01_BT_Jan-Feb 2022

ARE
ANTIBIOTICS
SAFE FOR
BABIES?
How To Keep Your
CRAWLING
BABY
Safe At
Home
Discover
The Joy &
Beauty of
BREASTFEEDING!
Shopping
Guide
For The New Year
- Must Haves
For Mums &
Babies
Pregnancy &
The Pandemic:
5 Ways To
Stay Calm
& Happy
2022: HAVE A HAPPY, WEALTHY NEW YEAR!

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Our Experts
Consultant pediatrician
Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling
With more than 7 years’ experience as a Paediatrician, Dr Livia is adept in management of a wide range
of paediatric diseases as well as paediatric intensive care management. In addition to that, with more
than 2 years’ experience in neonatology, she is proficient in newborn resuscitation, management of
premature babies and its related conditions, newborn intensive care and newborn medical screening.
Her last appointment was as a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist in Hospital Sultanah
Aminah, Johor Bahru. Now she is practicing at Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh.
Dietitian Ms Lee Eek Mui
Graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia with a Bachelor of Health Science (Honour) in Dietetic and
has since been placed for training in various organizations. She is a member of Malaysian Dietitians’
Association and International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism. She joined Pantai Hospital Ayer
Keroh as clinicial dietitian in 2011 and currently she is Senior Dietitian-in-charge.
Consultant pediatrician Dr Yeoh Tze-Hau
Dr Yeoh Tze-Hau graduated from Manipal University in 2011 and obtained his postgraduate
qualification in Paediatrics from the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, UK (MRCPCH) in
2017. He has worked in 4 different hospitals in Klang Valley and East Malaysia and has experience
managing children from birth until adolescence. He is certified in Advanced Paediatrics Life Support
(APLS) as well as Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). He will start his service in Tung Shin Hospital
beginning June 2021.
Consultant pediatrician Diana Bt Osman
Doctor Diana Bt Osman completed her undergraduate studies in India in 1988 and obtained her
Post-graduate master in Paediatric from University Malaya at 2010. Doctor Diana has a special interest
in Hemophilia and Thalassaemia and has undergone many short training in both sub. Today, she is a
Consultant Paediatrician who is now practicing in Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.
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.
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.
CONSULTANT PEDIATRICIAN Dr. Margaret Kannimmel
Dr. Margaret Kannimmel is a graduate of University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia and MRCP
(United Kingdom). A member of the Malaysia Pediatric Association, Dr. Margaret has over 32 years
of experience as a Medical Doctor and over 27 years as a Pediatrician. Currently she is a Consultant
Pediatrician at Columbia Asia Hospital Setapak.
6 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Editor’s Note
It’s 2022 and I bid you all a happy, thriving new year!
Without a doubt, we have all walked away from the near past wiser and more
learned than ever, with life lessons only actual experiences could teach us. New
parents have learned to adapt fast to the changes in lifestyle required of them, while
pregnant moms persevered with unique challenges that hardly ever existed before.
Most importantly is the way we have all made it past a challenging year, once again,
looking forward with renewed hope to better things that the future holds. We at
BabyTalk intend to stay by your side throughout this year and many more to come,
to offer you the latest information on fertility, pregnancy and parenthood. We hope
to assist you and well, be a silent friend and a messenger from the various
professionals who so generously share their knowledge in the shape of interviews
and articles for your reading benefit. For all those who have picked up your first
issue of BabyTalk, your top mother and baby monthly magazine has been
accompanying pregnant and new parents in their wonderful new journey since
2011, and we’re loving every minute of it. We hope you will too.
Till we meet again next month!
Much love
Cindy
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Regulars
10 Ask Our Experts:
The professionals are at hand to help!
Bump to Birth
contents January/February 2022
22 After Birth Care:
Nursing moms: 5 ways to keep your
mood up
24 9 MONTHS:
Managing the “pandemic bump”
stress
BT Guide
30 Most useful Mom & Baby items
to check out
Baby & Toddler
36 Mini Feature:
When your baby starts crawling
38 Health & Medical Diary:
Know your child’s antibiotic needs
(and when it’s not needed!)
