A high-end maternity care center that will soon open its doors
in Shanghai has caused a minor controversy among local residents,
who are surprised as much by the luxurious services on offer as by
the exorbitant cost.
The opening will coincide with the baby boom experts are
predicting this year as people look to start their families during
the lunar year of the pig.
Cherie Postpartum Health Care Center, a Taiwan-based maternity
care center famous for pampering new mothers, recently announced
that it would set up a shop in Shanghai after Spring Festival.
Boasting five-star accommodations and services, the center
charges some 1,600 yuan (US$200) for a single day and in an
ordinary suite.
But it does not stop there. Customers interested in luxury can
avail themselves of a two-story presidential suite - for 9,800 yuan
(US$1,225) per day.
Many mothers still follow the traditional practice of zuo yuezi,
or a month-long period of confinement and rest after giving
birth.
A report recently released by the Shanghai Municipal Population
and Family Planning Commission predicted that at least 137,000
babies would be born this year. Half of all new parents in the city
plan to hire nurses to help them in the post-natal period. The
figure reflects the robust market potential for post-natal
services.
There are a dozen maternity care centers in Shanghai catering to
women from well-heeled families. They generally charge
20,000-30,000 yuan (US$2,500-3,750) a month.
In comparison, Cherie Postpartum Health Care Center, which is
located in the city's Putuo District, looks more like a resort than
a maternity ward. Its grounds include a golf course, library,
cybercafe, swimming pool as well as numerous wards and medical
check-up facilities.
The center's staff is expected to include experienced nurses,
professional nutritionists, psychologists and maternity coaches
from Taiwan.
Among other services, the staff will teach new mothers how to
properly breast feed, bathe, and otherwise care for their new
babies. They will also provide massage services and yoga classes to
new mothers days after their delivery.
The service has apparently caught people's eyes.
Cherie Postpartum Health Care Centre spokesman Wang Yiliang said
that 20 ordinary suites were fully booked until the end of
June.
(China Daily February 14, 2007)