04_BT_Apr2018

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Every mom deserves 

the best in Her confinement care 

Giving birth is a joyful experience for women. There are no 

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modern, busy world today, there seems to be a lack of proper, 

conducive environments in which women can fully recuperate 

from the rigours of childbirth. Although rest is said to be the 

cornerstone to a full postpartum recovery, our modern lifestyles 

seem to be too fast-paced with responsibilities to be fulfilled, 

careers to chase, social affairs to keep up with etc, new moms 

may have a challenging time trying to recover and recuperate 

in peace and tranquility. 

This is why pregnant moms need to know about LYC Mother 

& Child Centre, a five-star luxury confinement centre located in 

the affluent township of Taman Tun Dr Ismail. It is the first 

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to hospital standards which families can trust. 

The center occupies two whole floors at the podium block of 

Plaza VADS and boasts thirty-three lavish bedrooms with features 

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be cared for, waited on and pampered in comfort and style. 

LYC Mother & Child Centre is run by qualified and experienced 

caregivers with medical training credentials. Among the provisions 

are in-house lactation consultations by experienced professionals; 

24-hour care for moms and their newborns with weekly doctor’s 

visits; 24-hour baby monitoring; non-invasive jaundice assessment 

and a nursery with biometric security system. The center also 

offers in-house postpartum SPA treatments by acclaimed 

postpartum products and services brand Tanamera, traditional 

Malay postpartum massages as well as postpartum yoga classes. 

Five freshly prepared nutritious meals from the center’s in-house 

kitchen will be provided daily. 

The rooms at LYC Mother & Child Centre are sterilised using UV 

light and a 24-hour CCTV monitoring system ensures the safety 

and security of the premise at all times. There are three choice 

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equipped with amenities that measure up to those in five-star 

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and Astro channels; automatic washlet; auto-sensor light; free 

WiFi; electronic safe deposit box; in-house laundry services for 

mom and baby, and security access card, among others. 

New moms will be able to spend their early postpartum period 

in total tranquility and bliss as they bond with their newborns 

and acquire all the information they need about breastfeeding, 

their reproductive health, and also, how to adjust to motherhood 

with ease. 

For more information, please contact our customer service at +6012 627 7335 

LYC Mother & Child Center Sdn Bhd (972687-K) 

Level 2 & 3, Podium Block, Plaza VADS, No 1, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: +603 7733 9222 | Fax: +603 7733 4886 | Website: www.lychealth.com | Email: enquiry@lychealth.com

Advertorial 

Common mistakes women make 

when trying to conceive 

If you're trying for a baby and have not been successful so 

far, there might be an explanation for it! In fact, there are a 

few mistakes women are known to make, sometimes quite 

unbeknownst to them, that could be hampering their chances of 

getting pregnant. Rule them all out one by one and you might 

have better luck in conceiving! 

Taking lifestyle stress 

for granted 

Your lifestyle matters and it has been proven to affect your 

ability to conceive. As modern lifestyle will have it, you could 

be stressed and not even know it, and this could hamper your 

chances of conceiving. That's why women should talk to their 

doctor before trying to conceive, so that their overall health can 

be evaluated to see if any changes need to be made. 

Being on medication that 

hampers conception 

If you happen to be on antidepressants, do know that it can 

affect your ovulation and hence hinder your ovulation. In men, 

testosterone and anabolic steroids may affect fertility. Make sure 

to talk to your doctor about any medications you or your partner 

are taking before trying to get pregnant. 

Waiting too long to take action 

In general, a healthy woman should conceive within 12 months 

of having unprotected sex. If you're approaching the age of 35 

however, and are still unable to get pregnant, the worst thing 

you can do is to still wait and hope things will change on their 

own. Seek advice from a specialist as quickly as possible to have a 

better chance at making a family. 

Assuming that the fault is yours 

In countless cases of infertility, it was found out that the issue 

was with the male partner instead of the female, although it's 

all too easy to assume the opposite when you fail to conceive. If 

you're not having much luck in conceiving, both your partner and 

you should consider going for a fertility tests to find out what the 

issue is and how to deal with it. 

Not knowing your fertile period 

Are you aware of your ovulation period? This is more important 

than you imagine for it will pinpoint the precise time that you’re 

likely to conceive following unprotected intercourse. It need not 

be a complicated thing though, for a good ovulation test kit is 

all you need for this. After ruling out all the possible reasons why 

you have not yet conceived, you can then follow through with a 

pregnancy test kit to check for the ultimate results! 

Use the right home testing kits! 

If you're trying to conceive, it's time to get acquainted with the 

name Clearblue, an award-winning brand that can assist you in 

optimizing your chances of conception, and also, finding out if 

you’re pregnant, precisely and accurately. 

Each month, fluctuating hormone levels trigger the release of a 

single egg from either ovary to make its way down your Fallopian 

tubes. This is called your ovulation period — it’s when you’re 

most fertile. Approximately 24 to 36 hours preceding ovulation, 

there will be a peak in the level of what’s called the Luteinising 

Hormone (LH)* in your body. The Clearblue Digital Ovulation 

Test kit measures the changes (peak) in Luteinising Hormone 

(LH)* levels in your body, so that you can pick out the most 

fruitful time for making a baby. What makes it different from 

other kits is that it sets a personalised threshold level for each 

user, measuring the changes from their own unique baseline for 

more precise results. 

Use it as directed in the package and your results will be delivered 

in approximately three minutes, indicating the following: 

for no LH surge 

for a positive LH surge 

When the time comes to check if you’re pregnant, you'll find 

that the Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception 

Indicator offers the clearest results, accurately and conveniently. 

It’s equipped with a Conception Indicator for double confirmation 

of pregnancy results, as well as a Smart Dual Sensor, which not 

only tells you in words if you’re pregnant or not, but if you are, it 

also indicates how far along you are. 

For more information, please contact us at: Email: info@germax.com.my Careline: 03-6151 6629 Website: my.clearblue.com

Our Experts 

Developmental Education & Learning Consultant 

Rosh Vettiveloo 

Expert in learning support, concentration, memory, dyslexia, dyspraxia, hyperlexia, general reading 

acquisition difficulties, AD/HD, homeschooling learners with learning difficulties in Malaysia and early 

intervention procedures in multilingual environments. Trained in mild to moderate learning difficulties 

and qualified Specialist in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (UK) and Educational 

Assessor (UK). 20 years practical experience in the field of special education. 

Holistic Care & Wellbeing Gaia Chinniah 

Gaia is a Malaysian born entrepreneur who has lived in New Zealand for over 30 years. She is the 

CEO of Ruby Face Sdn Bhd who exclusively distributes ethical products including World Organics 

from New Zealand. She holds a Master in Management Studies and a career of over 10 years in 

Marketing of big brands and as a Television presenter. Gaia has a passion for empowering people 

and some of her hobbies are pastel art, reiki, yoga and staying healthy. More about Gaia can be read 

here: www.worldorganics.com.my & www.rubyface.com. 

Fertility & Conception Dr Agilan Arjunan 

Dr Agilan Arjunan, a Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, graduated from University of Malaya 

and obtained his specialist degree from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, London. 

Armed with his passion for laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, he pursues his dream in helping couples 

to conceive and build their families through the latest technology of reproductive techniques. He is 

also passionate in disseminating knowledge in the field of fertility and hopes readers can differentiate 

facts from myths. 

CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN AND NEONATOLOGIST Dr. Khoo Boo Aik 

Dr Khoo is a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Sunway Medical Centre. He completed his 

medical degree from National University of Malaysia (MD-UKM) in 1997. He obtained his paediatric 

postgraduate membership from royal college of paediatric and child health (MRCPCH) in Glasgow, 

UK in 2003. He continued his neonatal subspecialty fellowship training in 2005 at Liverpool Hospital 

and the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW), Sydney, NSW, Australia. In 2009, he was accredited as 

consultant paediatrician and neonatologist under the National Specialist Register (NSR), Malaysia. 

Currently, he also holds a part time lecturer post at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health 

Sciences, Monash University, Sunway Campus. He is a father of 3 energetic boys aged 13, 11 and 7. 

Child Psychology Jessie Foo Xiang Yi 

A trained clinical psychologist and a member of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology. Jessie 

graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology from HELP University, Malaysia and conducts 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to enhance adolescents’ and adults’ ability to cope with 

psychological distress and live a meaningful and hopeful life. She uses play and art techniques 

to engage with children. Jessie performs psychological assessments on children to diagnose and 

determine psychological, social, behavioral and educational functioning. 

Dietitian Verona Lee 

Verona received her credential in dietetics from National University of Malaysia (UKM). Her passion 

for nutrition began after witnessing some of her family members suffer from diet-related chronic 

diseases, which made her realise how important diet and a active lifestyle is to everyone’s health. She 

has practiced in all areas of nutrition with a special interest in child nutrition. 

Early Childhood Education Daisy Ng 

Daisy is a mother of two and Founder of Trinity Kids Malaysia. A dedicated practitioner in early 

childhood education, she has been featured on BFM, The Edge, NTV7, The Star and given talks 

on related topics. As a certified Dr Sears Health Coach in children/family nutrition and ante-natal 

wellness, Daisy actively promotes a wholesome and non-processed diet in Malaysia’s schools. An avid 

reader and writer from a young age, she now writes about topics in early childhood education, child 

development and nutrition. 

BabyTalk | April 2018 5

contents April 2018 

30 BT Guide 37 BT Supplement 

The Best Start for New Moms 

Managing 

Nursing 

Issues 

28 

Regulars 

13 Ask Our Experts: 

There are no better group of people around to 

answer your nagging issues 

14 Cute Snaps: 

Smile baby, you’re about to get famous! 

15 BT Buzz: 

See what scientists are discovering about baby 

and pregnancy health 

Bump to Birth 

18 Fertility & Conception: 

Keeping the hope alive 

22 Giving Birth: 

Natural labor pain management methods 

25 9 Months: 

Are perineal tears inevitable 

28 Feature: 

Umbilical non-severance 

25 

45 

Life & Style 

42 Home proud: 

7 top cleaning devices and tools 

45 Love for life: 

Keeping a clean and tidy nursery 

47 Shopping: 

Baby wipes 

49 Mini feature: 

Have kids have art 

50 Out & about: 

News and latest happenings in town 

51 Subscription: 

Subscribe to BabyTalk and never miss an issue again!

Advertorial 

We know that ... 

every baby's meal ... 

is always important 

Xongdur Baby and 

Xongdur Smart Puffs 

Start developing the ideal recipe for your baby's age. Under 

the concept Because every baby’s meal is always important — 

good food is the beginning of good growth of the baby, we 

carefully select ingredients from contract farmers that have 

partnered with us for a long time and we manufacture our 

products that are GMP, HACCP and HALAL certified, as well 

as organic certified by IFOAM, Organic Eu, Organic CANADA 

and Organic USDA. This is to ensure that Baby's first 

supplementary baby foods in addition to breast milk, are free 

from toxins, allergens, and preservative but rather, fortified 

with nutrition and help in the development of a baby. 

The textures in our baby food are in no way second to 

nutrition either, for we believe it’s important for a baby to 

try different textures. This helps baby learn to chew, swallow 

and eventually enjoy the same food the family is eating. You 

can select from the seven different textures that suit your 

baby’s skills and age. Around 6 months of age, when a baby 

first tries out food other than breastmilk, the following two 

varieties are suggested, to help develop swallowing skills. 

• Organic Sprouted Brown Rice with Banana and Pumpkin 

• Organic Sprouted Brown Rice with Banana and Spinach 

Around 8 months of age, babies will be able to hold food in 

their hands and bring it to their mouths. Offering finger foods 

helps babies learn to chew and feed themselves. For this, the 

“Xongdur Smart Puffs” provides the opportunity for babies 

to feel and touch different textures, coordinate between their 

eyes and hands, sharpen their sense of smell, self-feed, use 

tongue movements and practice using their molar teeth to 

chew. For this, the following will be suitable: 

• Smart Puffs Organic Rice Puff with Purple Sweet Potato 

and Blueberry 

• Smart Puffs Organic Rice Puff with Sweet Potato and Orange 

Around 10 months of age, babies will have more teeth and 

will be able to chew well. To help them chew food better we 

developed the organic porridge sprouted brown rice with 

mixed, small pieces of organic vegetables and fruits in 3 flavors. 

• Organic Sprouted Brown Rice with Sweet Corn and Carrot 

• Organic Sprouted Brown Rice with Spinach and Carrot 

• Organic Sprouted Brown Rice with Spinach and Pumpkin 

All our products are packaged in separate sachets to ensure 

freshness when prepared and for easy portability. 

