洛杉矶和休斯顿月子中心对比 Comparison of maternity centers in Los Angeles and Houston

赴美产子到底是去哪个城市好？纽约？洛杉矶？还是休斯顿？

近年来赴美产子已经不再是社会高端上层人士的专利，越来越多的人选择来美国生一个美国宝宝，拥有美国国籍已经不再是遥不可及的梦想。可是对每一个准备去美国生宝宝的妈妈来说，去到一个陌生的环境生孩子是一个不小的挑战；没有亲人陪在身边、语言不通、不同的文化背景常常让这些有意来美国生孩子的妈妈们犹豫不决，不知该如何迈出这一步。于是众多美国华人开设的月子中心应时而生。

目前，美国的月子中心主要是集中在三个城市，纽约、洛杉矶和休斯顿。之所以这三座城市的月子中心会比较集中是有原因的，一是这三个城市华人都比较多，华人多的地方找华人医生，请月嫂、保姆，包括做中国餐都会比较方便。二是这三个城市都有中国驻美领馆，生完宝宝后办旅行证是必不可少的，旅行证一定要去领事馆办理的，所以这三座城市办证都非常的方便。

Which city is best for giving birth in the US? New York? Los Angeles? Or Houston?

In recent years, giving birth in the US is no longer the exclusive privilege of the upper class. More and more people are choosing to have a baby in the United States, and having American citizenship is no longer an unattainable dream. However, for every mother preparing to give birth in the US, giving birth in an unfamiliar environment is a significant challenge.  The lack of family support, language barriers, and different cultural backgrounds often make these mothers hesitant and unsure how to take the first step. This has led to the emergence of numerous maternity centers run by Chinese Americans in the US.

Currently, these maternity centers are mainly concentrated in three cities: New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. There are reasons why these three cities have a higher concentration of maternity centers. Firstly, these three cities have large Chinese communities, making it easier to find Chinese doctors, nannies, and even Chinese food. Secondly, all three cities have Chinese consulates in the US. Obtaining a travel document after the baby is born is essential, and this document must be processed at the consulate, making these three cities very convenient for this purpose.

由于纽约气候的原因（冬天非常寒冷，而且常有暴风雪）以及狭小的居住条件和拥挤的城市和高犯罪率，纽约的月子中心已经越来越不被中国的妈妈们所认可了。所以现在赴美产子的妈妈们大多都选择洛杉矶和休斯顿的月子中心。那在这两座城市中又该如何来选择呢？今天，我来为各位准备来美国生宝宝的妈妈们分析一下这两座城市，他们各有哪些优势和劣势，以便帮助妈妈们做出正确的决定。

一．安全

对于哪些准备来美国生孩子的妈妈来说，安全是她们考虑的头等大事，谁都不想来到美国出点什么事。自2012年以来，洛杉矶作为华人月子中心最集中的地方，已经不止一次被美国政府关注了。虽然不是所有的月子中心都有问题，但个别的月子中心涉嫌欺诈、骗保、***等犯罪活动，使得整个洛杉矶的月子中心都风声鹤唳。2015年，洛杉矶多家月子中心被美国旅游局和移民局突查，那些在月子中心中待产的妈妈们被迫临时更换其他的月子中心或是被迫遣返回国，给妈妈们带来了很大的不便和伤害，更有甚者连以后的入境美国都受到了影响。而美国政府似乎隔几年就会对这些月子中心来此清查，这样让那些来美国生孩子的妈妈们苦不堪言，生怕这样的倒霉事临到自己的头上。

而且洛杉矶的本地居民，特别是当地的美国人对那些来美国生孩子的妈妈们特别反感，所以当他们看到附近有许多中国的孕妇出现，他们常常会去向有关部门投诉扰民，使得那些在月子中心待产的妈妈们无法有一个安静舒心的环境安心待产。

