childcare support, with many municipalities subsidizing part of the cost
• Childbirth lump-sum allowance: A payment of 500,000 yen per child (as of 2023) provided through health insurance

What Those Around Can Do

Offering a seat on public transportation, helping carry heavy luggage, or simply saying "hang in there" — these small acts of consideration toward pregnant women can become a great source of support. Mom-to-Be Day is also a day to think about social support for expectant and postpartum mothers.