These are signs that your baby is ready for solid foods: 

• sits up with very little help 

• holds head up 

• opens mouth when food is offered 

• turns head to refuse food 

Imported & Distributed By: Go Marvellous Marketing Sdn Bhd E: gomarvellous.mktg@gmail.com FB: Xongdur Baby Malaysia

Published by: 

Hello, warm and balmy April… 

… and welcome back, dear readers. We have quite an issue for you this month, 

among which is an eye-opener from our fertility expert Dr Agilan Arjunan, who 

was kind enough to share with us three success stories about couples who were 

trying to get pregnant. It’s a really inspiring read for all of you who are trying 

for a baby but are still unable to conceive. Do check it out in our Bump to Birth 

section this month, where already expectant moms will find three other articles 

that are just as interesting! 

This month’s special guide goes out to all new moms who what the best start 

in their parenting journey. It focuses on postpartum issues as well as inner and 

outer well being, digging deep into some common, stubborn issues, and we 

hope to make a difference. 

If you’re a new mom, please check out our BT Supplement which is a guide for 

nursing moms — yes, we’ve got your backs too! 

As always, issues and topics on little ones are mainstays in BabyTalk and we’ve 

got quite a few subjects covered too. We hope you’ll find them useful in your 

parenting tasks and we hope you don’t forget to pick up your next copy in May! 

Much love 

Cindy 

Editor’s Note 

AcePremier.com Sdn Bhd (829271-K) 

N-2-6, Plaza Damas, 

60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 

Sri Hartamas, 

50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Tel: +60 3 6203 2522 

Fax: +60 3 6203 4522 

Email: info@acepremier.com 

Publisher 

John Lim 

Editor 

Cindy Antoinette Fernandez 

Graphic Designer 

Jeannie Chen 

Marketing & Sales 

Fiona Lim 

Adeline Chin 

Theresa Pok 

Printer 

Times Offset (M) Sdn Bhd 

Bangunan Times Publishing 

Lot 46 Subang Hi-Tech, 

Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 

40000 Shah Alam Selangor 

Distributor 

Pansing Marketing Sdn Bhd 

With thanks to 

Dr Khoo Boo Aik, Gaia Chinniah, 

Jessie Foo Xiang Yi, Rosh Vettiveloo, Daisy Ng, 

Verona Lee and Dr Agilan Arjunan. 

Articles and photographs are welcome, but we 

cannot be responsible for their safe return. 

BABYTALK encourages its readers’ feedback. 

Please email to info@acepremier.com 

BabyTalk magazine is published 12 times a year by 

AcePremier.com Sdn Bhd 

Disclaimer 

Editorial material herein is provided for information 

only. Reader are cautioned not to use this information 

as a substitute for regular professional health care 

and consultation. Although great care has been taken 

in compiling and checking the information given in 

this publication, the publisher, authors, advisors and 

agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for 

continued currency of the information or for any errors, 

omissions or inaccuracies in this publication whether 

arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever, or for 

any consequences arising there from. The inclusion 

or exclusion of any product does not mean that the 

publisher advocates or rejects its use either generally or 

in particular field or fields. 

Advertisements are subject to editorial acceptance and 

have no influence on editorial content or presentation. 

the publishers, authors, advisors and agents do not 

guarantee, directly or indirectly, the quality or efficacy of 

any product or service described in the advertisements or 

other material which is commercial in nature. 

For all business and partnership matters please contact 

our Director John Lim at info@acepremier.com 

or +603 6203 2522. 

All Rights Reserved 

Copyright © 2018. AcePremier.com Sdn Bhd 

Available at

Ask Our Experts 

Dr. Agilan Arjunan 

Fertility & Conception 

} 

How long will it take for me to get pregnant after 

stopping the pill? ~ 

The pills prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation. Once 

you stop the pill, the hormones are cleared from your body in 

a matter of days. Your body should start producing eggs for 

ovulation. However, this "reversal process" can take days to 

weeks and it’s not the same for every woman. 

Typically by 2–3 months, a woman should resume back 

her usual menstrual rhythm (i.e. ovulation pattern). Once 

ovulation has resumed, her fertility is back on track. 

If the woman had menstrual irregularities prior to starting the 

pill, the same issue will still be there after stopping the pill. 

Generally, if a woman’s periods have resumed and are regular, 

she can try to conceive naturally for about 4–5 months. If 

she is still unsuccessful, it’ll probably be wise to seek some 

advice from a fertility specialist. If the woman is young (i.e. 

< 30 yrs old), she can take a bit more time to try before 

seeking advice. If the woman is older, it’s better get a fertility 

assessment done sooner. 

Dr. Khoo Boo Aik 

CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN 

& NEONATOLOGIST 

} 

Can I give my ten month old baby multivitamins 

even if he is slightly overweight? ~ 

The short answer is no. If your baby is feeding and growing 

well, there is no reason to supplement him or her with 

multivitamins. 

What you need to make sure 

is that you are feeding your 

baby a balance of nutrition 

from milk source as well as 

a diet with balance portions 

of carbohydrate, fat, protein, 

vegetables and fruits. If your 

baby is fully breastfed, make sure 

he or she is taking enough food 

that contains iron in order to 

prevent iron deficiency anemia. 

It is also important to ensure 

adequate sunlight exposure to 

avoid vitamin D deficiency. 

Rosh Vettiveloo 

Developmental Education 

& Learning Consultant 

} 

I've seen parents struggle with autistic toddlers and 

many seem to be at their wits end trying to cope with 

their kids' uncontrollable outbursts. Will these kids even 

have a chance of attending a normal school and leading 

a normal life in the future? ~ 

Yes. but there has to be intervention done by properly trained 

people, not people with experience ONLY. Success rates are 

indeed high if intervention is done well. Parents look for 

quick fixes and are not willing to incur the kind of costs it 

might take to properly deal with this here in this country. 

There are very few people here who are specifically trained 

to deal with ASD and they paid a lot of money to get trained 

too. If you go through my FB page (www.facebook.com/sri. 

rafelsia?ref=br_rs), I shared a video of how successful and 

effective intervention looks like in children with ASD. 

ASD is a social communication disorder where these 

individuals find it difficult to understand verbal and non 

verbal communication and social cues. ASD typically sets in 

(depending on type, and there are five subtypes) between 

ages 18 to 24 months. The closer to 24 months of age it 

is identified or younger, and effective intervention is put in 

place, the better the results. Very often, children with ASD 

show signs of being speech delayed and that is not to be 

confused with a speech impairment. Intensive speech therapy 

4–5 times per week with SLPs trained to work with children 

who have ASD specifically can yield amazing results. 

Alongside that, there need to be other cognitive interventions 

and consistency in maintaining and demanding verbal 

communication from the child at all times. Consistency in 

interacting with people is necessary. 


Cute Snaps 

little 

Stars 

Winner 

Haiey Goh Zhi Qi, 

4 months, Selangor. 

Do you have a little star 

aged between 1 month to 36 

months who would light up 

this page? Send your photo to 

babytalkmalaysia@gmail.com 

with name, location and age. 

Please state email subject as 

“Cute Snaps – Little Stars”. 

Loveine Ngoh Jia Yi, 


Levi Rui-Han Saw, 


Ho Tze Hui, 


Teh Ru Xin, 


Chan Ee Chern, 

24 months, Negeri Sembilan. 

Snap & Win 

A surprise gift! 

14 BabyTalk | April 2018

BT Buzz 

Improving birth outcomes one 

amino acid at a time 

A simple dietary supplement (L-arginine) was found to improve 

birth outcomes, paving the way for future clinical trials to test 

this inexpensive and safe intervention. In their paper entitled, 

“Malaria in pregnancy alters L-arginine bioavailability and 

placental vascular development,” Science Translational Medicine, 

7 March 2018, Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI) and 

University of Toronto researchers report that Malawian women 

with malaria in pregnancy had altered levels of L-arginine which 

were associated with poor birth outcomes. L-arginine is an 

amino acid that improves blood flow and circulation and that 

humans get from their diet, including eggs, meat and dairy. 

In an experimental model of malaria in pregnancy, 

supplementing the diet of pregnant mice with L-arginine 

increased blood vessel development in the placenta and reduced 

low birth weight/preterm birth and stillbirth. Preterm birth and 

stillbirth are leading causes of childhood death accounting for 

an estimated 2 million deaths per year; however there are few 

safe and effective interventions. Globally many of these poor 

birth outcomes are associated with maternal infections such 

as malaria. 

Benefits of fish oil and 

probiotic supplements 

In one of the largest ever research reports of how a pregnant 

woman’s diet affects her baby’s allergy and eczema risk, 

scientists from Imperial College London assessed over 400 

studies involving 1.5 million people. As part of the study, they 

found that when pregnant women took a daily fish oil capsule 

from 20 weeks pregnant, and during the first three to four 

months of breastfeeding, risk of egg allergy in the child was 

reduced by 30 per cent. 

The team, who were commissioned by the Food Standards 

Agency, also found that taking a daily probiotic supplement 

from 36–38 weeks pregnant, and during the first three to six 

months of breastfeeding, reduced the risk of a child developing 

eczema by 22 per cent. The researchers, who published their 

meta-analysis in the journal PLOS Medicine, found no evidence 

that avoiding potentially allergenic foods such as nuts, dairy and 

eggs during pregnancy made a difference to a child’s allergy or 

eczema risk. 

Dr Robert Boyle, lead author of the research from the 

Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, explained: 

“Food allergies and eczema in children are a growing problem 

across the world. Although there has been a suggestion that 

what a woman eats during pregnancy may affect her baby’s risk 

of developing allergies or eczema, until now there has never 

been such a comprehensive analysis of the data.” He added: 

“Our research suggests probiotic and fish oil supplements may 

reduce a child’s risk 

of developing an 

allergic condition, 

and these findings 

need to be 

considered when 

guidelines for 

pregnant women 

are updated.” 

When you look into a baby’s eyes 

When you lock eyes with a baby, it’s hard to look away. For one 

thing, babies are fun to look at. They’re so tiny and cute and 

interesting. For another, babies love to stare back. I remember 

my babies staring at me so hard, with their eyebrows raised 

and unblinking eyes wide open. They would have killed in a 

staring contest. 

This mutual adoration of staring may be for a good reason. 

When a baby and an adult make eye contact, their brain 

waves fall in sync, too, a new study finds. And those shared 

patterns of brain activity may actually pave the way for better 

communication between baby and adult: Babies make more 

sweet, little sounds when their eyes are locked onto an adult 

who is looking back. The scientists reported the results online 

Nov. 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Psychologist Victoria Leong of the University of Cambridge and 

Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and colleagues 

invited infants into the lab for two experiments. In the first, 

the team outfitted 17 8-month-old babies with EEG caps, 

headwear covered with electrodes that measure the collective 

behavior of nerve cells across the brain. The infants watched a 

video in which an experimenter, also outfitted in an EEG cap, 

sang a nursery rhyme while looking either straight ahead at the 

baby, at the baby but with her head turned at an angle of 20 

degrees, or away from the baby and with her head turned at a 

20-degree angle. When the researcher looked at the baby (either 

facing the baby or with her head slightly turned), the babies’ 

brains responded, showing activity patterns that started to 

closely resemble those of the researcher. The second experiment 

moved the test into real life. The same researcher from the video 

sat near 19 different babies. Again, both the babies and the 

researcher wore EEG caps to record their brain activity. The reallife 

eye contact prompted brain patterns similar to those seen 

in the video experiment: When eyes met, brain activity fell into 

sync; when eyes wandered, brain activity didn’t match as closely. 

Lung infection in kids linked to 

moms who smoked 

Tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy is worse for children 

with asthma than postnatal secondhand smoke exposure, 

according to a new study in the journal CHEST ® 

A new study published in the journal CHEST ® highlights the 

burden of obstructive lung disease in US children and implicates 

tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) through maternal smoking during 

pregnancy as more strongly associated with worse lung function 

than current, ongoing TSE in school-aged children with asthma. 

“Childhood asthma is a significant source of morbidity for US 

children; those with poor lung function have an even greater 

burden of disease,” explained lead investigator Stacey-Ann 

Whittaker Brown, MD, from the Division of Pulmonary, Critical 

Care, and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount 

Sinai, New York, NY. “Few studies have analyzed the individual 

contribution of secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy 

or current, ongoing secondhand smoke exposure on the lung 

function of children. Unfortunately, many children are exposed 

to both. As we learn more about improving asthma outcomes in 

children, it is important to find out not only what environmental 

exposures are implicated in poor lung function, but also when 

those exposures are most harmful.” 



New structure discovered in 

human sperm tails 

A highly effective tail is needed in order 

for a sperm to be able to swim, and 

for a baby to be conceived. By using 

cryo-electron tomography, researchers 

at the University of Gothenburg — 

working in partnership with researchers 

in the United States — have identified 

a completely new nanostructure 

inside sperm tails. Human sperms 

are incredibly important for our 

reproduction. It would therefore 

be easy to assume that we have detailed knowledge of their 

appearance. However, an international team of researchers has 

now identified a completely new nanostructure inside sperm 

tails, thanks to the use of cryo-electron tomography. 