而在休斯顿，作为月子中心的新兴地区，还没有受到美国政府的关注。有许多妈妈表示，从洛杉矶或是旧金山等加州主要城市入境特别困难，就算是能顺利入境，有时也很难拿到足够的逗留期限，关小黑屋，严查行李等更是时有发生。而在休斯顿，通关率接近百分之百，而且基本都能拿到六个月的逗留时限，进小黑屋更是很少发生。

所谓树大招风，有意识的避开美国政府重点关注的洛杉矶，从而转向其他的城市待产是宝妈们一个明智的选择，从这点来看，休斯顿理当胜出。

Due to New York's climate (very cold winters and frequent snowstorms), cramped living conditions, crowded city environment, and high crime rate, maternity centers in New York are becoming less and less popular among Chinese mothers. Therefore, most mothers giving birth in the US now choose maternity centers in Los Angeles and Houston. So how do you choose between these two cities? Today, I will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these two cities for mothers planning to give birth in the US, to help them make the right decision.

I. Safety

For mothers preparing to give birth in the US, safety is their top priority; no one wants anything bad to happen while they are in the US. Since 2012, Los Angeles, as the area with the highest concentration of Chinese maternity centers, has been under scrutiny by the US government more than once. Although not all maternity centers are problematic, some have been involved in fraudulent activities, insurance fraud, and money laundering, creating a climate of fear among all maternity centers in Los Angeles. In 2015, several maternity centers in Los Angeles were raided by the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mothers staying in these centers were forced to temporarily move to other centers or were even deported, causing great inconvenience and distress, and in some cases, even affecting their future entry into the US. The US government seems to conduct these raids every few years, making mothers giving birth in the US extremely worried, fearing that they might be the next victims.

Furthermore, local residents in Los Angeles, especially Americans, are particularly resentful of mothers who come to the US to give birth. When they see many pregnant Chinese women in their neighborhood, they often complain to the authorities about the disturbance, preventing mothers in maternity centers from having a quiet and comfortable environment to prepare for childbirth.

In contrast, Houston, as an emerging area for maternity centers, has not yet attracted the attention of the US government. Many mothers have reported that entering the US through Los Angeles or other major cities in California is particularly difficult. Even if they manage to enter the country successfully, it is sometimes difficult to obtain a sufficient length of stay, and being detained in a holding room and having their luggage thoroughly searched are common occurrences. In Houston, the customs clearance rate is close to 100%, and most people are granted a six-month stay.  Being taken to the interrogation room is also very rare.

As the saying goes, "a tall tree catches the wind," so consciously avoiding Los Angeles, which is a major focus of the U.S. government, and instead choosing other cities for childbirth is a wise choice for expectant mothers. From this perspective, Houston clearly stands out.

安全：休斯顿胜出

二．成本

除了安全，我想宝妈们最在意的应该就是费用了，毕竟那花出去的都是白花花的银子，虽然说生孩子总是要花钱的，可是花钱得花的值才行，能省还是应该省一点。那休斯顿和洛杉矶两地的月子中心费用情况又如何呢？

众所周知，洛杉矶是美国生活成本最高的城市之一，无论是住房成本，生活成本，还是医疗成本都高于美国的平均成本。2016年，洛杉矶的物价指数（price index）是189，在全美排在第十位，而休斯顿的物价指数是151，在全美仅排在第四十位。高成本一定会造就高收费，虽然常有月子中心会推出特价套餐来吸引妈妈们，但是等到妈妈们入住后，月子中心利用各种名义增加费用成为了普遍的规则。其实作为月子中心的运营方来说，他们也是受到了高成本的限制，可是最终为此买单是谁呢？当然不会是月子中心了，一定是我们的妈妈们了。

