• 我是2019年8月来美国洛杉矶正式坐月子，在5月份的时候有提前来考察月子中心，所以相对避免了很多坑。身为漂泊在太平洋彼岸的待产妈妈们，舒适的最后三个月是非常关键的，虽然我选择的不是最豪华的，确实最温馨、省心的，给了我家一般的体验。接下来我将简单分享下，希望对孕妈们有所帮助。

    一、首先，我科普一下美国的月子中心是怎么个运作情况：

    1、没有直营的月子中心：美国的月子中心和国内的连锁机构基本是合作关系，国内的基本都是中介，几乎没有直营的月子中心在中国本地做市场推广的，所以大部分连锁的，都是中国机构介绍到美国这边来，然后包给房东来做，他们顶多来个区域经理管理一下，然后收取总费用的40%就完事儿，房东只能收到60%的费用，所以他们也赚得少，自然服务的事项就会有些出入。

    2、90%的月子中心，在到美国一周内就要缴纳费用的80-90%，没有了费用上的压制，即使后面有纠纷或者服务不到位，对于孕妈来说也很无奈，甚至有的月子会所跟医院医生合作，强推医院、抬高医生价格也不在少数。所以孕妈们对医院和医生的选择最好自己做足功课，不要被忽悠了。

    3、想要找直营的机构，只有一条路子，就是直接找房东。房东一般会用洛杉矶当地用自己房子出租。这种房东自己手里顶多有2-3套房子，自己进行小本经营管理，比较重视口碑，所以在服务上相对靠谱一些，但是也不排除有奇葩在，不过朋友推荐来的准没错，毕竟你的朋友亲身经历过，给你踩了不少坑。我的月子中心就是通过这个渠道来的，事实证明还是比较靠谱的。

    I officially came to Los Angeles, USA, in August 2019 for my postpartum confinement. I had visited and inspected maternity centers in May, which helped me avoid many pitfalls. For expectant mothers living far from home across the Pacific Ocean, a comfortable last three months of pregnancy are crucial. Although I didn't choose the most luxurious option, I found the most warm and worry-free one, giving me a home-like experience. Below, I'll briefly share my experience, hoping it will be helpful to other expectant mothers.

    I. First, let me explain how maternity centers in the US operate:

    1. No directly operated maternity centers: US maternity centers are basically in a cooperative relationship with chain organizations in China. Most of the Chinese organizations are intermediaries; there are almost no directly operated maternity centers doing market promotion locally in China. Therefore, most chain centers are introduced to the US by Chinese agencies, and then outsourced to landlords. They might have a regional manager to oversee things, and then they take 40% of the total fee. The landlord only receives 60%, so they earn less, and naturally, there might be discrepancies in the services provided.

    2. 90% of maternity centers require 80-90% of the fee to be paid within a week of arriving in the US. Without the pressure of payment, even if there are disputes or unsatisfactory services later, expectant mothers are quite helpless. Some maternity centers even cooperate with hospitals and doctors, aggressively promoting certain hospitals and inflating doctor's fees. Therefore, expectant mothers should do their own research on hospitals and doctors and not be misled.

    3. To find a directly operated center, there's only one way: find a landlord directly. Landlords usually rent out their own houses in Los Angeles. These landlords typically own only 2-3 properties and manage them themselves on a small scale. They value their reputation, so their services are relatively more reliable. However, there are exceptions, but recommendations from friends are usually reliable, as your friends have personally experienced it and avoided many pitfalls for you. My maternity center was found through this channel, and it proved to be quite reliable.

    二、其次，我分享选择的理由分享给大家，大家可以作为参考，在这些细节上，需要和月子中心进行多方确认和沟通，以防有货不对版和描述夸张的嫌疑。听过很多夸张说法，比如说房子走路即可到天鹅湖的，结果实际上开车都要20分钟的。

    （1）位置离医院和商超比较近。其实5月份来考察，连锁月子中心我参观了三家，分别在尔湾和大牧场。发现大体上的房子环境都差不多，结构基本一样，差异只在套房、雅房的选择上。所以地理位置主要考虑周边配套和离医院的距离。我的月子中心距离我选择的医院半小时，距离十个门奥特莱20分钟，距离洛杉矶最大的沙漠奥特莱也只有不到40分钟，步行可到一条购物街，房子旁边还有一个大公园（走路1分钟可到），所以总的来说我很满意。

    （2）同样的预算更多的服务。我的预算明细大致如下：三个月总费用21000元：房间为整栋别墅中二楼的套房，面积有50平米左右，具体见图；三餐全包（可以自行建议菜品，大厨是一位学过营养学的80年的哥哥，兴趣使然所以经常变着法的琢磨菜品）；外出全包（其实谈的是一周三次，但是后面我基本都是想去哪里，小哥哥都会带我去哪里，老板娘每周都会带我去一些特色的游玩地方）；26天月嫂（这个服务，常规的连锁月子中心的这个价位是没有一对一的月嫂的，所以我还是感觉赚到了）；老板娘亲自陪同生产（老板娘是欧洲留学的学霸，英语666，协助我去医院生产我还是很踏实的，因为我选择的医院护士几乎都是白人）。