Life & Style
42 Out & About:
The latest happenings to hit town!
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
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Ask Our Experts
Ms Lee Eek Mui, Dietitian,
Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy!
As your baby grows, you will gain some weight throughout
the pregnancy. Proper weight gain leads to healthy baby
development. Generally, depending on your pre-pregnancy
weight, if you are underweight, you should gain between
12 – 18 kg; If you are of normal weight, you should gain
between 11 – 16 kg; If you are overweight, you should gain
between 7 – 11 kg.
Let us have some understanding on what Keto (ketogenic)
diet is all about. Ketogenic diet is a high fat, moderate
protein, and very low carbohydrate diet. It limits
carbohydrates to less than 40 grams per day, or even lower.
The aim of this diet is to put the body into a state of ketosis
and burn fat as the main source of fuel, instead of using
glucose. Ketogenic diet has been used to manage epilepsy
for many years. There is emerging research (but still limited
evidence available) to evaluate the use of ketogenic diets in
obesity and diabetes.
How safe is a ketogenic diet in pregnancy? There is no
human research on this, but research done on pregnant mice
indicated that there had been changes in organ growth and
development on embryos of mice fed with a ketogenic diet,
which may be linked to future dysfunction.
}
I was advised to get it off my keto diet
now that I am pregnant. Is it really that bad?
I am trying to not gain too much weight
during pregnancy.
~
While we are still not sure if a ketogenic diet is safe, it
certainly does not provide all the nutrients that an expecting
mum needs. Why? By restricting nutrient-dense food that
are high in carbohydrates such as whole grains, beans, fruits
and certain vegetables, you’ll not be getting adequate fiber,
vitamins and antioxidants. Considering constipation is very
common during pregnancy, high fiber food intake is very
much needed during this period of time.
We emphasize that during pregnancy it is not advisable to
start any weight loss diet plan, unless it is recommended and
supervised by your doctor.
10 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Advertorial
Ruijia: Helping
mothers stay
healthy and
beautiful, from
the inside out!
Bagging three coveted awards in the 2021 BabyTalk &
MamaPapa Readers’ Choice Awards, Ruijia is a brand
that no longer needs an introduction, especially,
among health and beauty-savvy consumers. These
include pregnant and nursing moms. On our cover
this month is the lovely Chew Pei Chee, or Pekky as
she is affectionately known as. Pekky is the Director
of One Health Solutions, the distributor of the Ruijia
range of health and beauty products, Ruijia picked up
an award each in the categories of Collagen Peptides
for Pregnancy; Postpartum Collagen Supplement; and
Urinary Tract Health Supplement for Mums in the
recent annual magazine awards.

Advertorial
Beauty is no longer seen as something
merely on the outside, for women on
the whole today have more access to
valuable information on true and lasting
beauty - one that originates for having
a healthy, well-functioning body. Skin
imperfections such as stretch marks for
example, are found to be robbing
women of their self-esteem, and in some
cases, also cause undue stress. It is also
no secret that health conditions, such
as urinary tract infection, for example,
can lead to stress, both on the inside
and out. The message here is that most
of the negative symptoms we experience
on the outside originate from not getting
adequate nutrients on the inside. In this
regard, Ruijia is a brand which is often
praised by its users for its benefits and
efficiency. Being exceptionally popular
amongst women as a prenatal as well
as postpartum health supplement, it
represents a range of products that are
of exceptionally high quality, and that
are gaining great popularity among
users, particularly health and beauty
conscious women.
Collagen - The unmatched
efficiency of Ruijia
Collagen Peptides
Modern moms, from the time they’re
pregnant and even after giving birth, tend
to feel concerned about their skin
conditions, and many of them worry about
things like stretch marks, hair loss and also
the healing of their childbirth wounds.
While applying lotions, serums and oil
have their place when it comes to treating
pregnancy skin and hair issues, we simply
cannot afford to neglect internal nutrition,
and here is where Ruijia stands out, as
many consumers have found out. Right
at the tippity-top of essential nutrients our
skin needs to regain its youthful look and
feel is Ruijia Collagen Peptides.