休斯顿和洛杉矶生活成本对比表

休斯顿 洛杉矶

用餐

双人餐厅用餐 $50.00 $60.00

麦当劳 $7.00 $7.50

美国产啤酒 $3.48 $6.00

可乐 (11.2 oz 小瓶) $1.78 $2.00

饮用水 (11.2 oz 小瓶) $1.28 $1.61

生活必需品

牛奶, (1 加仑) $1.85 $3.86

面包 (1 磅) $2.25 $2.77

大米, (1 磅) $2.13 $2.14

鸡蛋 (12只) $1.67 $3.02

本地起司 (1 磅) $5.17 $5.25

鸡胸肉 (1 磅) $4.13 $4.94

牛肉 （1磅） $5.87 $6.02

苹果 (1 磅) $1.82 $1.85

香蕉 (1 磅) $0.53 $1.04

橙子 (1 磅) $1.65 $1.55

番茄 (1磅) $1.53 $1.75

土豆 (1 磅) $1.21 $1.17

洋葱 (1 磅) 0.84 $ 1.00 $

饮用水 (1.5 升/瓶) 1.76 $ 1.85 $

红酒 (1 瓶) 12.00 $ 13.00 $

美国产啤酒 (0.5 升/瓶) 2.17 $ 2.38 $

进口啤酒 (11.2 oz ) 2.72 $ 2.96 $

香烟 (Marlboro) 7.00 $ 8.00 $

交通费

单程地铁（公交）票价 1.27 $ 1.75 $

地铁（公交）月票 46.38 $ 100.00 $

出租车起步费用 3.00 $ 3.00 $

出租车 1 英里费用 2.20 $ 2.70 $

出租车 1 小时等待费用 24.00 $ 29.19 $

汽油 (1 加仑) 2.08 $ 3.00 $

公共事业费（每月）

电费、水费、垃圾清运费（915平方英尺公寓房）

148.03 $ 128.19 $

Internet 上网费(60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

56.80 $ 53.15 $

健身和娱乐

1个成人1个月健身房会费 35.06 $ 44.47 $

网球场租金 (周末1小时) 14.86 $ 10.70 $

1张电影票 11.00 $ 15.00 $

衣服和鞋子

1 条 Levi’s 501牛仔裤 39.87 $ 46.88 $

1 条Zara 或 H&M的裙子 31.16 $ 38.39 $

1 双 Nike 跑步鞋 72.10 $ 75.98 $

1 双男士真皮皮鞋 98.33 $ 93.14 $

公寓房租金

市中心公寓房租金（1个卧室）

1,377.68 $ 2,013.97 $

郊区公寓房租金（1个卧室）

924.76 $ 1,504.74 $

市中心公寓房租金（3个卧室）

2,535.20 $ 3,394.43 $

郊区公寓房租金（3个卧室）

1,578.89 $ 2,698.06 $

公寓房售价

市中心公寓房每平方英尺售价

183.99 $ 593.91 $

郊区公寓房每平方英尺售价

98.57 $ 342.38 $

收入

税后平均月收入 3,760.03 $ 4,072.57 $

贷款平均利率 (%), 1 年 3.8 3.9

更新日期： 2017年9月 2017年9月

抽样人数： 315人 372人

数据获取其实日期： 2016年3月 2016年3月

货币单位:：美元

Safety: Houston Wins

II. Cost

Besides safety, I think what mothers care about most is the cost. After all, the money spent is hard-earned cash.  While having a baby always involves expenses, the money should be well spent, and saving money where possible is always a good idea. So, what are the costs of maternity centers in Houston and Los Angeles?

As is well known, Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the United States. Housing costs, living costs, and medical costs are all higher than the US average. In 2016, Los Angeles's price index was 189, ranking tenth in the US, while Houston's price index was 151, ranking only fortieth. High costs inevitably lead to high fees. Although maternity centers often offer special packages to attract mothers, it has become a common practice for them to increase fees under various pretexts after mothers move in.  In fact, the operators of these maternity centers are also constrained by high costs, but who ultimately pays the price? Certainly not the maternity centers; it's our mothers who bear the brunt of the costs. Cost of Living Comparison: Houston vs. Los Angeles

