Birth in the Japanese context.

A qualitative study of the experiences of 20 American women who gave birth in Japan is reported. Five interrelated issues that were important to this group of women emerged from the interview data: a sense of isolation, the need for security, the need to regain control, the need for affirmation, and the need for cultural support. These findings are interpreted within a framework of stress and coping, maternal identification, and cultural adaptation theories. These women were dually stressed by the demands of childbearing and transcultural migration. Implications for clinical practice are suggested.