Collagen peptides are the hydrolysed form
of collagen, and hence are short-chain
amino acids which are more readily
absorbed by our body! Collagen peptides
are able to move more easily through our
system compared to normal collagen,
making it more bioavailable to us. We will
get all the benefits of collagen peptides
in a convenient powder form. Mothers
particularly love how it helps them prevent
stretch marks by providing their skin more
integrity and elasticity. Ruijia Collagen
Peptides helps to give the skin a youthful
appearance and firmness and an instant
boost in hydration as well!
Made up from Fish collagen, Ruijia
contains the amino acids lysine and
proline, which perform essential
functions in our body. They help our
cells renew and rejuvenate, and in doing
so, restores the health of our skin, bones,
hair, nails and also our joints! It also has
Soy Protein, which is cholesterol free
and low in saturated fat, to improve
gastrointestinal system and lower the
risk of cardiovascular disease.
Women who have just given birth would
surely wish for their wounds to heal
quickly. Other than taking in the finest
quality collagen they can find, they may
also wish to supplement their diet with
protein, zinc and vitamin C which will be
of great help for healing and recovering.
In this regard, Ms Pekky has continuously
Ruijia provides what is known
as "simple and natural"
products, helping people to
achieve healthy goals. The
brand is increasingly becoming
the top choice of moms who
are understandably more
cautious in choosing the
ingredients for oral nutrition.
Moms today already know that
Ruijia will help them achieve
optimum health while
maintaining beautiful
younger-looking skin.
received positive reviews about Ruijia
Collagen Peptides from women who have
enjoyed its numerous benefits. Many
women who consume Ruijia have seen
encouraging results in reversing their dry,
itchy skin, while soke also saw vast
improvements to their stretch marks. Also,
Ms Pekky did share how Ruijia also assists
in the healthy development of a baby’s
bones, skin and hair. Ruijia helps in any
kind of postpartum wound healing, even
in cesarean section stitches! This means
that new moms will be able to recover
sooner, and get back on their feet sooner
too, with newfound vigor and confidence.
Ruijia Vegetable Enzymes:
Get what you need, each
day, with ease!
Mothers, if you’re reading this now, please
give us an honest answer to this question:
How is your daily fruit and vegetable

Advertorial
intake? And by that, we mean to ask if
you are getting enough healthy, plant
food nutrients into your diet.
Why?
Well, because that’s where all the important
antioxidants, vitamins, good bacteria, fibre,
etc are all contained, to keep your body
strong, healthy and protected from within.
Think about it - there are so many plant
foods that naturally exist and are meant for
our consumption. We need the nutrients
these plant foods offer to maintain our
health from the hair on our head to the nails
on our fingers and toes! However, if you
are like most of us busy women with hectic
lifestyles, getting even a handful of healthy
plant foods into our diet each day, all week,
all month and all throughout the year is
going to be a challenge. For many, it simply
can’t be done! But what smart and savvy
women have been doing is, supplementing
their diet with Ruijia Vegetable Enzymes
Powder. The product, which happens to also
be Taiwan’s top natural supplement brand,
contains up to 136 different types of fibre
and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables in a
dehydrated form. It is an all-natural product
which pregnant moms as well as new moms
can take without worry.
Upon consumption, Ruijia Vegetable Enzyme
Powder metabolizes with ease, which is to
most users, a welcome change which does
not burden their digestive system!
Convenient to take anytime, anywhere, each
sachet of Ruijia Vegetable Enzymes offers
you its precious content of Patented VF-136
fermented vegetable and fruits enzyme
extracts, with high super-antioxidants
function. What you’ll be taking in with just
one sachet are 12 types of vitamins, 8
essential amino acids, and 10 types of
minerals which work in synergy to regulate
your body’s physiological functions and
strengthen your metabolism. It is further
enriched with the Bacillus chain of beneficial
bacteria which acts as probiotics for a
healthier gut! You can be sure too, that as
it’s from Ruijia, there will be no unwanted
additives such as colouring or preservatives,
plus, it is cholesterol-free! With several food
safety certifications to its name, Ruijia
Vegetable Enzymes can be safely consumed
by anyone regardless of gender or age,
including children, the elderly, and also
pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Rich in invaluable dietary fibre,
Ruijia Vegetable Enzymes can
be used as a meal replacement,
whereby just one pack makes
you feel full. This subsequently
helps with a new mom’s weight
management while ensuring
that all the important nutrients
are taken to stay healthy and
youthful. Additionally, your
bowel movements will be made
easier and smoother, while
maximizing the discharge of
toxins from your body.
