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)