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Babies given chance in baby hatch - 30th September 2022

Jikei hospital, Japan, is the only place in the country with a ‘baby hatch’. Mothers, who often feel hopeless, can leave their babies there, to be looked after by hospital staff.

The head doctor at the clinic is Takeshi Hasuda.

Takeshi Hasuda: "The most important role our baby hatch system has played so far is to provide a sort of last resort for women left alienated by society, when they have an unexpected pregnancy or unwanted pregnancy."

Immediately a baby is placed in the hatch, the nurses don't waste a moment. They fetch it, and at the same time, they try to catch the mother. They aim to support her, but also encourage her to leave details, so that her child may have the opportunity to learn where they came from.

Student Koichi Miyatsu, 18, was a baby-hatch child but he has no doubt that his mother made the right decision, back then.

Koichi Miyatsu: "The day I was left there was the day a new chapter of my life began. I think it was good that I was given to the baby hatch. Because I was given to the hatch, I met my current parents and now live like this. I am grateful for it. I owe what I am today to the baby hatch."

Baby hatches aren’t just a Japanese idea, they're also found in other countries, including South Korea, Pakistan and the US. However, they’re prohibited in many places.

The Jikei baby hatch, which is run by the Catholic church, opened as a service 15 years ago.

People in Japan are often against baby hatches but despite this, 161 babies have been rescued. The care’s given in a private way, but four in every five of the children have since learnt about their birth mothers. 20 percent have been returned to either their parents or relations.