水子
み
ず
こ
Meanings
1
aborted fetus; miscarried fetus; stillborn fetus
Only with reading みずこ / みずご
Refers to a fetus that was aborted, miscarried, or stillborn. Often used in the context of 水子地蔵 (Mizuko Jizō), a Buddhist deity for the protection of such souls.
I prayed to the Mizuko Jizō.
She performs memorial services for her miscarried child.
2
Dialectal use in the Chūbu region for a newborn baby. Not standard Japanese; in standard Japanese, 新生児 or 赤ちゃん is used.
Around here, a newborn baby is sometimes called 'mizuko'.