The method, for which Joachim Frank, Jacques Dubochet 

and Richard Henderson were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2017, 

produces 3D images of cellular structures. “Since the cells 

are depicted frozen in ice, without the addition of chemicals 

which can obscure the smallest cell structures, even individual 

proteins inside the cell can be observed” explains Johanna 

Höög, a research at the University of Gothenburg’s Department 

of Chemistry and Molecular Biology. A highly effective tail is 

needed in order for a sperm to be able to swim, and for an egg 

to be fertilised. 

The tail is a highly complex machine that consists of around 

a thousand different types of building blocks. The most 

important of these are called tubulins, which form long tubes 

(microtubules). The tubes are found inside the sperm tail. 

Thousands of motorproteins — molecules that can move — are 

affixed to these tubes. By being fixed to one microtubule and 

“walking on” the adjacent microtubule, the motorproteins 

in the sperm tail pull and the tail bends, enabling the sperm 

to swim. “It’s actually quite incredible that it can work,” adds 

Johanna, who led the study. “The movement of thousands of 

motorproteins has to be coordinated in the minutest of detail in 

order for the sperm to be able to swim.” 

Consequences of screen time 

before bed 

It may be tempting to let your kids stay up late playing games 

on their smartphones, but using digital devices before bed 

may contribute to sleep and nutrition problems in children, 

according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. 

After surveying parents about their kids’ technology and sleep 

habits, researchers found that using technology before bed was 

associated with less sleep, poorer sleep quality, more fatigue 

in the morning and — in the children that watched TV or used 

their cell phones before bed — higher body mass indexes (BMI). 

Caitlyn Fuller, medical student, said the results — published in 

the journal Global Pediatric Health — may suggest a vicious 

cycle of technology use, poor sleep and rising BMIs. 

“We saw technology before bed being associated with less sleep 

and higher BMIs,” Fuller said. “We also saw this technology 

use being associated with more fatigue in the morning, which 

circling back, is another risk factor for higher BMIs. So we’re 

seeing a loop pattern forming.” 

Babies who look like their father 

Infants who resemble their father at birth are found to be 

healthier, but not for the reasons you’d think. They’re actually 

more likely to spend time together with their father and, in turn, 

be healthier when they reach their first birthday, according to 

new research co-conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, 

State University of New York. “Fathers are important in raising 

a child, and it manifests itself in the health of the child,” said 

Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at Binghamton 

University Solomon Polachek. 

Polachek, along with Marlon Tracey from Southern Illinois 

University, based their analysis on data from the Fragile Families 

and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) study, which focused on 715 

families in which babies live with only their mother. Data from 

the first two waves of the study indicated that infants who 

looked like their father at birth were healthier one year later, 

suggesting that father-child 

resemblance induces a father 

to spend more time engaged 

in positive parenting, as these 

fathers spent an average of 2.5 

more days per month with their 

babies than fathers who didn’t 

resemble their offspring. “Those 

fathers that perceive the baby’s 

resemblance to them are more 

certain the baby is theirs, and 

thus spend more time with the 

baby,” said Dr. Polachek. 

Placenta defects a factor in 

prenatal deaths 

The role of the placenta in healthy fetal development is being 

seriously under-appreciated according to a new paper published 

today (14th March). The study was part of the Wellcome 

Trust-funded “Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental 

Disorders (DMDD)” consortium (dmdd.org.uk). Dr Myriam 

Hemberger at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge led the 

research, working with colleagues at the Wellcome Sanger 

Institute, Cambridge, the Francis Crick Institute, London, the 

University of Oxford and the Medical University of Vienna, 

Austria. Writing in the journal Nature, the team studied 103 

genetic mutations in mice that cause embryos to die before 

birth. The results showed that the majority, almost 70%, cause 

defects in the placenta. 

Each of the 103 gene mutations causes the loss of a particular 

factor. Many of these had not been previously linked to placenta 

development, and hence the study highlights the unexpected 

number of genes that affect development of the placenta. By 

studying a select group of three genes in further detail, the team 

went on to show that the death of the embryo could be directly 

linked to defects in the placenta in one out of these three cases. 

This may mean that a significant number of genetic defects 

that lead to prenatal death may be due to abnormalities of the 

placenta, not just the embryo. Although this research uses mice, 

the findings are likely to be highly relevant to complications 

during human pregnancy and the study highlights the need 

for more work to be done on investigating development of the 

placenta during human pregnancies. 



The dimmer the night light 

the better 

Exposing preschoolers to 

an hour of bright light 

before bedtime almost 

completely shuts down 

their production of the 

sleep-promoting hormone 

melatonin and keeps it 

suppressed for at least 

50 minutes after lights 

out, according to new 

University of Colorado 

Boulder research. The 

study, published today in the journal Physiological Reports, is the 

first to assess the hormonal impact nighttime light exposure can 

have on young children. The study comes at a time when use 

of electronics is rapidly expanding among this age group and 

adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that-because 

of structural differences in their eyes-children may be more 

vulnerable to the impact light has on sleep and the body clock. 

“Although the effects of light are well studied in adults, virtually 

nothing is known about how evening light exposure affects 

the physiology, health and development of preschool-aged 

children,” said lead author Lameese Akacem, a CU Boulder 

instructor and researcher in the Sleep and Development Lab. 

“In this study we found that these kids were extremely sensitive 

to light.” 

No more stressing 

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a baby the confidence they need. Each month, fluctuating 

luteinising hormone levels (LH levels) trigger the release of 

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month for a woman, and any intercourse during this time 

frame will more likely result in a pregnancy. The revolutionary 

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minutes, letting the user know if she’s at her most fertile 

time frame it will indicate as follows: 

(◦) for 

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Sudoku 

5 4 1 9 

2 7 5 4 

9 5 7 3 

1 4 7 

3 9 1 8 

8 6 1 7 

1 8 5 3 

Solutions: 

5 6 4 7 1 9 3 8 2 

1 9 8 4 2 3 7 6 5 

2 7 3 8 6 5 9 4 1 

9 2 6 5 7 8 1 3 4 

8 1 5 3 4 6 2 7 9 

4 3 7 2 9 1 6 5 8 

3 8 9 6 5 2 4 1 7 

7 5 1 9 3 4 8 2 6 

6 4 2 1 8 7 5 9 3 


Bump to Birth 


Keep the hope alive! 

By Dr Agilan Arjunan 

Consultant Gynaecologist & Fertility Specialist 

KL Fertility Centre / Monash IVF 

“The time is always right to do what is right”, “Time waits for 

no one”, “It takes time to build a castle”. 

There are many proverbs about time. One thing for sure, 

time does fly and we’ve already put the first quarter of 2018 

behind us! 


Bump to Birth 


Time can be your good friend or 

enemy. For those with family 

and children, it’s fun to watch 

your little ones grow. Those who 

are in the midst of their parenthood 

journey however may find that time 

can be their greatest enemy with each 

passing year. 

There are many couples who kept 

their hopes high and persisted in their 

journey towards parenthood and 

many achieved their goals. Here, I’ll 

be sharing some spirit-lifting real-life 

journeys which will hopefully inspire 

you to keep the hope alive and have a 

family of your own. 

Intra-Vaginal Insemination (IVI) 

Vaginismus 

Mr & Mrs Jacob (not their real name) 

walked into my consultation room 

sometime in the late 2016. 

They were a bit hesitant when they first 

met me and I could tell they were not 

comfortable with the whole idea of 

such a consultation. They slowly took 

their seats and looked at each other, 

probably in an inner debate on how to 

start the conversation and who should 

began first. 

I broke the silence with a greeting and 

inquired how could I help them. The 

husband then proceed with, “Doc, we 

have been married for seven years, and 

are still without a child yet.” 

“Have you both done any fertility 

tests?” I inquired. 

Both of them looked at each other 

and after a few good seconds, his wife 

finally started talking. “Actually, we 

have not managed to have sex since 

our marriage,” his wife said with some 

difficulty. 

“Well, if that’s the main reason, then 

the treatment is very easy!” I said with 

enthusiasm. I could see though, that 

they both couldn’t believe my reply. 

“Really, doc? We thought we had 

a major issue,” said the wife. “Not 

necessarily. Still, let us go through 

some basic fertility assessment to 

make sure we don’t have other 

issues,” I explained. 

They went through the initial basic 

fertility assessments. I did an abdominal 

ultrasound scan for the wife to look at 

her womb and ovaries and since her 

periods are quite regular, no hormonal 

test was needed. The husband did 

a semen analysis (sperm test). In the 

afternoon, we met again to go through 

the semen analysis report. 

“Since there is no major fertility issue 

that needs correction at the moment, 

let’s do an IVI,” I said. 

“What’s an IVI doc?” the husband asked. 

“IVI means an Intra-Vaginal 

Insemination. It is a process of injecting 

sperm into your wife’s vagina using a 

fine tube during her fertile period,” I 

explained. “You can even do it at home, 

every month,” I added. “If the issue is 

no sexual intercourse, IVI will help you 

to deposit sperm into her vagina.” 

I went on to explain how they carry 

out the IVI procedure at home. I even 

taught them how to monitor their 

ovulation based on clinical symptoms 

and via an ovulation test kit. 

I could see the signs of relief in their 

faces upon hearing the simple solution 

for their problem. Furthermore, they are 

still ‘in-control’ of their fertility journey, 

of course with a very small modification. 

Armed with a new direction, the couple 

thanked me and left my office. Just two 

months later, I received an email from 

the couple. The subject title of the email 

said it all “Thank you : I am pregnant!” 


Bump to Birth 


Azoospermia 

Mr Hazmi (not his real name) walked 

into my clinic in 2017. He was holding a 

file in his hand. He came alone without 

his wife. 

I started the conversation in my usual 

manner, “Hi, Hazmi, take a seat. How 

can I help you?” 

Hazmi placed his file on my table and 

said, “Doc, the problem is with me.” 

He went on to explain that he and his 

wife had been trying for 5 years to 

conceive. They were working and living 

overseas at that time. They are in their 

early 30s’, so they didn’t think that 

they had a major fertility issue. His wife 

was following several fertility tips that 

she read on the internet. She tried a 

few natural remedies to help her with 

her fertility. 

Three years passed by and they finally 

decided it was time to visit a fertility 

doctor. His wife’s fertility test did not 

reveal any remarkable abnormalities. 

His sperm test however revealed that 

he had a condition called Azoospermia 

(Azoospermia is when there is no sperm 

cells seen in the ejaculate). 

They could not believe the results. They 

went to two different fertility centres 

and repeated the test. Unfortunately, 

the results were the same. 

He was referred to a urologist who 

claimed that there are injections that 

can help boost sperm production, but 

it did not help him. “Doc, I feel very 

frustrated and disappointed. It’s hard to 

believe that all this while, the issue was 

with me.” 

He was visibly very frustrated and 

probably embarrassed knowing that the 

issue is with him and he had to put his 

wife through a lot of tests. 

“Hazmi, we can’t turn back time. It’s no 

use worrying about the past. You are 

here today hoping to find an answer 

and that’s exactly what I am going to 

do!” I said trying to lift up his mood. 

Further medical evaluation did not 

reveal anything significant apart from 

the smaller testicular size indicating 

a possible problem with sperm 

production. I carried out several 

hormone tests on him. 

A week later we reviewed the blood 

test and I said to him, “Well, based on 

all the facts that we have collected, 

it looks like you may end up needing 

a small surgical procedure to retrieve 

sperm directly from the testicles.” 

He looked a bit worried once I 

mentioned the word ‘surgery’. I quickly 

added on, “But let me see if I can 

avoid it. I’m going to start you on some 

medications, oral and injections, to 

push sperm production. I know you 

have done it before, but let me try it 

once again.” 

Hazmi agreed and we started on 

our journey to increase his sperm 

production. After the first month, we 

had no luck. On the second month of 

treatment, we noticed few sperms in his 

ejaculate. I continued his treatment and 

by the fourth month, he had 400,000 

thousand sperms in his ejaculate. 

Meanwhile, fertility assessment of his 

wife were all normal. 

“Hazmi, looks like we may be able to 

avoid the surgery after all,” I told him 

and he smiled. “But, you still need an 

IVF,” I added on. The couple agreed 

to proceed with an IVF somewhere in 

the following couple of months. About 

a month and a half later though, the 

couple visited me again because his 

wife had missed her period. They were 

concerned that she may have an ovarian 

cyst which is delaying her periods. 

I asked, “Have you done a urine 

pregnancy test?” to which Hazmi 

replied, “Doc, I’m sure she is not 

pregnant.” I proceeded with an 

ultrasound scan. What we saw surprised 

us all. There was a foetus measuring 

five weeks! 

“Well, nothing is impossible,” I said, 

while the couple cried tears of joy. 


Bump to Birth 


After two months, IVF was started. The 

IVF protocol was changed to minimise 

her cost. 