Managing private health
concerns
For women, the mere mention of the word
UTI, or Urinary Tract Infection, is enough
to make us wince in imaginary discomfort.
Many among us may have had to deal
with these conditions in the past, or
perhaps even in the present, but the truth
is, it need not be that way at all! And that
is, thanks to a kind of berry. More precisely,
the humble cranberry!
It is increasingly becoming a well-known
fact that the nutrients contained in this
not-so-famous berry (compared to
blueberries, strawberries and raspberries)
has been found to lower the risk of a few
private health concerns of women,
including the dreaded UTI. A high
concentration of antioxidants
proanthocyanidins in the cranberries helps
in preventing bacterial infection in the
urinary tract walls - here is where all those
troublesome and potentially harmful
bacteria attach themselves to.
For really quick relief from UTI particularly,
(around three days), women have been
turning to Ruijia Cranberry Probiotic,
another stellar product from the
acclaimed Taiwanese brand. The
extremely fast acting private health
maintenance food works really fast to
help ease discomforts due to UTI and
other women’s private health issues.
Made via a patented process called Cran-
Max 34:1, the product offers one of the
highest concentration gut-healthy
proanthocyanidins (PACs). This highconcentration
of cranberry nutrient
together with Roselle calyx extract can
speed up the balance of internal flora and
improve the efficiency of our natural private
health maintenance. Ruijia Cranberry
Probiotics uses Bacillus coagulans MTCC
5856 probiotics, a US patented and certified
spore-based probiotic which can specifically
help to protect the well-being of women’s
intimate area. These special probiotics have
an unusually high survival and colonisation
rate, which helps it to withstand its
surroundings and promote a balanced and
diverse bacterial environment which
women would need for better private
health maintenance. Ruijia’s BIO-SHIELD ®
patented coating process also ensures that
all those precious active ingredients remain
fresh and intact in the product.
As with all other top-notch products from
Ruijia, this too contains no food additives
such as cholesterol, colorings,
preservatives, etc. Hence, it’s naturally safe
to use, even for pregnant and nursing
moms. Ruijia Cranberry Probiotics is in fact
suitable to be taken by everyone else too,
including children as well as the elderly,
both men and women.
From the look of our cover this month,
there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind
about the health and beauty benefits of
Ruijia products - Ms Pekky uses them
herself and just look at that glow. It is the
kind of glow that comes from being
healthy from the inside - hence, it shows
on the outside!

Available at

Brand Story
Verdure:
At the forefront
of fertility care
and treatments
Founded in 2003, Verdure Healthcare was initially a Clinic
that provided Traditional Chinese Medicine (aka TCM)
focusing on the treatment of infertility. It was a practice
handed down from the mother of their Chief Physician,
Dr Terrenz, from the early 1980’s, when there were just
so few practitioners that could help to resolve infertility.
“IVF technology wasn’t available in Malaysia back then,
and when Dr. Terrenz took over, we found a breakthrough
and combined the best practices of TCM and Western
Medical Practices by collaborating with BP and Pathlab
to provide scientific fertility screenings and
hormone tests to show our client how
TCM helped improved their reproductive
health, increasing the chances of a natural
pregnancy and to lower the risk of
miscarriage,” Adam Hung, the Geneticist
and Medical Director of Verdure explained
to BabyTalk recently.
Category of “Best IVF Natural Food
Supplement for Woman, Best Fertility
Natural Food Supplement for Men & Best
Confinement Natural Food Supplement”

Brand Story
Back then, there were clients that needed
IVF treatments as they couldn’t get
pregnant naturally. One of the most
obvious reasons would be a complete
blockage of the Fallopian Tubes, hence
the focus was to help those clients prepare
for IVF, increasing their chances of success
in one cycle, as explained by Adam.