Houston  Los Angeles

Dining

Meal for two at a restaurant $50.00 $60.00

McDonald's $7.00 $7.50

Domestic Beer $3.48 $6.00

Coke (11.2 oz bottle) $1.78 $2.00

Bottled Water (11.2 oz bottle) $1.28 $1.61

Groceries

Milk (1 gallon) $1.85 $3.86

Bread (1 lb) $2.25 $2.77

Rice (1 lb) $2.13 $2.14

Eggs (12) $1.67 $3.02

Local Cheese (1 lb) $5.17 $5.25

Chicken Breast (1 lb) $4.13 $4.94

Beef (1 lb) $5.87 $6.02

Apples (1 lb) $1.82 $1.85

Bananas (1 lb) $0.53 $1.04

Oranges (1 lb) $1.65 $1.55

Tomatoes (1 lb) $1.53 $1.75

Potatoes (1 lb) $1.21 $1.17

Onions (1 lb) $0.84 $1.00

Bottled Water (1.5 liter bottle) $1.76 $1.85

Wine (1 bottle) $12.00 $13.00

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) $2.17 $2.38

Imported Beer (11.2 oz) $2.72 $2.96

Cigarettes (Marlboro) $7.00 $8.00

Transportation

One-way Metro (Bus) Ticket $1.27 $1.75 $

Subway (Bus) Monthly Pass $46.38  $100.00

Taxi Starting Fare $3.00  $3.00

Taxi Fare per 1 Mile $2.20  $2.70

Taxi Waiting Fee per 1 Hour $24.00  $29.19

Gasoline (1 Gallon) $2.08  $3.00

Utilities (Monthly)

Electricity, Water, and Garbage Collection (915 sq ft apartment)

$148.03  $128.19

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

$56.80  $53.15

Fitness and Entertainment

1 Month Gym Membership for 1 Adult $35.06  $44.47

Tennis Court Rental (1 hour on Weekend) $14.86  $10.70

1 Movie Ticket $11.00  $15.00

Clothing and Shoes

1 Pair of Levi’s 501 Jeans $39.87  $46.88

1 Zara or H&M Dress $31.16  $38.39

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes $72.10  $75.98

1 Pair of Men's Leather Business Shoes $98.33  $93.14

Apartment Rent

Apartment Rent in City Center (1 Bedroom)

$1,377.68  $2,013.97

Apartment Rent Outside of City Center (1 Bedroom)

$924.76  $1,504.74

Apartment Rent in City Center (3 Bedrooms)

$2,535.20  $3,394.43

Apartment Rent Outside of City Center (3 Bedrooms)

$1,578.89  $2,698.06 Apartment Prices

Price per square foot for apartments in the city center

$183.99 - $593.91

Price per square foot for apartments in the suburbs

$98.57 - $342.38

Income

Average monthly income after tax: $3,760.03 - $4,072.57

Average mortgage interest rate (%), 1 year: 3.8 - 3.9

Update Date: September 2017  September 2017

Sample Size: 315 people  372 people

Data Acquisition Start Date: March 2016  March 2016

Currency Unit: US Dollars

休斯顿以其相对低廉的生活成本，使得宝妈们能在月子中心获得更好的服务，同时费用也会降低不少，甚至有些月子中心敢于提出牛奶，水果，饮料，鸡蛋，面包等食物的无限量供应。这正是低廉的成本所带来的优势。

成本：休斯顿胜出

三．管理

很多妈妈们都会在网上搜索月子中心的相关信息，毕竟能够直接从身边人那里获得一手信息的毕竟是少数。可是当我们在网上搜索后看到的是什么呢？大多都是负面的报道。饭食难吃，人员混杂，管理混乱，变相收费等等，更有妈妈回国后痛斥那些问题月子中心，称那里就如同集中营一般，月子中心整天把妈妈们关在房间里，也不让她们出去透气，饭菜烧什么就只有吃什么，再难吃也得吃，所以很多妈妈就只要自己叫外卖来吃。这是很多大型月子中心的共有问题。

但在休斯顿，几乎所有的月子中心都是直营居家型月子中心，一栋别墅里面住上3-4个妈妈，由保姆照顾妈妈们的起居和饮食，由月嫂照顾坐月子的妈妈和刚出生的宝宝。大家就像一个大家庭一样生活在一起，每天可以在早地上和湖边散步，也可以根据自己的饮食习惯，让保姆做出适当的调整，以适合每位妈妈的口味。居家式的管理少了一份规定，多了一份谅解；少了一份争吵，多了一份温馨；少了一份合同背后的冷漠，而多了一份人情之间的温暖。