Four eggs were retrieved. Unfortunately 

they had only one viable embryo which 

was frozen. 

They were quite disappointed with the 

outcome. 

“You have not finished your IVF journey 

yet, there is still hope,” I consoled 

them. She then went through a uterine 

scratching prior to a frozen embryo 

transfer (FET). FET was done in a natural 

period cycle. A single embryo was 

transferred into her womb. 

She was given supportive medications 

and in about a fortnight later, my 

nurse told me that Mrs TJM’s urine 

pregnancy test was positive. She came 

back two weeks after that for an 

ultrasound scan and saw a beautiful 

image of her baby. She was nearly 

seven weeks pregnant! She had finally 

found her golden embryo. 

Low egg reserve 

(Endometriosis) 

I had seen Mr & Mrs TJM in early 2017. 

The first time we met was during one 

of my fertility forums. I remembered 

them because they sat in the first row 

and asked many questions regarding 

endometriosis. They were in their 

mid-30s. I met them again a month 

later in my clinic. True enough, she had 

been diagnosed with endometriosis 

and had two previous surgeries for 

endometriotic ovarian cysts. 

Her latest egg reserve test (AMH 

blood test) showed low egg reserve. 

Endometriosis had reduced her egg 

count even though she was still young. 

They were very worried that she 

may go into menopause soon before 

getting pregnant. 

“She is not menopausal yet. Let’s try 

our best to get her pregnant. The 

chances are low, but its never zero,” I 

said in an attempt to give them some 

hope. The husband’s sperm analysis 

was acceptable. After the initial fertility 

assessment, we agreed to proceed with 

an IVF to maximise her chances to get 

pregnant. To their surprise, I did not 

immediately start their IVF treatment. 

“Let’s do something to improve your 

egg quality first before starting the IVF,” 

I told the couple. 

They were started on vitamins including 

DHEA. Since they were strong believers 

in traditional medicine, they added 

on remedies by a Chinese traditional 

medicine centre to improve her fertility. 

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) 

Conclusion 

Fertility journeys are akin to roller 

coaster rides. There are ups and downs 

and you will never know when your 

journey will come to an end. One thing 

for sure though, and that it, if you 

persist, you’re highly likely to reach 

your goal. 

Good luck! 


Bump to Birth 

Giving Birth 

Natural 

labour 

pain management 

methods 

If you’re concerned about using drugs during labour 

to curb the pains, and would like to learn more natural 

methods to ease labour pains, this article is for you. 


Bump to Birth 

Giving Birth 

• Practical skills of relaxation, breathing and visualisation 

which are used during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and 

beyond 

• How the mother’s body is beautifully designed to birth her 

baby naturally and calmly and with the right preparation, to 

work with the process rather than resist it 

• The importance of a mother’s beliefs and attitudes about 

birth and how these can be one of the major differences 

between a positive or negative birth experience 

For more information, visit: www.hypnobirthingmalaysia.com 

3. Use a heat pack 

Applying heat on a sore, aching back can be relieving and 

comforting during labour. It is a great non-pharmaceutical 

alternative but if you’re giving birth in a hospital, you’ll want 

a gel-based heat pack that heats up in hot water instead of 

the ones that heat up in a microwave oven. 

The degree of labour pains cannot be predicted by 

anyone and there’s no telling if it will be bearable 

or otherwise. Rest assured though, that there are a 

number of ways you can manage the pain without the 

use of drugs. Here are some of them. 

1. Water immersion 

Immersing your belly or whole body in warm water during 

labour offers a natural, soothing method of pain relief. It also 

relaxes and comforts nagging aches that tend to prolong 

during labour. 

During the first stage of labour, a warm water shower might 

be a better way to do this, as you can remain upright and 

direct the shower head at your lower back without hindering 

your labour from progressing. While water immersion 

during the first stage of labour may help to reduce epidural/ 

spinal analgesia requirements as well as maternal pain, most 

midwives and birth attendants will recommend getting into 

the bath once you are in the second stage or active labour. 

The reason is, being in water creates buoyancy, but gravity is 

required in early labour so as not to stall it. 

4. Aromatherapy 

Aromatherapy is helpful to women in labour in more ways 

than one. If you are giving birth in hospital, it can provide a 

nice smell to mask the smell of the hospital, enabling you to 

relax a little more. While not all oils will do the trick, many are 

said to work well for labour pain management. Inquire about 

the hospital’s policy on aromatherapy and which methods 

that are allowed. Most probably, if the hospital allows it, it 

will have to be a battery-operated one, or a hospital one 

if they have it. Check out our article Best essential oils for 

women in labour for suggestions on selections. 

2. The Hypnobirthing Method 

If you feel that you’re easily stressed or anxious, 

Hypnobirthing will be a good choice for you. Being as relaxed 

as possible is really important in labour, otherwise you end up 

in the vicious cycle of fear tension pain. When you tense 

up and get tight (which is a natural reaction to any sort of 

pain) it actually makes that pain worse. With Hypnobirthing, 

you will learn: 

• To access your natural inner resources to alleviate the fear, 

anxiety and tension experienced during pregnancy, labour 

and childbirth 


Bump to Birth 

Giving Birth 

5. The ideal environment 

During labour, the environment in which a woman is about 

to give birth in can influence her level of relaxation and how 

she copes with the pain. For instance, dimming the lights, or 

turning it off for that matter, will instinctively tone down her 

thought about the pain. Bringing along some familiar objects 

that she is particularly fond of also helps. 

If you’re going to try this, you can also try bringing along 

your favourite CD, for music will help calm and relax you too. 

Lastly, a little humor also goes a long way in managing your 

labor pain, so have someone tell you some (tasteful) jokes! 

6. Massages 

You don’t need to be a professional to provide you with 

comforting massages when you’re in labour. All you need is 

the magic touch of loving, nurturing strokes on your aching 

body. Studies have revealed that massages help provide 

relief from anxiety for women who are in labour. There are 

also studies that indicated that partner involvement, as in 

massaging one’s partner who is in labour, resulted in better 

birthing experiences compared to women who did not receive 

massages. 

8. Drink water for hydration and 

eat if you’re hungry 

In case you forget whilst in early labour especially, get your 

partner to remind you to drink at least 300ml of water every 

couple of hours to avoid dehydration — this will help you 

beat fatigue and a poorly functioning uterus. Eating and 

drinking during labour has been shown to reduce the total 

length of labour by as much as 90 minutes. Eat light, easily 

digested food. 

7. TENS machine 

A TENS machine works by attaching two strips of electrodes 

on your lower back — one on either side of your spine. These 

connect to a hand-held battery powered unit, which allows 

you to control the strength of the electrical impulses. It works 

by sending a signal to the brain via impulses that compete 

with pain impulses from the uterus. While it does not work 

with all women, many have found it useful in helping them 

cope with labour pains, both in the early and late stages. 

You can use it from the very start of labour It can be used 

anywhere — at home, in the car or in hospital. You can 

remain mobile while using it and it can be used with other 

forms of pain relief except back massage or water (shower, 

bath). 

Get some good 

prenatal education 

Seek out classes that include how labor and 

birth work and natural labor pain management 

techniques, such as breathing, self-hypnosis, 

relaxation and other coping mechanisms. Your 

hospital probably offers an evening or weekend 

course, but that might not be enough information, 

especially if they have a high epidural or C-section 

rate. Research independent educators and try them 

out until you find one that feels comfortable to you. 


Bump to Birth 

9 Months 

Are perineal tears 

inevitable? 

If you’ve given birth before, you’d probably be familiar with the term perineal tear, which is 

a possible consequence of having a vaginal birth. Many women have experienced this, but 

is it as inevitable as it seems to be? Well, maybe not, so moms-to-be, take note, especially if 

you want to try your best to avoid a tear while giving birth. 


Bump to Birth 

9 Months 

Firstly, it would be good to know what is happening 

down there as you’re giving birth. During the second 

stage of labour, your baby’s head will start to enter into 

the vagina and move toward your perineum area. The 

perineal skin will then begin to thin out and stretch over your 

baby’s head. As your baby’s head starts to emerge out (this is 

known as crowning), the labia and vaginal opening also starts 

to stretch around your baby’s head. A tear can happen if the 

skin and perineum does not stretch properly. Most women, if 

not all, don’t really feel a tear happening. This could be due 

to being too preoccupied with the intensity and pressure felt 

during this last stage of labour. 

There seems to be certain factors that increase the likelihood 

of perineal tearing are they are: 

• Having a large baby 

• Baby being born in a posterior position 

• Increased weight gain during pregnancy 

• A first vaginal birth 

• Being of Asian ethnicity 

Types of perineal tears 

There are four types of perineal tears or lacerations that could 

occur while giving birth. The most common are first and 

second degree tears. 

A first degree tear means a laceration has occurred but it is so 

small that it requires few or no stitches, where else a second 

degree tear involves injury to the skin and muscle underneath 

and usually needs a few stitches. 

Third degree lacerations are a tear in the vaginal skin, perineal 

skin and the muscle that extend to the anal sphincter (muscle 

around your anus). A fourth degree tear is the same as a third 

degree one except it extends into the anal sphincter and the 

tissue around it. Third and fourth degree tears can affect your 

pelvic floor function and anal muscles. 

While it’s not quite possible to tell if you will experience a tear 

or the severity of it for that matter, you can still take measures 

to minimise the risks of having a tear down there. 

Take some preparation steps 

Let’s face it — you don’t give birth everyday, and if you’re 

a first time mom, parts of your body is going to perform 

something quite ‘heavy’ that they have never done before. 

Hence, some preparation makes sense, doesn’t it? 

Unless you’re a naturally active individual, it’s highly likely that 

you don’t move around as much as you should. Exercise is 

important not just to keep you fit as a pregnant mom, but it 

also help to improve circulation, which in turn improves skin 

elasticity. Also, improving blood flow to the perineum and 

vagina through orgasms can also improve tissue health, if you 

get our drift! 

Next, feed your body right, for good nutrition and hydration 

supports your skin and muscle health, including your perineal 

skin that has to stretch well to avoid tears. Include plenty of 

good fats, especially omega-3s (from fish, chia seeds, walnuts 

and pumpkin seeds) and grass fed or free range meats for 

lean protein. A wide range of vegetables completes a healthy 

diet and will include nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C 

and zinc. These will provide your perineal skin with the ability 

to stretch during labour and snap back faster too. 


Bump to Birth 

9 Months 

Pelvic floor exercises 

Kegel exercises are unfortunately not very much practiced 

among Asian moms, unless they happen to be enrolled in a 

birthing class of some sort. This is a shame, for these exercises 

are known to help strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor 

and also help them snap back into shape faster after birth. 

Learning to performing pelvic floor exercise correctly can 

help you to identify those muscles and use them to your full 

advantage. Our advice here is to enroll yourself into a birthing 

class, for you’ll learn a whole lot more than just how to 

perform kegel exercises properly. 

Warm compresses 

During the crowning stage, a warm flannel or compress 

held to the perineum may help reduce severe tearing. 

The warmth increases the blood flow to the area and 

if counter pressure is used it can even be of some relief. 

However, not all women can tolerate this method, for 

some may not be able to tolerate any kind of contact at 

the perineal area during the birthing process. 

Birthing position 

The best position for birthing your baby with a lowered risk 

of tearing would be the one you choose instinctively for 

yourself and you feel most comfortable in. Unfortunately, the 

lithotomy position, which is lying down with legs held up, or 

even a semi-reclining position, has long been known to place 

pressure onto the tailbone and perineum. These positions also 

reduce the size of the pelvic floor and increase the likelihood 

of a tear. 

It’s also been found over and over again that women who 

are free to move about during labour are more likely to 

find the position that helps them cope with contractions 

at each particular stage. Some women like to float free of 

gravity in water, others like to have their feet firmly planted 

on the ground. 

The least stressful positions for the perineum, include: 

• On hands and knees 

• Leaning forward in a supported standing, kneeling, or 

sitting position 

• Lying on the side 

Note that while squatting and kneeling are useful upright 

positions, if the woman’s knees are very wide apart the 

perineum will still be stretched sideways and this may increase 

the likelihood of tearing. 

Perineal massages 

Preparing the perineum via perineal massages during 

pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of tearing in 

mothers having their first vaginal birth. Self-administered 

perineal massage can help a woman to become familiar with 

her own body and have confidence in its ability to stretch and 

birth her baby. However, not all women are comfortable with 

the idea of perineal massages, although most who have tried 

them reported positive outcomes. 

Choose your hospital or birthing 

center well 

What we mean by this is, discuss your plans of avoiding tears 

(including episiotomy incisions) with your hospital or birthing 

center — this way you can find out what their policy is on 

avoiding tears or episiotomies for that matter. Pick a hospital 

or birth center that will support you and aid in your labour 

with the intention of preventing tears as much as they can. 


