From the Shanghai Daily
 http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/10/26/295267/Breast_massage_in_demand.htm
Breast massage in demand
Yang Lifei
2006-10-26

AN ongoing baby boom in the city has created huge demand for
nursemaids, especially those who are trained in breast massage for new
mothers who have trouble producing their own milk.

Several household service companies in the city said demand is growing
quickly for nursemaids with professional qualifications in breast
massage.

An experienced masseuse can spend hours massaging a new mother's
breast to prevent stiffness and stimulate the secretion of milk. The
service costs between 200 yuan (US$25) and 600 yuan a massage.

Motivated by the high payment, many nursemaids are signing up for
training courses to learn breast massage.

Feng Yajun, a trainer at Shanghai Haoshi Service Center, said she has
taught the skill to more than 200 maternal and infant care workers so
far this year. She had fewer than 100 students last year.

Demand has been pushed by the baby boom and the growing popularity of
breast feeding in the city.

In the past, many women shunned breast feeding for fear of ruining
their figures, but a growing number of new mothers are catching on to
the benefits of breast feeding, said an official surnamed Liu with a
household service company.

"They are more willing to nurse a baby with their own milk, however,
many are unaware of what to do when they have difficulty producing
milk," Liu said.

Only nursemaids with special training in massage will be dispatched to
serve customers in need, she said.

The Chengjie Mother and Infant Service Agency in Xuhui District has
invited doctors to give massage lessons to nursemaids, who then
practice in hospital before they go on duty.

"We are receiving more calls for breast massage service than ever
before," said company director Yang Li. "Sometimes nursemaids who are
good at the skills are asked to serve in the ward immediately after
the client gives birth."

About 131,000 babies will be born in the city this year, up from
123,901 last year, according to a forecast by the Shanghai Population
and Family Planning Commission.

The birth rate will rise to about 137,000 in 2007 and peak in 2015 at
about 160,000, the commission said.

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