"Dad, I Won't Leave You Alone." Hachioji Midwifery Clinic Launches Crowdfunding on July 1st to Deliver Postpartum Care to Fathers

Is postpartum care only for moms and babies?

"Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic," a postpartum care provider in Hachioji City, will launch a crowdfunding campaign titled "Dad, I Won't Leave You Alone. Postpartum Care for the Whole Family to Hachioji" on July 1, 2026.

The target amount is 1 million yen. The campaign period is from July 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026.

The funds raised will be used as a "Dad Postpartum Care Support Fund" to reduce the cost of postpartum care services for fathers, which are not covered by public subsidies.

On the same day, Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic will relocate to Myojin-cho, Hachioji City. At the new location, they will expand services such as long-term day-care postpartum care, future overnight postpartum care, parent-child events, and childcare consultations, while promoting the creation of a postpartum care environment where fathers can also feel at ease.

Father participation rate increased from 0% to 64.3%. Postpartum care for families is beginning to spread on the ground.

For over seven years, Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic has offered postpartum care programs that fathers can participate in, such as "Postpartum Care at Hot Spring Facilities."

Through these programs, one significant change has become apparent.

In December 2024, the father participation rate in postpartum care programs was 0%. However, by April 2026, it had increased to 64.3%.

"I was able to spend quality time with my wife." "I was able to consult about my daily parenting concerns and difficulties, which put me at ease." "There aren't many services where couples can rest together, so I always look forward to them."

Such voices are gradually increasing.

Dad is there, thinking about the baby together. Mama can take a short break. Couples can talk about their future life together.

We have witnessed many moments where just these things can bring a soft smile to the mother's face.

But now, dads are outside the system.

The current postpartum care system is primarily designed to support mothers and babies.

Mothers and babies receive significant subsidies for postpartum care services through public assistance. On the other hand, fathers learning to care for their babies together, consulting with midwives, and discussing postpartum life as a couple are not yet sufficiently integrated into the system.

Therefore, when fathers participate in postpartum care, the costs are borne by the family.

"I really want him to come with me." "I want my husband to learn how to care for the baby." "We want time to talk as a couple."

There are families who feel this way, but the cost becomes a barrier.

We want to lower this barrier, even slightly, with the support of the community. This is the purpose of this crowdfunding campaign.

Father support is not father education. It is care that protects the family.

Our goal is not to demand perfect parenting from fathers.

It is a place where they can say they don't know what they don't know. Where they can practice caring for the baby together. Where they can learn about the mother's physical and mental changes alongside her. Where couples can talk about their future lives. Where they can pause when they are tired.

This is that place.

When fathers learn to care for their babies, it leads to time for mothers to rest with peace of mind. When fathers can consult, it leads to reducing isolation within the home. When fathers understand the difficulties of the postpartum period, it forms the foundation for couples to share parenting responsibilities.

Supporting fathers is supporting mothers. And it is protecting the baby.

How the funds will be used

The funds raised, excluding READYFOR fees and return fulfillment costs, will be used as a "Dad Postpartum Care Support Fund."

Instead of facility improvements, the funds will be used to subsidize the usage fees for fathers who are outside the system to access postpartum care.

The main support envisioned includes the following two points:

1. "Dad Participation Support Slot" where fathers also participate in postpartum care for mothers.

This is a time for fathers to participate in the postpartum care for mothers and babies, and together with a midwife, discuss baby care, consultations on feeding and childcare, division of roles between couples, and how to manage life after returning home.

The estimated usage fee is around 6,000 yen per session. This support fund will subsidize part or all of this cost.

2. Support for fathers to use postpartum care independently.

This support is for situations where fathers have a higher need to care for the baby themselves, such as when the mother is unwell or readmitted to the hospital, when the father is on parental leave, or for single-parent households. It allows them to consult with a midwife, practice baby care, or take a rest.

The estimated fees are 13,000 yen for a short session (2 hours) and 30,000 yen for a long session (within 6 hours). Partial subsidies for usage fees will be provided to families with high needs.

Crowdfunding Overview

Project Name: Dad, I Won't Leave You Alone. Postpartum Care for the Whole Family to Hachioji

Campaign Period: July 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026

Target Amount: 1,000,000 yen

Organizer: Tomoko Aoki / Representative, Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic

Use of Funds: Subsidies for postpartum care usage fees for fathers, which are not covered by public subsidies.

Crowdfunding Page: https://readyfor.jp/projects/tomokosanchi

Representative's Comment

Tomoko Aoki, Representative of Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic

Postpartum is not a time for mothers to work hard alone. It is a precious time for the entire family welcoming a new baby to adjust to a new life.

In my experience providing postpartum care, I have repeatedly seen moments when the mother's expression softens when the father participates.

When fathers learn to care for their babies. When fathers can consult with midwives. When fathers themselves can rest a little.

This is not just for the fathers. It is care that supports mothers and protects babies.

At the new Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic, which will relocate to Myojin-cho on July 1st, we aim to create a place where not only mothers and babies, but also fathers and the whole family can relax.

This crowdfunding campaign is the first step towards delivering postpartum care to fathers who are currently outside the system.

Please lend us your support to spread postpartum care for the entire family from Hachioji.

About Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic

Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic is a midwifery clinic based in Hachioji City, Tokyo, that supports families from pregnancy through postpartum and child-rearing stages.

Representative Tomoko Aoki has been working as a midwife since 1999. After working at a hospital, she opened her practice as a community midwife in 2018. She currently receives commissions from Hachioji City for postpartum care services, supporting mothers, babies, and their families after childbirth.

Starting July 1, 2026, the clinic will relocate to Myojin-cho, Hachioji City, and aims to create a place where local families can feel comfortable visiting through future services such as long-term day-care postpartum care, overnight postpartum care, parent-child events, and childcare consultations.

Inquiries regarding this matter

Tomokosan's Midwifery Clinic Representative: Tomoko Aoki Address: 1-25-5 Myojin-cho, Hachioji City, Tokyo Official Website: http://www.tomokosan.info Crowdfunding Page: https://readyfor.jp/projects/tomokosanchi Contact: aoki@tomokosan.info