Bump to Birth 

Feature 

Umbilical nonseverance 

Would you try the Lotus Birth? 

There is this birthing practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut and attached to the 

placenta and baby until it falls off naturally, which usually about 10 days. It used to be quite 

the thing back in the 1970s, although most young moms and moms-to-be today are probably 

not aware of it. Today, however, the lotus birth seems to be making a comeback! 


Bump to Birth 

Feature 

We’re not really sure who’s responsible for 

bringing this back, but more and more moms 

are now open to trying out the lotus birth. To 

many, it’s already considered a wholly natural 

practice like natural birthing and/or home birthing. 

How it’s done 

Upon birth, a baby’s umbilical cord is usually cut, but with 

the lotus birth, it is left intact while waiting for the birth of 

the placenta. Once the placenta appears, it will take a few 

minutes for it to completely stop pulsating and for all the 

remaining blood to transfer to the baby’s body. 

The placenta can then be gently washed in warm water 

and drained dry. Some practitioners recommend rinsing the 

placenta again after a few hours to thoroughly remove any 

residue. Once it’s cleaned properly, it can be patted dry. 

Won’t it smell? 

That would depend on your senses as to what 

smells ‘bad’. For example, some people can’t 

tolerate the smell of certain animals while others 

don’t mind at all. The placenta though, is said to 

emit a musky smell after a few days, although 

most parents do not find it overpowering or 

offensive. Care for it well while it’s drying out 

and the placenta should not develop a bad smell. 

The placenta goes wherever the baby goes, so extra care has 

to be given. The baby can still be given a bath, but care has 

to be given to keep the placenta dry — The cord dries off 

easily but the placenta won’t. Avoid moving the baby around 

unnecessarily during this time. You’ll have to regularly check 

on the placenta to wipe off any excess moisture or reapply 

your dried herbs or salt. The main thing is to keep it as dry as 

possible all the time. 

The cord dries and separates between three to ten days after 

birth. For most moms who have kept their babies placenta, 

they found it appropriate to either: 

• Bury it in the garden or any other chosen location. 

• Plant a special plant with the placenta in the soil. 

Would you choose to do it? 

With a lotus birth, a baby is said to receive all of the placental 

blood through the umbilical cord before it’s disposed of. Also, 

as a bonus, the little newborn will be less likely to be ‘passed 

around’ at such a tender age (due to being attached to the 

placenta). As the placenta needs to be tended to, moms tend 

to stay closer to their babies, initiating precious bonding time. 

The whole process is believed to bestow due 

acknowledgement to the connection a newborn baby has 

had with the placenta while he or she was still in the mom’s 

womb. It also shows a degree of respect for the transition 

from the womb to the outside world. 

How the placenta is kept 

The placenta is usually placed in a sieve or colander to drain 

and dry completely for 24 hours. Putting a towel underneath 

can help to absorb any moisture. Once dried, a generous 

sprinkling of either salt or dried rosemary (covering the 

whole placenta) will help prevent any odours. Some moms 

also use lavender oil or other essential oil for this purpose. 

The placenta is placed in a special bag while the cord, still 

connected to the baby, can be left exposed or wrapped in silk 

or cotton. Plastic containers are not used for it slows down 

the drying process and may even hasten deterioration. 


The Best Start for New Moms 

Having a baby is one of the most lifechanging 

events in a woman’s life, 

especially during the initial postpartum 

period, which can be more challenging 

than the birthing experience itself. Here is a 

guide to see you through the first few weeks 

after childbirth. 


The Best Start 

for New Moms 

Giving birth can turn out to be quite exhausting, especially if 

you had a vaginal birth. It may take some time before your 

body recovers fully from the vigors of natural childbirth. 

Nevertheless, if you’ve had a C-section birth, you will still 

need time for your surgery wound to heal. Either way and in 

most cases, as soon as the painkillers run out, the pain may 

start to set in. This, together with a feeling of tiredness may 

sometimes make it difficult for you as a new mom to enjoy 

the first few weeks of being a mother. Our very first advice to 

you is to get plenty of rest. 

The undervalued benefits of rest 

Although it may sound like a luxury and the new-found 

motherly bone in you will seem to be against it, proper rest 

is the single most important thing you can do for your body 

and for your baby, for a well-rested mom will be better able 

to take care of her baby. Hence the popular advice to ‘sleep 

when your baby is sleeping’ should be taken seriously, no 

matter how much the floor needs sweeping or the house 

needs cleaning. Tip: For the first few weeks, make it a point 

to rush NOTHING except to get back next to your baby. 

Everything else can wait, or you might soon find yourself 

overwhelmed with exhaustion. 

We get it that a solid eight-hour snooze will be out of the 

question, for your newborn will need to be fed, changed 

and comforted ever so often, but changes in your normal 

schedule is called for, especially if you do not have a maid 

or someone at your beck and call to help you run your 

household chores. 

So crucial is the rest factor to new moms that it is the main 

feature in all our local confinement care practices, namely 

in our Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. Basically, during 

a typical confinement period, a new mom needs to be 

relieved of all responsibilities other than feeding the baby 

and of course, taking good care of herself via proper rest 

and nutrition. 

In the first few weeks after giving birth, your body will have 

to go through lots of changes and internal adjustments to get 

back to it’s pre-pregnancy state. Wounds acquired from tears, 

an episiotomy or a cesarean section will need to heal well so 

as not to get infected. The postpartum body is susceptible 

to infections and tiredness during the initial stages and lack 

of rest may contribute to making these worse. Resting and 

taking it easy as much as possible will help facilitate faster 

healing and will help your postpartum body rejuvenate and 

recover faster from the rigors of childbirth. 

Here are some ways you can sneak in some extra sleep 

and rest: 

• Firstly, yes, sleep when the baby sleeps. It doesn’t matter if 

it’s only a few minutes of rest several times a day, but these 

minutes can add up and every little bit counts towards your 

full recovery. Remember this the next time your baby dozes 

of and you start looking around for stuff that needs to be 

done. Nothing can be more important than your rest! 

• Conserve as much energy as possible. Anything that 

will save you some energy, do it! That includes having 

everything you need at hand when you’re nursing (hanky, 

glass of water, phone, etc) and also, have your baby sleep 

as close as possible to you so you won’t have to move too 

much during night time nursing. 

• Limit the number of visitors during your first week. This 

is the crucial time of recovery but many new moms feel 

obligated to entertain guests who want to come over and 

see the new baby. Your friends will surely understand when 

you let them know that you need the rest and that they 

can start visiting as soon as you’re up for it. 

• Introduce the bottle to your baby as early as three weeks 

old so that the little one can get accustomed to both ways 

of feeding. This will allow someone else to feed the baby 

now and then and you’ll be able to get some rest. 



for New Moms 

Coping with the physical changes 

You can expect a lot of changes to take place in your body 

after the birth of your child. Your doctor will talk to you about 

these changes and will advice where applicable. 

Lochia 

The bleeding you experience during the postpartum period 

is called lochia, which is actually all the tissue and blood that 

lined your uterus during your pregnancy. It will flow heavily 

and appear bright red at first and will eventually become 

lighter in colour as well as flow. This lochia will subside in a 

few weeks. 

Perineal care 

If you had a tear or episiotomy during the birth, you will have 

stitches that can be uncomfortable while they heal. Even 

without stitches, the area around your vagina (the perineum) 

may feel bruised and swollen. To speed healing and ease 

discomfort, you should keep the area clean with plain soap 

and water during your regular bath or shower. 

In the first few days, an ice pack can help reduce swelling. 

Allow air to circulate by going without a pad for an hour or 

so each day. Use old towels to protect your bedding while 

you lie down for a rest. 

With perineal tears or trauma, even urinating can sting. To 

remedy this, use a plastic squeeze bottle to gently squirt the 

perineum with warm water as you urinate. 

Do Kegel exercises (tightening and releasing the vaginal 

muscles) to speed healing by increasing the flow of blood to 

the perineum. 

Swellings 

Swellings in your feet are normal after giving birth and it 

will go away in time. You can reduce the swelling by resting 

as much as possible and keeping your feet elevated. Some 

women may even experience swelling in their legs too, and 

the only way to deal with it effectively is through rest. 

Cramps 

Menstrual-like cramps are normal, and you may experience 

them during breastfeeding, especially. These cramps are 

signs that your uterus is contracting and shrinking back to its 

normal size. 

Constipation 

Yes, we know — nothing can be worse than to be 

constipated at this time, especially if you’ve had a vaginal 

birth. Constipation hampers your gut health, which in 

turn puts your whole general wellbeing at risk too. If your 

constipation is really serious, talk to your doctor about it — 

he may give you some laxatives for relief. You can also try 

drinking more water and eating more fibre through fresh 

fruits and vegetables. 

Incontinence 

You may or may not experience urinary incontinence during 

your postpartum recovery, due to the compression of the 

pelvic nerves that weakens the pelvic floor muscles, which 

help control the bladder. Sometimes, the pressure from the 

uterus can change the angle of the urethra and cause loss of 

urine too. So as embarrassing as it may seem, a little leakage 

when you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift heavy objects isn’t 

out of the ordinary. As your body heals, urinary incontinence 

should too, usually by the six-week mark. 

What to ask your doctor 

Your doctor will check your recovery during your postpartum 

visit, about six weeks after birth. During this visit, you may 

want to inquire or discuss about the following: 

• When can you resume normal activities and what are 

the limits 

• A diet plan that will help keep you healthy and produce 

more milk 

• How to get back into shape/lose the postpartum 

weight safely 

• Sex and birth control 



for New Moms 

Postpartum thyroid issues 

It is not uncommon to develop thyroid issues during the first 

year after giving birth. This type of thyroid issue is called 

postpartum thyroiditis. It typically begins with an overactive 

thyroid, which lasts two to four months, and may be followed 

by symptoms of an underactive thyroid, which can last up to 

a year. 

It’s easy to mistake the symptoms for other postpartum 

symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, low energy, and 

changes in weight. To be safe, talk to your doctor if you have 

any such symptoms that prolongs. Some women develop 

permanent underactive thyroid disease, called Hashimoto's 

disease, and will need to be on permanent treatment. 

Losing postpartum weight safely 

Going through a pregnancy as well as childbirth will put 

your body through some big changes. One of the immediate 

effects of childbirth is that you’ll lose about 10 pounds on 

the spot, and perhaps a bit more as your body’s fluid level 

decreases. Resist rushing to shed off all that extra weight, 

especially if you’re breastfeeding your baby, for you body 

needs that extra energy that the extra pounds help supply. 

With proper diet and exercise, all that extra weight will 

eventually be shed and you’ll not compromise your milk 

supply or your own health. 

If you feel that the weight is taking too long to come off, or 

if you feel like you’re adding on the pounds instead of taking 

it off, take a look at your diet and/or physical activities, for 

these are the possible causes. Cut back on sugary foods and 

drinks, and foods that are categorised as simple or processed 

carbohydrates such as cakes, cookies and white bread. Overconsumption 

of alcohol may also hamper your weight loss 

efforts. Focus instead on healthy, well-balanced food choices 

that will keep your energy level up and help you get the 

nutrients you and your baby need for good health. 

Exercise is crucial for your general health and it also helps 

to keep postpartum depression, or baby blues, away. 

However, do talk to your doctor before you start any type 

of exercise plan. 

Did you know that breastfeeding burns calories? 

If you're nursing, you'll have to take in more calories, 

actually, to keep up your milk supply. So, how does this 

work, then? Here’s how: Breastfeeding moms burn about 

500 calories a day more than those who don't, and we 

haven’t even factored in exercises yet. However, do keep 

in mind that breastfeeding can cause you to feel hungry 

more often, so if you’re not careful, you may actually end 

up piling those 500 calories back on! Try downing a glass 

of water first the next time you’re hungry, in case it’s just 

thirst. In any case, you’ll be half-full and will be less likely 

to overeat. At the same time, cut down, or better still, avoid 

sugary snacks and deep fried foods as well as sweet, fizzy 

drinks. (Check out breastfeeding diet ideas for inspiration 

on eating healthy.) 



for New Moms 

Breastfeeding diet ideas 

What you eat while you’re nursing matters nutritionally, for 

it would never do to be lacking of essential nutrients during 

this stage of your life. Ideally, you should be getting all of 

the essential nutrients from a variety of foods. Continuing 

with your prenatal multivitamins is also a good idea while 

you’re breastfeeding. 

Also, studies have proven that what you eat during nursing 

affects the taste of your breastmilk and also, nursing babies 

develop a taste for the foods their moms ate while they 

were nursing (the same as while they were pregnant). So, if 

you’re hoping that your child will grow up loving fruits and 

vegetables, now’s the time to chomp down on these foods! 

