Launching a New Comprehensive Health Survey on Postpartum Women's Muscle Loss, Anemia Risk, and Mental Health. Call for Sponsor Companies to Support the Creation of the 'Prenatal & Postnatal Healthcare White Paper'

Previously, numerous surveys targeting postpartum women have been conducted, focusing on parenting anxiety, postpartum depression, and physical discomfort, significantly raising societal awareness of the need for postpartum care. However, postpartum women's health issues are often perceived as 'inevitable after childbirth,' and despite recognizing the need for support, there remains insufficient accumulation of concrete methodologies and objective indicators regarding what kind of health recovery is actually required.

This survey aims to go beyond self-reported symptoms by comprehensively assessing muscle loss, anemia risk, and mental state in the same individuals, analyzing their interrelationships. By visualizing postpartum health challenges from three perspectives—physical, nutritional, and psychological—we aim to clarify the direction of necessary support and interventions for postpartum recovery, compiling the results into the 'Prenatal & Postnatal Healthcare White Paper.'

The white paper will serve as shared evidence for healthcare providers, local governments, corporations, and postpartum care service providers, supporting women's health initiatives, parental leave support, health management, and women's empowerment.

The 'Prenatal & Postnatal Healthcare Lab,' operated by the Japan Postnatal Diet Association (Kitaku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Masami Arai), will begin a nationwide health status survey targeting pregnant and postpartum women and their partners, starting with 'Mama Papa Fes 2026' on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

This survey is a rare initiative in Japan that simultaneously measures maternal muscle loss, anemia risk, nutrition, mental health, and return-to-work anxiety, analyzing their correlations and psychological impacts. The accumulated data will be compiled into the 'Prenatal & Postnatal Healthcare White Paper' and presented at academic conferences and used for policy recommendations.

Alongside the launch of this project, we are now accepting applications from sponsor partner companies who share our vision of socially implementing postpartum care.

This is the first survey in Japan※ to simultaneously and comprehensively measure postpartum muscle strength, nutrition, mental health, and return-to-work anxiety in the same individuals (※As of July 2026, based on our own research).

Background: Unaddressed Areas in Maternal Health Despite the Revision of the Maternal and Child Health Act

Although the 2021 revision of the Maternal and Child Health Act launched the 'Postpartum Care Program,' the recovery status of mothers' health itself still lacks nationwide surveys, evidence, and social security frameworks.

Meanwhile, over 80% of postpartum women are raising children while experiencing some form of physical or mental health issue (Survey on Physical Health Issues During Pregnancy and Postpartum, Reiwa 4).

Furthermore, our association's preliminary survey confirmed significant temporary muscle loss after childbirth (a substantial decline compared to the average grip strength of 28kg among women in their 30s and 40s).

Grip strength measurements of mothers with three children—different individuals—suggest possible relationships between breastfeeding and muscle strength, and between the resumption of menstruation and muscle strength.

Muscle strength trends from pregnancy to postpartum for a woman in her 40s with her third child.

This muscle loss may trigger postpartum depression and accelerate future health issues such as hip joint deformities, sciatica, and scoliosis, profoundly affecting women's lifelong health and employment.

To achieve societal implementation of increasing birth rates and advancing women's participation, health recovery support based on scientific evidence visualizing maternal health status is essential. However, currently, Japan lacks both nationwide postpartum health surveys and systematic postpartum recovery support.

This project launches to fill this social gap.

Features of This Survey: Japan's First 'Simultaneous Multidimensional Measurement'

This survey enables cross-analysis of physical and mental health by measuring and surveying the following items simultaneously in the same individuals:

Physical measurements: Grip strength testing to assess postpartum muscle loss, anemia risk screening

Mental and awareness surveys: Postpartum self-esteem and self-efficacy, anxiety about returning from maternity leave, needs for pre-return support, work-life balance challenges, mental fatigue, etc. (subjective data from participants)

By integrating these data, we can holistically visualize postpartum challenges previously discussed in isolation—such as 'anemia × mental health' and 'physical strength × return-to-work anxiety'—and build foundational data applicable to corporate women's health initiatives and policy recommendations.

Postpartum Women's Health Status Survey

Survey Targets and Recruitment Method (Annual Schedule)

We will secure a large sample size through participation in mom festivals across the country and collaboration with midwifery clinics and maternity facilities.

August 29, 2026 / March 2027 (planned): Akabane, Kitaku, Tokyo (our association's hosted Mama Festival) / Total 700 people

October 2026: Taito Ward Mama Festival / 100 people

December 2026: Kawaguchi City Mama Festival / 100 people

January 2027: Odawara City Mama Event / 30 people

Additionally, we will participate in various local events and conduct surveys sequentially.

Participating Organizations and Proposal Targets (partial list, in no particular order)

This project is operated through cross-sector collaboration among medical, academic, policy, and corporate stakeholders.

Team Members Midwives, public health nurses, registered dietitians, health and fitness instructors, and certified coaches from the Japan Postnatal Diet Association

【Medical Collaboration】

Clover Children's Clinic (Pediatrics & Integrative Medicine | Dr. Yuko Mamatada)

Aroirie Clinic (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Molecular Nutrition | Dr. Rie Ichikawa)

【Planned Proposal and Presentation Targets】

Senator Katsumi Ogawa (Founder of the Comprehensive Women's Support Parliamentary Alliance)

Japanese Society of Occupational Health

Society for Prenatal and Postnatal Care and Child-Rearing Support

【Specific Policy Recommendation Goals】

Addition of 'Maternal Health Recovery Check Items' to infant health checkups

Inclusion in the '2026 Strategic Guidelines for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality'

Call for Sponsor Partner Companies: Overview

We are seeking companies that support the purpose of this project and wish to jointly utilize and disseminate the data.

Gold Sponsor: 300,000 JPY per slot

Benefits: Right to add one original survey question, top-priority large logo placement on the white paper cover and website, co-issued press release, includes all Silver benefits

Silver Sponsor: 150,000 JPY per slot

Benefits: Provision of cross-tabulated raw data (demographic analysis, unfiltered concerns), medium logo placement on the white paper and website, includes all Bronze benefits

Bronze Sponsor: 50,000 JPY per slot

Benefits: Small logo placement in the back of the white paper and on the website, PDF copy of the white paper, certification badge

Message from Representative Director Masami Arai

Postpartum is a time of profound physical and mental change in a woman's life, yet the reality of health recovery has long remained invisible in Japanese society. I have personally worked with over 20,000 postpartum women. Our association members, with over ten years of experience supporting pregnant and postpartum women as maternity facility staff and yoga instructors, have directly experienced the limitations of 'evidence-free postpartum care' from supporting over 50,000 individuals.

This survey is the first step toward filling this gap. We sincerely hope to collaborate with many companies to build a system that supports maternal health from both social security and business perspectives.

Organization Overview

Organization Name: Japan Postnatal Diet Association (General Incorporated Association) / Prenatal & Postnatal Healthcare Lab

Representative Director: Masami Arai

Address: Aqua Riverage Tokyo 905, 4-34-7 Shimo, Kitaku, Tokyo 115-0042

Business Activities: Research, surveys, guidance, trainer development, and public awareness initiatives related to postpartum women's health recovery

Official Website: Japan Postnatal Diet Association https: