May 12 (Nurses' Day): Postpartum Care Awareness Survey Announced. Approximately 80% of New Mothers Report Experiencing Mood Swings.

Postpartum care is transforming from a "luxury item" to an "essential social infrastructure." Villa Mom aims to provide postpartum care where "no one has to struggle alone." Smile Project Inc. (Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo), which operates over 160 licensed nurseries nationwide and 6 prep schools (premium unlicensed nurseries) in Tokyo, including Azabudai Hills, will open "Villa Mom," Tokyo's first dedicated facility-type postpartum care hotel for childcare providers, on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo. To coincide with Nurses' Day today, May 12, and with the desire to inform many women who need postpartum care, the company is announcing the "Postpartum Care Awareness Survey," which surveyed 1,000 women to shed light on their current perceptions of postpartum care. The survey revealed that new mothers often have to navigate a period of physical and mental instability alone, and while they perceive postpartum care as an investment for early recovery, they need the understanding of their husbands and families to actually utilize it. (Official website: https://villamom.com/) ■ Survey Summary Postpartum care is shifting from a "luxury item" to an "investment for early recovery" and "social infrastructure." 1. 80% experience mood swings. Postpartum is "more fragile than imagined." After childbirth, many women experience significant physical and mental changes. Approximately 80% report experiencing mood swings, and among younger women, prolonged anxiety is particularly noticeable. Even in dual-income households, the burden of childcare and housework tends to fall disproportionately on women, highlighting the reality that the postpartum period is a highly unstable time, significantly different from "normal" times. 2. While 70% perceive postpartum care hotels as a "luxury item," 90% actually empathize with the idea of them as an "investment for recovery." Despite many expressing the necessity of postpartum care hotels, their services are still largely perceived as "luxurious." While about 70% have a luxurious image, approximately 90% actually empathize with their value as an "investment for recovery," indicating a significant contradiction in perception. 3. A structural issue exists where "it is needed but not utilized." The understanding of husbands and families is a hurdle. About half of women who have experienced childbirth feel that "it would have been good to have postpartum care," yet many do not end up using it. Behind this are not only costs and lack of information but also external factors such as the understanding of husbands and families. A structural issue is evident where postpartum care is recognized as necessary but not utilized. It can be said that the current situation cannot keep up with the strong demand. ■ Survey Overview "Postpartum Care Awareness and Reality" survey targeting women within 5 years of childbirth. * Urban residents, women aged 20-40 within 5 years of childbirth, with household annual income of 2 million yen or more. 1,248 people (20s: 229, 30s: 660, 40s: 359) March 2, 2026 - March 5, 2026 Internet survey conducted by JustSystems Corporation's self-service questionnaire service "Fastask." * Approximately 80% of women experience some form of mood swings after childbirth. While postpartum depression is said to affect 10-15%, it is clear that many more are in a state of anxiety. * Especially among women in their 20s, 34.4% (about 1 in 3) experience "prolonged and severe mood swings." Younger generations experience stronger anxiety than those in their 30s and 40s. * Even in dual-income households, about half (50.6%) of husbands/partners do not take childcare leave. The burden continues to concentrate on women after childbirth, even in dual-income families. * Approximately 70% perceive postpartum care as a "luxury item." On the other hand, about 90% agree with the idea that it is an "investment for early recovery." * Approximately 90% of people agree with the idea that postpartum care is an "investment in oneself leading to early recovery." Among them, 41.3% of households with an annual income of 10 million yen or more responded that they "strongly agree" (households with an annual income of less than 5 million yen: 26.2%). * 50% of women who have experienced childbirth realize that "an environment for rest is essential after childbirth," with many saying that recovery is more difficult than imagined. Many people feel the necessity of postpartum care. Yoichi Sato, Chairman of the Board, Medical Corporation Saiyokai, Director of Daikanyama Birth Clinic Opened Daikanyama Women's Clinic in 2022. Involved in obstetrics and gynecology in the Daikanyama area, he has been close to the irreplaceable time of pregnancy and childbirth. He values carefully addressing the feelings of each individual during a period filled with great joy, anxiety, confusion, and various emotions. He utilizes his experience not only as a doctor but also as a father and a patient, along with his family.