Here’s what you should be aiming for when it comes to 

essential nutrients, to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you 

need while exposing your baby to the taste for the healthy 

stuff as early as possible: 

33 

Protein: 3 servings 

33 

Calcium: 5 servings 

33 

Iron-rich foods: 1 or more servings 

33 

Vitamin C: 2 servings 

33 

Green leafy and yellow vegetables/fruits: 

3 to 4 servings 

33 

Other fruits and veggies: 1 or more servings 

33 

Whole grains and complex carbohydrates: 

3 or more servings 

33 

High-fat foods: Small amounts (you don't need as much 

as you did during pregnancy) 

33 

Omega 3s: 2 to 3 servings per week of wild salmon 

and sardines; you can also get omega 3s in DHAenriched 

eggs) 

Breast engorgement and 

discomforts 

Colostrum, the thin liquid your breasts produce before your 

milk comes in, is low in volume so as not to stress the baby’s 

kidneys, yet rich in protein, calories, vitamins and minerals, 

as well as high doses of protective antibodies. It provides 

everything your baby needs until your milk arrives. When your 

milk comes in, which is usually the second or third day after 

birth, you may experience swelling and tenderness in your 

breasts. This is known as engorgement, and it can be relieved 

by frequent and consistent nursing. 

If your breasts become very full, your nipples may flatten out, 

making it hard for the baby to latch on. Use your fingers to 

push in the fluid-filled tissue around the nipple, then express 

some milk before latching the baby on. As uncomfortable as 

it can get, remember that engorgement does not last long. 

In the early weeks, your breasts may also leak when your 

baby cries, or when you snuggle up to your partner at night. 

However, this will taper off gradually, and is usually much 

less noticeable than it feels. Wearing nursing pads and lightcoloured 

tops can help to camouflage or disguise most of 

the wetness. 

Postpartum health issues: 

warning signs should you look for 

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following: 

• Bleeding that’s heavier than your normal menstrual period or that 

gets worse 

• Discharge, pain or redness that doesn’t go away or gets worse. These could 

be from a C-section incision (cut), episiotomy or perineal tear (a tear that 

happens between the vagina and rectum) 

• Fever higher than 100.4°F 

• Pain or burning when you go to the bathroom 

• Pain, swelling and tenderness in your legs, especially around your calves 

• Red streaks on your breasts or painful lumps in your breast 

• Severe pain in your lower belly, feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up 

• Vaginal discharge that smells bad 



for New Moms 

Postpartum depression: 

Know the signs 

Many women will experience feeling sad, confused or 

overwhelmed with helplessness for the first few days or 

weeks after giving birth. For some women, these feelings may 

even start to develop months after giving birth. Fluctuating 

hormones are mostly to blame for this, where else not getting 

enough rest and worrying too much contributes to worsening 

the situation. 

Firstly, do know that this should pass and it’s alright to feel 

weak and vulnerable at times, or to just cry it all out if you 

have too. However, if you find yourself entertaining deep 

negative emotions for more than a couple of weeks and 

they don’t seem to be subsiding, do seek help quickly — 

you do not have to wait for your next visit to your doctor. It 

might be a serious but treatable condition called postpartum 

depression. Postpartum depression can happen any time 

within the first year after birth. 

Signs of postpartum depression include: 

• Feeling extremely sad and crying a lot 

• Feeling restless or irritable 

• Feeling weak and tired most of the time 

• Not being able to sleep well 

• Not being able to eat 

• Losing weight too quickly or gaining too much weight 

too quickly 

• Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions 

• Being overly worried about the baby 

• Not having any interest in the baby 

• Feeling unworthy 

• Having no interest or getting no pleasure from activities 

like sex 

• Feeling antisocial 

• Thoughts of harming your baby or yourself 

The number of women who suffer from postpartum 

depression could be much more than what’s been reported 

because many women don't tell anyone about their 

symptoms. This is probably due to the feeling of guilt about 

having bad feelings at a time when they’re supposed to feel 

joyous. If you feel you’re one of them, know that you’re not 

alone and your condition is treatable! Do not delay in seeking 

treatment (talk to your doctor at once!), for postpartum 

depression can make it hard for you to care for your baby and 

it will ultimately hinder you from enjoying your life as a new 

mom to the fullest. 

New dads may develop 

depression too! 

Emerging research suggests that 1 in 10 new fathers 

may experience depression during or after pregnancy. 

Although more research is needed, having depression 

may make it harder to be a good father and perhaps 

affect the baby's development. Having depression 

may also be related to a mother's depression. 

Expecting or new fathers with emotional problems or 

symptoms of depression should talk to their doctors. 

Depression is a treatable illness. 



for New Moms 

You deserve to feel great! 

As a new mom, we’re guessing you might not be feeling 

your best due to the sheer exhaustion of giving birth. What 

we don’t want though, is for you to fall into the state of 

believing you can never feel as good as you once did about 

your body or looks. So, if you don’t feel your best, and are 

losing hope of ever looking and feeling as attractive and 

alluring as before, the following tips are for you. 

What you should know, 

first and foremost 

Giving birth is a miracle! If you have been lucky enough to 

experience it, feeling thankful will go a long way in your 

quest to feel beautiful as a new mom. Thankfulness, as 

opposed to discontentment and ungratefulness, is a noble 

virtue and carries with it the positive vibes we humans need 

to look and feel better in any given situation. So, if you’ve 

given birth safely and are busy getting about your day as a 

new mom, look and feel much better instantly by feeling 

grateful! Once you’ve nailed that, we can help you down to 

the business of liking yourself, for what you see in the mirror 

and beyond. 

Resist the urge to be a diva 

There is a really fine line between letting others help you with 

stuff you’re genuinely not ready to handle immediately after 

giving birth, such as walking the pet or mopping the entire 

house, for instance, and, attempting to appear more helpless 

than you really are just for attention, sympathy and yes, for 

the drama! 

People, including your hubby, friends and relatives may 

entertain the latter, but it does nothing for your self-esteem 

as a new mom, or your natural allure for that matter. Do 

ask for help whenever you need it, and be sincere about it. 

Remember, a woman is always more attractive when she is 

sincere and drama-less, and a new mom is no exception. 

of your body is not to make you look fat or overweight, 

but to help you feed and nourish your baby. They will, in 

time, under normal, healthy conditions and good eating 

habits and regular exercise, give way to a more shapely and 

becoming figure. 

Rapid weight lose at this point will not only jeopardize your 

long-term health, but it will also affect your ability to nurse 

successfully and comfortably too. In the meantime, here’s 

more food for thought: Those stars that seemed to have lost 

weight ridiculously fast after having a baby were probably 

forced to do so for the sake of their careers, while you have 

the luxury of taking your time to ensure that your baby and 

you are healthy, happy and thriving. 

Being happy is a choice 

Yes, you read that right. It really doesn’t matter what 

your disposition is, for it’s up to you to either wallow in 

discontentment or make the most of it. In regards to this, 

have you heard of a beautifully discontented person? Indeed 

not, but we have seen beautifully happy ones in various sizes, 

colours and walks of life! 

Re-evaluate your life as a new mom and do your best to see 

the positive side of everything, for that’s where true happiness 

exists — in being thankful for what you have. 

The point to really keep in mind here is that there is 

absolutely no gain in worrying about stuff that you cannot 

immediately change, like your weight for the first few months 

after birth, or the clothes that won’t fit just yet. While you 

may think that how you look on the outside is how others 

are judging you, here’s the rub — it’s actually the happy and 

cheery attitude of a new mom can set of an inner glow that 

just cannot be compared to how fast she has slimmed down 

or if she has slimmed down at all. 

Forget what you see in the media 

The internet and beauty magazines seem to delight in 

running stories on how some famous women are able to slip 

into their tiny pre-baby jeans or a sexy, revealing outfit in a 

matter of days after giving birth. In the meantime, normal 

and not-so-famous new moms all over the world start 

comparing themselves to these stars and are left feeling fat 

and shapeless. 

First and foremost, know this: Your body changes for a 

reason. All those extra fats stored away in various parts 


Managing 

Nursing 

Issues 

Nursing, especially for new 

moms, can get challenging 

at times. Still, no matter 

what the nursing issue is, 

there will always be a way 

to get around it and nurse 

your baby successfully. 

Here are some sound tips to 

keep in mind whenever a 

challenge comes your way. 


Managing 

Nursing Issues 

Engorged breasts 

Engorgement makes it difficult for baby 

to latch on to the breast because it’s 

hard and un-conforming to that tiny 

mouth. Try hand-expressing a little milk 

before feeding to get it flowing and 

soften the breast, making it easier for 

baby to latch and nurse. Remember too 

that the more you nurse, the less likely 

your breasts are to get engorged. 

Latching problems 

If you are a first-timer, you’re likely to 

feel some soreness in the nipple when 

you first start to nurse but the pain 

should decrease and go away within a 

minute or so. If it does not, your baby’s 

positioning could be wrong. 

Firstly, ensure that baby’s mouth covers 

more of the areola below the nipple 

rather than above. A correct latch is 

when baby’s chin and nose touch your 

breast, with lips splayed out and you 

can’t see your nipple or part of the 

lower areola. If it’s not happening like 

so, break the suction for repositioning. 

You can do this by placing your index 

finger inside baby’s mouth and ease the 

little on off and try again. 

Sore nipples 

Sore and cracked nipples are actually 

nothing new in the nursing scene. Many 

nursing mothers go through some level 

of nipple discomfort at some point or 

another during their nursing journey. 

This is one area where only nursing 

moms who have experienced the 

situation can truly understand. It can be 

frustrating and downright torturous to 

try to feed a hungry baby when your 

nipples are sore and throbbing. 

Improper latching of a baby’s mouth 

on the breasts, prolonged moisture 

from sucking and also loss of natural 

oils from the skin are all possible causes 

of sore and cracked nipples. Damaged 

nipples, if left untreated for too long, 

may increase the risk of mastitis, which 

is an infection of the breast. 

A good nipple cream, applied regularly 

or as advised by your doctor will help to 

heal and ease the discomforts of sore 

and dry nipples. Some nipple creams 

can also be used to prep nipples up 

for nursing and helps to keep nipples 

supple and healthy so that they are 

less inclined to become damaged due 

to nursing. So, ensure you have ample 

supply of these creams and be diligent 

about using them. 

Mastitis 

Mastitis is a bacterial infection in your 

breasts marked by flu-like symptoms 

such as fever and sore breasts. The 

condition is most common within the 

first few weeks after birth, can be 

painful to endure and is caused by 

cracked skin, clogged milk ducts, or 

engorgement. The best way to treat the 

infection is with antibiotics prescribed 

by your doctor. Other methods include 

hot compresses, and most importantly, 

frequent emptying via pumping. 

Remember too, that it’s completely safe 

to nurse even with mastitis and it’s even 

recommended that you do so. 

Inverted 

/flat nipples 

You can tell if you have flat 

or inverted nipples by doing a 

simple squeeze test: Gently grab 

your areola with your thumb 

and index finger — if your nipple 

retracts rather than protrudes, it 

can be concluded that you have 

inverted nipples and nursing 

could be more challenging. Use 

a pump to get the milk flowing 

before placing baby at your 

nipple and use breast shells 

between feeds. Other than that, 

try using nipple shields if baby 

still has problems latching. 


Managing 


Nursing on the go 

A nursing mom who is traveling with 

her baby will find that she is free from 

the trouble of having to scurry around 

to prepare formula in a bottle for her 

baby. All that she needs to nourish her 

baby on demand is being carried with 

her at all times. Nevertheless, as the 

nature of nursing will have it, issues 

such as, aching backs and arms, sore 

nipples, leaky breasts and so on will 

be present regardless if she is traveling 

or not. In regards to this, there are 

a handful of essential items that a 

traveling nursing mom will find useful 

to have with her when she’s on the go 

with her suckling baby. 

Nursing Pillow 

While some might refer to nursing 

as an art of nourishing your baby, 

we would like to add that it’s also an 

art of not hurting your back or neck! 

Carrying and nursing a baby, if done in 

an uncomfortable position and for too 

long, invites physical issues like aches 

and pains in the body. Holding your 

baby up to your breasts for long periods 

of time can put considerable strain on 

your back, shoulders and even arms. 

That’s the last thing a new mom needs, 

especially so if she is away from home 

with her baby. 

While you may have a favourite nursing 

chair which is comfortable for you to 

use while at home, it may not be easy 

to find a comfy place to sit and nurse 

elsewhere. We suggest you keep your 

nursing pillow on standby with you at 

all times. This comfy, useful item can 

be used to prop baby up to the ideal 

level to your breast for nursing. It may 

not completely omit the need to hold 

your baby while feeding, but it does 

help lessen the strain quite a bit and 

take considerable weight off a nursing 

mom's arms. It may also help lessen 

strain on the back and shoulders. 

Baby can either be placed on your 

lap atop a nursing pillow or a nursing 

pillow can be strapped around your 

waist for that. Different nursing pillows 

have different functions, so do think 

about what you’re looking for in one 

before buying. 