管理：休斯顿胜出

四．医疗

对每一位生孩子的妈妈来说，医生和医院是她们必不可少的接触对象，无论是在国内还是在美国。很多妈妈来美国生宝宝的另一个重要的原因就是美国先进的医疗技术和人性化的医疗服务。洛杉矶作为美国重要的大都市，有着多所全美知名的医院，，笔者对洛杉矶的医疗水平不是很了解，所以我就重点介绍一下休斯顿的医疗水平。

位于休斯敦的德州医疗中心（TexasMedical Center）不仅是世界一流更是世界上最大的医疗研究中心，在国际医学领域起着举足轻重的作用。医疗科研已成为休城跻身国际化大都巿的又一窗口。1936年，棉花商安德森（MD ANDERSON）在位于现在的休斯顿赫门公园（HERMANPARK）的旁边，购置了130亩土地，并对外宣布，将指定做为医院和医疗机构所在地，凡是有意愿在此开办医院和医疗系统的机构，都将免费获得土地。1941年，德克萨斯州议会给予德州大学50万美元筹建肿瘤研究医院，德州大学欣然应允。之后，位于达拉斯的贝勒大学医学院也获得多项优惠政策，于是在1945年，第一个医疗机构在这块土地出现，这就是贝勒医学院（Baylor College of Medicine）。 1969年成立的德州心脏中心，成为世界首家进行人工心脏移植的医疗机构。

美国医学界权威杂志------「美国新闻与世界报导」（US News & World Report），推选出排名前100位的美国着名医院，其中多次包括包括德州医疗中心的Houston Methodist Hospital（休斯顿卫理公会医院）综合领域排名19 ；

休斯顿卫理公会医院

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center（德州大学MD安德森癌症中心）癌症专项排名1；

德州大学MD安德森癌症中心

以及在全美都非常著名的Texas Children Hospital（德州儿童医院）儿童专科医院排名第4。

德州儿童医院

医疗：平手

Houston's relatively low cost of living allows mothers to receive better services at postpartum care centers while significantly reducing costs.  Some centers even offer unlimited supplies of milk, fruit, beverages, eggs, and bread. This is a direct advantage of the lower cost of living.

Cost: Houston wins

III. Management

Many mothers search for information about postpartum care centers online, as only a few can get firsthand information from people they know. But what do we find when we search online? Mostly negative reports. Poor food, mixed clientele, chaotic management, hidden fees, etc. Some mothers even denounce these problematic centers after returning home, describing them as like concentration camps. The centers confine mothers to their rooms all day, not allowing them to go out for fresh air, and they have to eat whatever is served, no matter how bad it tastes.  Therefore, many mothers resort to ordering takeout. This is a common problem with many large postpartum care centers.

However, in Houston, almost all postpartum care centers are directly managed, home-based centers. Three to four mothers live in a villa, with nannies taking care of their daily needs and meals, and postpartum caregivers looking after the mothers and their newborns. They live together like a big family, taking walks in the yard and by the lake every day. They can also have the nannies adjust the meals according to their dietary preferences to suit each mother's taste. Home-style management means less rigid rules and more understanding; less conflict and more warmth; less coldness behind a contract and more human warmth.

Management: Houston wins

IV. Medical Care

For every mother giving birth, doctors and hospitals are essential contacts, whether in China or the United States. Another important reason many mothers come to the United States to have their babies is the advanced medical technology and humane medical services. Los Angeles, as a major American city, has many nationally renowned hospitals. I am not very familiar with the medical standards in Los Angeles, so I will focus on introducing the medical standards in Houston. Located in Houston, the Texas Medical Center is not only a world-class but also the world's largest medical research center, playing a crucial role in the international medical field. Medical research has become another window for Houston to become a truly international metropolis. In 1936, cotton merchant M.D. Anderson purchased 130 acres of land next to what is now Herman Park in Houston and announced that it would be designated as the site for hospitals and medical institutions.  Any institution willing to establish a hospital or medical system there would receive the land free of charge. In 1941, the Texas Legislature granted the University of Texas $500,000 to establish a cancer research hospital, which the University of Texas readily accepted. Later, Baylor University College of Medicine in Dallas also received several preferential policies, and in 1945, the first medical institution appeared on this land – Baylor College of Medicine. The Texas Heart Institute, established in 1969, became the world's first medical institution to perform artificial heart transplants.

