Pregnancy simulation and stroller usage experience (Kumazawa Seminar)

• During the simulated pregnancy experience, I was surprised by how much heavier it was than I had imagined. I realized how incredibly difficult it must be to have to constantly worry about the baby in your belly, no matter what you're doing. Normally, when I see pregnant women, I never really think about them or pay much attention to them. However, after this experience, I've started thinking about pregnant women and wondering what I can do to help when I see them in public. I can only offer small acts of consideration, but I hope that it will be helpful to them, so I intend to take the initiative to help them whenever I see them in the future.
• During the stroller experience, I realized that there are many paths within the school, such as stairs and gravel paths, that make it impossible to push a stroller, and I thought that the places where strollers can be used outside would be even more limited. I thought that by installing handrails, improving paths, and installing elevators, we could expand the range of movement that pregnant women and stroller users can access.
• Until now, I only knew that pregnancy was difficult, but it was very good to experience that difficulty firsthand. During the stroller experience, imagining having a baby in the stroller made me very aware of bumps and changes in the ground that I normally wouldn't think twice about. Also, when walking between shelves at the co-op, I had to constantly be aware of my surroundings because even one person could block the way, and it was dangerous if someone suddenly appeared.
• Even slight steps or gravel paths that you wouldn't normally notice when walking were a struggle when pushing a stroller. I occasionally saw mothers lifting their strollers up narrow paths or stairs where strollers couldn't pass, and I realized that it's important to offer a helping hand when you see someone doing so.
• The pregnancy simulation made it very clear that having a large belly makes everyday life considerably more difficult. Sitting down makes a big difference, so I think people should always give up their seats to pregnant women on trains and buses. It's very difficult for both people pushing strollers and pregnant women to get around alone all the time, so I felt that the cooperation of family and those around them is essential.
• Using a stroller this time has made me notice more people using strollers in the city, something I hadn't paid much attention to before. If I see anyone who seems to be having trouble, I would definitely like to help them. The simulated pregnancy experience was incredibly difficult to navigate. Also, passageways that I normally wouldn't think twice about felt narrow, and I didn't notice steps, which made me feel unsafe. I currently work part-time at a housing exhibition, and thinking about how pregnant women would live in a home, I've realized there are many challenges, such as the width of stairs, the height of steps, and the height of storage spaces.
• I had always thought that barrier-free design was good for the elderly and people with disabilities, but I realized that it's also good for parents with children and pregnant women. My back and shoulders ached, but thinking about the baby in my belly made me want to touch it. I realized that touching it felt good and made me feel happy, and I felt a strong desire to have a child myself someday. I was filled with renewed gratitude for my mother who went through the pain and hardship of giving birth to me.