Carriers for close comfort 

Naturally, there will be a bigger need to 

hold or carry your baby more often or 

more longer when you are travelling. As 

a nursing mom, you will find it helpful 

to take along a sling or other soft infant 

carrier. Invest in a good one which is 

comfortable for both baby and you. 

Try not to buy a carrier without first 

testing a few models. One that works 

for a friend and her baby might not 

necessarily work for you and yours. 

Investing in a comfortable baby carrier 

to use when travelling with your nursing 

baby can help: 

• Ease the burden of carrying your 

baby in your arms for extended 

periods of time. 

• Increase opportunities for unrestricted 

nursing. Nursing as often as possible 

is effective in maintaining an 

abundant milk supply. 

• Maintain skin-to-skin contact with 

your baby. 

• Protect your baby from possible 

hazards. 


Managing 


Leaky breasts 

Ask any lactating mom and they will 

surely list leaky breasts as one of the 

problems associated with nursing. Leaky 

breasts are in no way harmful, except 

of course to one’s vanity. Many may 

not mind the thought of strategically 

placed wet spots on their blouses but 

just as many mind that said effect a lot, 

especially when in public! 

It’s hard to say when milk-engorged 

breasts will start to leak, so it’s always 

better to be ready for the situation. 

One way you can avoid wet patches on 

your clothing is by using nursing pads, 

also known as breasts pads. These can 

be used with any nursing bras or even 

ordinary bras. Nursing pads are normally 

almost invisible under a bra. They are 

made absorbent enough to soak up 

leaks from lactating breasts. 

It’s always a good idea to include a 

few pairs of these pads in your nursing 

bag when you’re on the go, for you 

will never know when you’re going to 

need them or when you might have to 

change the ones you have on. 

Note: Nursing pads are available in 

reusable and disposable varieties. 

Nursing Wear 

Nursing wear will make your life 

simpler, especially for moms on the go. 

With so many styles available these 

days, it would not be a problem to find 

some flattering pieces that will suit 

your preference. 

Nipple Shields 

Another product nursing moms will 

find helpful for sore nipples is the 

nipple shield. These shields are made 

of soft silicone that acts like a second 

skin for sore and cracked nipples, 

allowing baby to latch on easily 

without causing additional distress to 

already aching nipples. 

Nursing tops 

A fine quality nursing top with 

strategic openings can turn out to 

be a nursing mom's best friend while 

traveling. Having said that, it wouldn’t 

hurt to have a few best friends from 

this category, from different styles, 

cuts, colors, etc. When choosing a 

nursing top, it will be best to try it on 

to see if the style and cut does justice 

to your figure. 

Do not forget the fact of all the possible 

awkward positions you might find 

yourself in while nursing your baby in 

public. A good nursing top should allow 

easy access to your breast from various 

positions while still retaining a certain 

discreteness to it. 

Comfort is not something you want to 

compromise while nursing, especially if 

you have to nurse openly. Do not wear 

anything which you think is going to 

make you feel uncomfortable while 

nursing, no matter how stylish it is. At 

the end of the day, it is far from stylish to 

look and feel agitated because your top 

keeps riding up or because of any other 

wardrobe dysfunction while nursing. 


Managing 


Nursing bras 

It’s crucial that you get a suitable, 

comfortable and supportive bra the 

fits! Choose those which cups can 

open and close easily, for little one to 

nurse comfortably (and for you to feel 

comfortable too!). It’s essential that the 

bra is supportive but not constrictive 

as this can cause medical problems like 

mastitis or blocked ducts. 

Nursing covers 

If you are conscious about the public 

eye while nursing, consider a nursing 

poncho. They are also called nursing 

aprons or covers. This is basically a light 

‘blanket’ which you can use to keep 

your nursing, literally, “under cover”. 

Nursing ponchos are actually all the 

rage nowadays and they come in many 

styles and patterns to choose from. 

Some are worn in a basic shawl-like 

manner, lightly wrapping the wearer 

and her nursing bundle of joy under its 

light, soft fabric. Others work like an 

apron or a big bib. 

One thing for sure — One will never 

run out of stylish patterns to choose 

from for the variety available in the 

Discreet 

is the word 

Everything from lingerie 

to clothing are now made 

convenient for nursing moms 

so that nursing in public 

no longer needs to be an 

impossible mission. Nursing 

wear with strategic openings 

make nursing easy without 

having to get half naked, 

while nursing covers, aprons 

or ponchos makes nursing 

one’s baby a private affair, 

away from curious glances. 

market is impressive! This nursing item 

is indeed right up there, competing 

with the diaper bag as a nursing mom’s 

fashion accessory! 

Diaper/nursing bags 

It goes without saying that a nursing 

mom on the go is going to need to 

carry all her essential stuff with her. 

Behold the nursing bag, sometimes also 

known as the diaper bag. Whatever you 

wish to call it, no nursing mom should 

be without one, even more so if she is 

traveling with her baby. It would never 

do to be digging into her luggage bag 

for her baby's diaper, etc. 

Some moms might find it quite a 

dilemma to decide on whether or 

not to carry a separate handbag for 

all personal, non-nursing needs. The 

manufacturers of nursing/diaper bags 

are as usual, a step ahead of this 

situation! Hence now, we have nursing 

bags which are so stylish, no one will 

ever know what they really are till 

mommy reaches in and pulls out a 

nursing cover or poncho! 

When choosing a nursing bag, probably 

the most essential feature(s) will be 

compartments. In a nursing bag, the 

more the better! 

The functionality of your bag should 

also be taken into consideration. Would 

you like to tote it around or sling it 

on one shoulder in a messenger bag 

fashion? How would you like to reach 

into your bag? An ideal bag will allow 

you easy access to all essential stuff 

without having to dig around or worse, 

having to empty half the contents of 

your bag to find an item! 


Life & Style 

Home Proud 

7 household 

cleaning tools 

every mom 

should have 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to 

own a self-cleaning house? 

Well, till that day comes, we’ll 

just have to do it ourselves, 

don’t we? What do you 

think it would take to make 

house-cleaning a breeze to 

housewives? Read on… 


Life & Style 

Home Proud 

Keeping a home means there’s floors to sweep, 

windows to wash, toilets to keep clean, etc… etc... 

etc… A clean home is what every housewife wants, 

yet most of us dread getting down and dirty to get 

the job done. It’s either a really boring routine of sweeping, 

mopping, vacuuming, wiping, etc, or a really tiring one. 

Would the right tools help make cleaning house a little more 

bearable? We say it will, especially if it simplifies the job. 

Here, we’ve gathered a few of the top tools we think will 

make a difference in the task of keeping a clean house. 

A good vacuum cleaner 

Most households either use this machine or have it lying 

around the house somewhere. Although named a vacuum 

cleaner, there is no real vacuuming action going on, but 

rather, a very strong suction power that lifts off dirt and dust 

from floors, carpets and upholsteries and deposits them 

into a bag or bin. There are literally dozens of brands in the 

market and they come in many styles too. 

We like: 

Samsung Anti-Tangle Turbine 

Vacuum Cleaner 

Designed to suck up and not clog up, this powerful 

bagless machine from Samsung, the Anti-Tangle 

Turbine Vacuum Cleaner, is every household’s 

dream come true. Powered by the brands 

powerful Cyclone Force and an innovative 

pick-up brush, it picks up dust, dirt and hair from 

any surface, smooth or otherwise, and blasts 

them out the edge of its unique double air-flow 

Anti-Tangle turbine fan. This keeps the suction 

power consistent, prevents clogging throughout 

your vacuuming, and makes tangled hair in the 

machinery — from the brush bar to the turbine 

fan shaft, a thing of the past. No more wasting 

time on trying to remove hairs from the machine 

after removing them from the floor! 

Hand-held Broom & Dustpan Set 

When you have little ones at home, the possibilities are high 

that you’ll be cleaning up many, many times a day. If it isn’t 

a wet mess, and it isn’t a major one, then this is one set of 

cleaning tool you should have handy at home. It’s useful for 

sweeping up little bits of food, dirt and even dust on table 

tops, kitchen counters and any other dry surfaces as you go 

about your day. If you live in a big home, you’d probably need 

more than one set, placed at strategic, easy-to-reach places 

for a quick mini sweep-up. 

Spray mop 

Why work with a bucket and conventional mop 

when you can use a spray mop? It's no sweat, 

really, even if you dislike mopping, for it does 

away with the use of a bucket. (And filling up 

that bucket with water, lugging it around, 

squeezing the mop every now and then, etc.) 

A starter kit comprises of a mop, a bottle for 

filling up with water and cleaning liquid and 

a few mop pads. These pads are usually 

disposable after a few uses. Some come 

with different mop pads for different 

surfaces. They attach to the mop head 

with velcro, and cleaning solution 

sprays onto the floor using a button on 

the handle. A spray mop should 

definitely be in the list of cleaning 

tools to own if you love to clean 

house. It’s the easiest way to 

keep your floors clean! 


Life & Style 

Home Proud 

You might like: Magic erasers 

These resemble oversized school erasers and they’ve 

been making waves in the market as dependable 

solutions to stubborn household stains which used to be 

impossible to remove before. Think crayon on the walls, 

or even food stains on the floor. With just a little water, 

your magic eraser can magically erase away just about 

any stain. Caution though, for it should not be used on 

painted, polished or easily ruined surfaces. Test your 

eraser on an unnoticeable spot first before using it. 

Dust mop 

Make way, o broom, for here comes the more modern 

household sweeper, namely, the dust mop! These versatile 

long-handles tools resemble dusters on a handle, only you 

use them to sweep up dry dirt and dust from the floors. A 

dust mop can also be used to dust high spots of the house, if 

you know how to use it properly. 

Also known as a dry mop, a dust mop is usually made of 

microfiber material to attract and hold onto dust. Dust mop 

heads are usually fairly flat and are frequently removable so 

that they can be washed and used again. These cleaning tools 

feature adjustable handles with extensions that allow the dust 

mop to be used to reach high ceiling corners and other out of 

reach places. They are quite easy to maintain, where the mop 

heads can be shaken or vacuumed cleaned. Note: It’s perhaps 

best to clean it outside the house or on your balcony, if you 

live in an apartment. 

Hand squeegee 

Here’s a nifty little item that can help keep surfaces in your 

bathrooms, especially, dry and clean. It’s usually made of 

Neoprene, a synthetic rubber compound, or Neoprene, which 

is slightly more expensive. Using a squeegee may take a little 

practice at first, but once you get a grip on it, so to speak, 

you’ll find it easy to use to remove water from your bathroom 

surfaces and keep them dry. There is also a floor version, 

which is bigger and of course, comes with a longer handle. 

It works quite the same as the hand-held one, just that it 

removes water from the surface of the floor. 

Microfiber cleaning cloths 

If you’re wondering what is the difference between a 

microfibre cleaning cloth and a normal kitchen rag, here’s 

your answer — An ordinary kitchen rag has fibers made of 

cotton or other material which have really big fibers. Where 

else, a microfiber cloth has far more fibers and they're much 

smaller. Hence, since many hands makes the job easier, or 

lighter, so do many micro-fibers! 

Microfibers are able to attach themselves to even the 

smallest, most microscopic dirt particles — ones that normal 

cloth fibers (positively giant in comparison) crudely brush 

past. If forces were visible, you'd be able to see that there are 

adhesive forces between microfibers and dirt. That's why dirt, 

dust, and other stuff can be "hoovered up" by microfiber 

cloths. And it's also why you have to clean microfiber cloths 

so very thoroughly after you've used them. 


Life & Style 

Love For Life 

Keeping baby’s nursery 

clean and tidy 

Setting up a nursery is one thing, but keeping it neat and tidy takes some skills, we say. Take 

care that your baby’s nursery does not end up messy and disorganised! 


Life & Style 

Love For Life 

A place for 

everything 

Place everything your baby’s nursery 

into categories. This will be made even 

easier by designating ‘zones’ in the 

room — Baby’s sleeping zone; nursing 

zone; changing zone, etc. Another 

great tip to keep in mind is to consider 

how you’ll be using the stuff in the 

nursery. For example, your breast pump 

should be by the nursing chair, where 

else baby’s diapers and clothes, for 

example, should be well-arranged either 

at the changing table if you have one, 

or at any other changing area. 

Tip: Don’t overdo on baby essentials — 

While it’s nice to stock up on essentials 

so that you’ll never be low on anything, 

you can’t possibly benefit from an 

overstock of baby clothes or even 

diapers, for that matter. 

Ease up on the 

upholstery 

This is to prevent the accumulation of 

dust mites, which is one of the main 

culprits of allergic reactions in babies 

and toddlers. While total eradication of 

dust mites is impossible, limiting dust 

will greatly limit their proliferation. 

Fabric wall hangings, carpets, curtains, 

and drapes are all pleasing to the eye 

and lend visual appeal to a baby’s 

nursery, but they are still common dustattractors 

and should be either omitted 

or included in moderation in your 

baby’s nursery. 

