Similar services, but a wide range of costs

There are more than 30 confinement clubs in Beijing. Many operate from hotels, where they usually rent two or three floors, which means even expensive, well-known chains are limited to about 30 rooms per club. They all offer a similar range of services, so the wide fluctuation in price reflects different sizes of room.

For example, the Beijing Weige Confinement Club is a high-end chain that usually operates from five-star hotels in downtown areas. It's favored by celebrities and well-known figures from the worlds of business and sports. Two specially assigned nurses provide one-on-one services for mother, such as breast massages, and baby, including all meals. Nutritionists, pediatricians, obstetricians, and even yoga teachers visit regularly to provide special check-ups and classes.

At the lowest end of Beijing Weige's scale, a 28-day stay in a suite consisting of a bedroom and living room costs 139,800 yuan ($22, 300), while a regular room is 98,000 yuan. Clubs that operate out of less-luxurious hotels, or as clinics in renovated buildings, usually charge about 40,000 yuan for a month long confinement.