The authoritative American medical journal, "U.S. News & World Report," selected the top 100 famous hospitals in the United States, which repeatedly included Houston Methodist Hospital (ranked 19th in the overall category) of the Texas Medical Center;

Houston Methodist Hospital

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (ranked 1st in cancer specialties);

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

and the nationally renowned Texas Children's Hospital (ranked 4th in pediatric specialties).

Texas Children's Hospital

Medical: Tie

五．旅游

洛杉矶是美国非常著名的旅游城市，气候宜人，除了有美丽的海滨和沙滩，全城内的旅游景点更是数不胜数，好莱坞、迪斯尼乐园、环球乐园等都是大家耳熟能详的旅游好去处。

休斯顿虽然不是以旅游为主的城市，可是依然有很多值得一玩的地方，比如NASA航天中心，博物馆区等也都是非常值得一去的地方。洛杉矶和休斯顿都拥有3-4个超大型的outlets或购物广场，在休斯顿的市中心有三座outlets，PermiumOutlets，Tanger Outlets，和KatyMills。另外休斯顿还拥有全德州最大，美国第8的高端商场——Galleria，商场内共有超过375家店铺，汇集了包括Prada, Chanel，Louis Vuitton，GUCCI，Burberry，Giorgio Armani, Ferragamo等几乎所有的世界一、二线品牌和美国本地品牌。全休斯顿还拥有数百家大大小小商场，完全可以满足每一位妈妈的购物需求。

旅游：洛杉矶胜出

六．结论

从以上的分析中，我们不难看出对于赴美产子选择月子中心最为关键的三个内容，安全、成本和医疗，休斯顿都有着明显的优势，虽然在旅游项目中，休斯顿不如洛杉矶，但是我认为这无关紧要，比较妈妈们是来生孩子的，不是来旅游的，挺着大肚子，逛迪斯尼乐园，估计没有几个妈妈能有这样的胆量和体力吧。

休斯顿作为美国月子中心新兴的发展之地，凭借着他得天独厚的优势，一定会被越来越多的宝妈们所认可。

V. Tourism

Los Angeles is a very famous tourist city in the United States, with a pleasant climate. Besides its beautiful coastlines and beaches, the city boasts countless tourist attractions. Hollywood, Disneyland, and Universal Studios are all well-known tourist destinations.

Although Houston is not primarily a tourist city, it still has many places worth visiting, such as the NASA Space Center and the Museum District. Both Los Angeles and Houston have 3-4 super-large outlets or shopping malls. In downtown Houston, there are three outlets: Premium Outlets, Tanger Outlets, and Katy Mills. Houston also boasts the largest high-end shopping mall in Texas and the 8th largest in the United States – the Galleria, which has over 375 stores, bringing together almost all the world's top-tier and second-tier brands, including Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, and Ferragamo, as well as American local brands. Houston also has hundreds of large and small shopping malls, which can fully meet every mother's shopping needs.

Tourism: Los Angeles wins

VI. Conclusion

From the above analysis, it's clear that Houston has significant advantages in the three most crucial aspects for choosing a maternity center in the US: safety, cost, and medical care. Although Houston is not as strong as Los Angeles in terms of tourism, I believe this is irrelevant, as mothers are coming to give birth, not to travel.  Few mothers would have the courage and stamina to visit Disneyland while heavily pregnant.

As an emerging development area for maternity centers in the United States, Houston, with its unique advantages, will surely be recognized by more and more expectant mothers.