Check those cleaning 

products 

When shopping for cleaning products, 

look for those free from ammonia, 

chlorine, and fragrance. These are some 

of the harsh ingredients in cleaning 

products that are known to provoke 

respiratory distress and skin irritation 

in children. Cleaning products labeled 

“non toxic if inhaled or ingested”, 

“biodegradable” or “plant-based” will 

likely be gentler and safer than those 

with generic terms on their labels. 

Have you used 

that lately? 

Regularly sift through your baby’s 

things and identify what you don’t 

Germs alert! 

You might not have given the soft pad 

covers of your child’s changing table 

much thought, but due to the nature 

of its use, it’s an ideal place for germs 

to accumulate. Launder it frequently 

to prevent germs from spreading. 

need. Keep in mind that not everything 

is worth saving. If an item is ripped or 

stained, toss it. If your storage space 

is limited,or you don’t plan to have 

another child soon, be discerning about 

what you keep. 

If you plan to have more kids soon, 

it’s fine to keep clothes for handme-downs. 

Just don’t let them stay 

in drawers taking up space, though. 

Instead, place them in sealed boxes to 

be stored away till needed. 

Keep less, worry less 

It’s no rocket science, this one! One 

one hand, you have a nursery full of 

furniture and stuff to check out other 

than your adorable baby, and keeping 

the place clean and organised is quite 

a challenge. On the other, you have a 

nursery with just the stuff you need, 

uncomplicated in design, and it’s way 

easier to keep the nursery neat, clean 

and organised. 

Vacuum regularly 

It may not be anyone’s favourite chore, but regular vacuuming will keep 

your baby’s nursery as dust-free as possible. This is especially so if you 

happen to have carpeting or upholstery in your baby’s nursery. 

Use labels! 

When you label drawers, containers 

and bins, it not only shows that you’re 

a no-nonsense housekeeper, but it 

also acts an an instant indicator of 

where everything should go. In a 

way, it also prevents well-meaning 

relatives or friends from inadvertently 

re-arranging your baby’s stuff while 

helping in the nursery. 


Life & Style 

Shopping 

Let’s Talk About 

Baby Wipes 

What would parents do without the convenience of baby wipes, really? It has to be one of 

the most thoughtful inventions that take the edge of diaper changing clean-ups and other 

messes little ones make throughout the day! 

However, it’s interesting to note that these 

indispensable wipes have a rather interesting story 

behind them for their first emerged in the scene 

during the 50’s as society back then started to see a 

need for better ways to clean up while on the go. It wasn’t all 

that easy or convenient for them just yet though for they had 

the idea of it but the convenience factor wasn’t quite there 

yet, with basically pre-moistened sheets of cloths folded and 

placed in containers to be used when needed. 

In 1957, a man named Arthur Julius spent $5,000 to acquire 

and adapt a machine that had been designed to portion 

soups, placing it in a loft in Manhattan. A year later, he had 

trademarked the name Wet-Nap. While the Wet-Nap seems 

like an inevitable innovation to the restaurant table-scape, 

Julius’ inspiration came from the boudoir, not from the 

kitchen. It was in his work in the cosmetics industry that Julius 

came across what was the very first pre-moistened wipe. The 

wipe was considered a “real opportunity” in the world of 

cosmetics — and for hygiene more generally. But ultimately, 

the wet wipe did more, changing the course of his business 

forever. 

The now commonly referred-to “Baby wipes” however didn’t 

hit store shelves until the early-90’s and were produced by 

Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble, the big fish in the 

industry. With Baby Wipes on every grocery and pharmacy 

shelf, uses evolved beyond babies and their bottoms to a 

market now where there seems to be a wipe for every body 

part and every surface you can think of. When they were first 

produced though, you could still smell the alcohol content on 

these wipes. Today however, baby wipes have come a long 

way, evolving into safe, gentle, mostly alcohol-free wipes that 

make clean ups a convenient, quick and worry-free tasks. 

Various packaging 

Modern baby wipes come in all sorts of 

packaging these days — from the famous pop-up 

packs, to canisters to pouches. These in turn can 

be bought in various sizes too, depending on your 

usage and storage plans. 


Life & Style 

Shopping 

What’s in the market 

BabyOrganix Naturally Kinder Wet Tissue 

ChuChuBaby hand & Mouth Wipes 

What we like about it: 

A revolutionary breakthrough in wet tissues, this 

product is safe and convenient for clean-ups of messy 

hands, faces and mouths, which are synonymous with 

little children. It’s even safe enough to wipe fruits with 

before consumption! 


An excellent Japanese made product ideal for babies 

and children. Alcohol and fragrance free, it will not 

irritate delicate skin. Made from thick but soft mesh 

that makes cleaning up a breeze. Contains peach leaf 

extracts for gentle moisturising effect. 

Pigeon Baby Wipes Moisturizing Cloths 

Natural Organics Original Baby Wipes 


This award winning product has a unique lattice weave 

fabric designed to catch even the most watery stools 

during diaper changes. Each wipe is saturated with 

gentle cleansing ingredients hat leave baby’s skin clean 

and healthy. It is also alcohol-free and has been put 

through a Microbiological Test to ensure that it’s free 

from bacteria as well. The packaging features a One 

Hand System makes it easier to use and ensures only a 

single wipe pops up every time without sheets of wipes 

sticking together, preventing wastage too. 


Natural Organics Original Baby Wipes can even be used 

without worry on newborn skin which is delicate and 

rash-prone. Natural Organics Original Baby Wipes is 

99.9% antibacterial certified, does not mold easily and 

uses pure natural water for its moistened wipes. It will 

not cause harmful side effects when used regularly, 

even during regular nappy changes. This safe, high 

quality wipes are useful and safe for cleaning messy 

hands and mouths as well as for quick cleaning of 

baby’s feeding utensils when on the go. 


Life & Style 

Mini Feature 

Have Kids, Have Art! 

Appreciating Your Child’s Artwork 

Once your toddler masters the art of holding a pencil or 

crayon or pen, there will probably be no stopping the pile-up 

of cute little scribbles and doodles. The fact is, kids, even as 

young as one year old and art, are like two peas in a pod. 

Whether they are colorful doodles, non-sensical scribbles, 

unfathomable drawings or messy finger paintings, there’s a 

big chance that every parent of toddlers has at least a dozen, 

if not shoe-boxes full of art-pieces done by their budding little 

Piccasos or O’Keefes. 

In most families, little ones’ art pieces are proudly displayed 

in the kitchen art gallery, aka the refridgerator. The trouble 

is, there is only so much space on a refrigerator, even if you 

count both the sides as gallery space. Needless to say, many 

artworks are relunctantly discarded into the wastepaper 

basket. Otherwise, they are kept away in a box, but no one 

knows why, for after that, they are rarely to be seen again. 

That’s a pity, isn’t it? 

Your child’s works of art are an expression of who he or she is 

and an explosion of their unique personality. 

Sometimes your little one’s art tells of deeply hidden thoughts 

and aspirations, especially if your child is not verbally expressive. 

Any kind of art done by a child is a measure of development 

and emotional wellness. If you take a moment to reflect on a 

piece of art doodled, sketched or painted by a child, you will 

see the beauty of its simplicity and spontaneity. No matter 

what the subject or what it depicts, a child’s art comes from 

the heart and normally the only expectation a child has for 

the artwork is appreciation from loved ones. 

So... do you have boxes full of little artworks stashed away 

somewhere in the house? Bring them out and display them 

with love! 

\ Frame them! You can either purchase some really nicelooking 

frames from a retail store or get some unfinished 

frames from an arts and craft store. With these DIY 

frames, you and your little artist can also embark in a 

decorating project together. In the end, don’t forget to 

include the little one’s details on a bottom corner of the 

framed art piece. 

\ Your child’s bedroom door is an excellent area to display 

his art pieces. You could either tape it up neatly or attach 

some string or yarn to a dowel rod where little artworks 

can be nicely showcased. 

\ Make a feature wall for the purpose of art display. You can 

put them up directly on the wall. Alternatively, you can put 

up a bulletin board on the wall instead and the art pieces 

can go on this board. For more impact, the board should 

be of a contrasting color. You can attach your child’s art 

pieces on the bulletin board and keep changing them now 

and again. 

\ Clothesline art! Install a mount-on-wall clothesline and peg 

up your child’s works of art in an artsy, unique fashion! 

Alternatively, you can also use a curtain rod for the same 

purpose. Art pieces may be switched or changed ever so 

often and even be displayed according to theme. 


Life & Style 

Out & About 

KidZania launches Be A Star 

Petaling Jaya, 6 March 2018 — It’s great being a kid because kids are naturally exuberant and 

full of potential. Most importantly, every kid is gifted in their own way — all it takes for them to 

shine is the opportunity to exercise their rights! This March, ‘Be a Star at KidZania Kuala Lumpur’, 

which runs from 17th March till 8th April 2018, celebrates children’s rights through music, 

acting, modelling and the use of technology in each of these areas. 

Bringing these rights to life are the RightZKeepers of KidZania Kuala Lumpur — Urbano (Right to 

Know); Beebop (Right to Create); Chika (Right to Share); Vita (Right to Care); and Bache (Right 

to Play). 

“There is no better way to communicate children’s rights than through — performing arts,” said Shahrul Nizar Ahmad, Mayor of 

KidZania Kuala Lumpur. “The ‘Be a Star at KidZania Kuala Lumpur’ programme is aimed at inspiring awareness of children’s rights 

by allowing kids to experience and explore what it’s like to create, play, know, care, and share in exciting ways! Apart from that, the 

arts is an important avenue for improving confidence and communications skills. These are valuable life skills which will serve them 

well as adults, supporting our philosophy to help children ‘Learn Life Today’.” For more information about activities and events at 

KidZania Kuala Lumpur, visit www.kidzania.com.my or www.facebook.com/KidZaniaKualaLumpur, or call the KidZania Careline 

1300 88 KIDZ (5439) from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Sunday. 

WAO: Set Timeline for Gender Equality Act 

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) urges the government to set a timeline for the Gender 

Equality Act, which would protect women from gender discrimination. “The government 

must set a timeline for tabling the Gender Equality Act in Parliament. We want a firm 

commitment, and not just mere words,” says Meera Samanther, Vice-President of WAO. 

In November 2016, Y.B. Dato' Sri Hajjah Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family 

and Community Development announced in Parliament that her ministry is working on a 

Gender Equality Act. “WAO and the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) have been 

working with the government to draft the Gender Equality Act. We now want to know 

what are the next steps — and when will they happen,” adds Meera. “We need the Gender Equality Act because women in the private 

sector are currently not protected from gender discrimination.” 

“When women get discriminated at work, they have few or no options for redress at all. Many suffer in silence, leave their jobs, or are 

told to leave. The Gender Equality Act would change this. The act should not only prohibit gender discrimination, but also ensure that 

women who experience discrimination can easily get justice — without having to go through a lengthy, tiring, and costly process.” 

“Malaysia also has an international obligation to enact the Gender Equality Act. The act is key to fulfilling gender equality in Malaysia.” 

she added. 

Urgency in raising awareness of kidney disease 

Kuala Lumpur, 8 March 2018 — In conjunction of World Kidney Day (WKD) 2018, National Kidney 

Foundation of Malaysia’s (NKF) Open Day took place at the NKF — BERJAYA Resource Centre. The day’s 

programme kicked off with a Bollywood Fitness Dance instructed by Mr Kirenjit Singh, the Bhangra 

Dance Master who was formerly a Fitness Manager for Celebrity Fitness. Free health screening was 

provided for public to keep track of their blood pressure, blood glucose, blood cholesterol level with 

counselling given by NKF’s health professionals. An organ donation booth was set up to encourage 

the public to pledge to donate their organs, which will go a long way in lending a new lease of life for 

people in dire need for organ transplants, including kidney transplants. 

“In Malaysia, there is an increase of 6,000 new cases of patients who are diagnosed with kidney failure every year. This clearly 

indicates that there is an urgent need to increase public awareness on personal health, especially on diseases related to end stage 

renal disease (ESRD),” said Chua Hong Wee, CEO of NKF. “Celebrated globally on the second Thursday in March, this year’s World 

Kidney Day coincides with International Women’s Day. As such, we would like to raise awareness of preventive measures in avoiding 

kidney disease, especially in women,” he added. 

A health talk on the importance of annual medical check-up was conducted by Mr Nizam bin Yusof, Consultancy Manager of Medi 

Diastika Sdn Bhd to encourage members of public to take charge of their own health, as determining of bodily functions can help 

to identify any abnormalities or disease before they can worsen, display symptoms, and pose a significant risk. For more information 

on these and future NKF activities or to donate towards the organisation’s efforts, please visit http://www.nkf.org.my or call 

03-7954 9048. 


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