    （3）收费方式：15%+35%+35%+15%。 老板娘真诚跟我说，我们彼此的合作都是相互是否满意的过程，如果您在这里过的不开心，也是可以提前商议的，所以分四次付款，给彼此很灵活的空间。

    三、关于选择全包还是自己DIY，我分享我的全包预算和朋友的DIY费用给大家做参考：

    （1）我的预算：月子中心全包21000元（3个月，吃住交通全包，还有26天的月嫂服务）；

    （2）我朋友的预算如下：——我朋友的是自己diy的预算，由于跟我在一个房东老板娘这里，我就打听到了，小姐姐是和妈妈一起来的，所以有人给做饭和照顾娃。

    租房子4500刀（3个月时间，是个比较大的雅房，洗手间就在门外）；

    租车2250刀（一辆旧款的雷克萨斯SUV，使用2个月时间）；

    生活费用3000刀（ 3个月的买菜日常开销 ）；总体：4500+2250+3000=9750美金

    妈妈们可以对比下，主要DIY的少了月嫂的费用（月嫂大概在5000美金左右），实际算下来跟我的全包节省了大概6000多美金，大概人民币4万。如果有家人陪伴且不需要月嫂照顾宝宝的话，那DIY确实划算，前提是有人给你做饭、带娃、开车。所以妈妈们可以根据自身情况进行选择。

    好了，这次先分享到这里，下次给大家分享选择医院和医生的内容，希望大家持续关注我。

    II. Next, I'll share my reasons for choosing this center, which you can use as a reference.  It's important to confirm and communicate with the maternity center regarding these details to avoid discrepancies between the description and the actual services provided, or exaggerated claims. I've heard many exaggerated claims, such as houses being within walking distance of Swan Lake, when in reality it takes 20 minutes by car.

    (1) The location is relatively close to the hospital and shopping centers. When I visited in May, I toured three chain maternity centers in Irvine and Rancho Cucamonga. I found that the overall house environments were quite similar, with basically the same structure; the only difference was in the choice of suites or standard rooms. Therefore, I mainly considered the surrounding amenities and the distance to the hospital. My maternity center is half an hour from my chosen hospital, 20 minutes from the Tenet Healthcare Outlets, and less than 40 minutes from the largest desert outlet mall in Los Angeles. There's a shopping street within walking distance, and a large park next to the house (a 1-minute walk), so overall I'm very satisfied.

    (2) More services for the same budget. My budget breakdown is roughly as follows: Total cost for three months: 21,000 RMB: The room is a suite on the second floor of a villa, approximately 50 square meters (see picture); three meals a day included (you can suggest dishes, and the chef is a young man in his 30s who studied nutrition and enjoys experimenting with different recipes); transportation for outings included (initially it was three times a week, but later the staff would take me wherever I wanted to go, and the owner would take me to some special places every week); 26 days of a dedicated nanny (this service is not usually included at this price point in regular chain maternity centers, so I feel I got a good deal); the owner personally accompanied me during childbirth (the owner is a highly educated woman who studied in Europe and speaks excellent English, so I felt very secure having her assist me at the hospital, especially since most of the nurses at my chosen hospital were Caucasian).

    (3) Payment method: 15% + 35% + 35% + 15%. The owner sincerely told me that our cooperation is a process of mutual satisfaction. If I wasn't happy there, we could discuss it beforehand. Therefore, the payment is divided into four installments, giving both parties flexibility. III. Regarding choosing between an all-inclusive package and DIY, I'm sharing my all-inclusive budget and my friend's DIY costs for your reference:

    (1) My budget: All-inclusive maternity center package: 21,000 RMB (3 months, including food, accommodation, transportation, and 26 days of postpartum nanny service);

    (2) My friend's budget is as follows: – My friend's budget was for a DIY approach. Since we were renting from the same landlady, I was able to find out her costs. She came with her mother, so someone was available to cook and take care of the baby.

    Rent: $4500 (3 months, a relatively large room with a shared bathroom outside the door);

    Car rental: $2250 (an older Lexus SUV, used for 2 months);

    Living expenses: $3000 (3 months of daily expenses for groceries, etc.); Total: $4500 + $2250 + $3000 = $9750

    Moms can compare these costs. The main difference in the DIY approach is the absence of postpartum nanny fees (a nanny costs approximately $5000).  In total, the DIY approach saved about $6000, or approximately 40,000 RMB, compared to my all-inclusive package. If you have family members to accompany you and don't need a postpartum nanny to care for the baby, then DIY is indeed more cost-effective, provided someone can cook, take care of the baby, and drive. So, mothers can choose based on their own circumstances.

    Okay, that's all for this time. Next time, I'll share information about choosing hospitals and doctors. I hope you'll continue to follow me.