Private healthcare is becoming an increasingly popular way for Chinese people to receive medical care. In addition to hiring healthcare workers, more people, mostly in urban areas, are willing to pay for a professional nursing service which provides safe, convenient and professional medical care, but at a higher price.

Zhang Xiaofan, a 33-year-old Beijing resident, gave birth to her daughter three months ago. Instead of hiring a yuesao, or postpartum care worker, she spent nearly 10,000 yuan ($1,600) on the United Family Home Health's postpartum service, which includes four visits from a midwife and two from a doctor within the first two weeks after being discharged from hospital.

"I never considered hiring a yuesao. They are not well trained or even well educated," she said. "They might have children or have taken care of many newborn babies, but their experience could be wrong."