Following their own research, they
realized that every human carries on
average 1 to 2 genetic mutations, that if
inherited from both parents, can cause a
severe disorder or death before reaching
reproductive age. Adam credited the
University of Chicago, School of Medicine
for this enormous discovery back in 2015.
Before this, curing genetic disorders
resembled a science fiction rather than a
practical medical solution - prevention is
the cure! Via Verdure’s Pre-Pregnancy
DNA Screening, it is possible now to
screen for every piece of the couple’s
chromosome, along with 155 Asia’s most
common genetic diseases such as
Thalassemia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy,
Huntington’s Disease.
“If couples have disease-causing DNA
mutations, we will ultimately refer them
to our panel IVF centers so that
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis/
Screenings can be done to select healthy
Embryos before implanting it back into
the mother. But if they don’t have such
mutated genes, they can try conceiving
naturally with a peace of mind. So, as you
can see our development over the years
changed quite drastically,” Adam
generously shared.
A drastic rise in
infertility rates!
Stress, environmental pollution, not
eating the correct food, insomnia, being
overweight or severely underweight, all
these modern living factors will definitely
contribute to “infertility”. “Many people
misunderstood the difference
between true infertility and
subfertility. Sub-fertility means
that you are actually able to
get pregnant naturally, in
fact you might be quite
healthy, at least compared
to many other people
around you, but due to
outside factors beyond
your control, such as
pollution, it will take longer
than you expected to
conceive. All you might need
is to change your lifestyle a bit, for
example by exercising more, eating the
right food, and taking fertility
supplements. In fact, our VHC Formula
Female 1, Female 2 and Male were
designed exactly for that purpose, to
give couples a boost on their reproductive
health, mainly via enhancing the Egg
Quality, Ovulation Function and the Male
reproductive health,” said Adam.
Women should try taking
Multivitamin, Folic Acid,
and Iron. Men should also
take Multivitamin, along
with Magnesium and Zinc.
This will help them
prepare for pregnancy, but
if they want to speed
things up a little bit, our
VHC Formula will be able
to help. However, if after
another 3 months, there is
still no news, we would
recommend a more
detailed diagnosis.
Adam disagrees that couples who have
failed to get pregnant for a year are
infertile, for as he mentioned earlier, True
Infertility means that a couple cannot get
pregnant by natural means, either due to
congenital factors, such as a genetic
disease or nurture such as after surgeries,
certain medications, histories of ectopic
pregnancy or complete blockage of
Fallopian tubes. Their hope lies in IVF, and
our job here at Verdure is to help them
to increase their chance of success in an
IVF cycle by using personalized medicine.
Important tests
and DIY
breakthroughs
For couples who suspect that
they are “infertile”, there’s
the Verdure Fertility Hormone
Test, along with a Semen
Analysis for the male partner
as a first step for detailed
diagnosis. “Using these tests,
we will get a clearer picture
about their reproductive
health deficiencies, so that our
Chief Physician, Dr. Terrenz, will be able
to pinpoint at these deficiencies
accordingly,” Adam shared.
Verdure’s latest offering is the Home
Artificial Insemination IUI, where couples
can do IUI at home safely, and completely
on their own, without 3rd party involvement.
With the cost of only 1/50 price of an IVF
cycle or 1/10 of the price of traditional
IUI done at hospitals, couples need only
follow 3 very simple steps. As explained
by Adam, the first step is to track the
menstrual cycle to detect the window
time of ovulation, this can be done easily
by the female partner to record her basal
body temperature everyday. The next step
is to confirm ovulation by using the
Ovulation Test kit provided. Once
ovulation is confirmed, the male partner
can produce a sperm sample on the day.
“Using a medical safe IUI kit imported
from the U.S, the sperm sample can be
sent directly into the Uterus - a shortcut
to the egg!

Brand Story
Combining the best
practices from
Chinese and Western
medicine
In principle, when couples turn to Verdure
for Infertility treatment, they will be
required to get a full Fertility Hormone
Test and Semen Analysis done. This will
be the basis on which TCM medicine will
be used to enhance the specific areas of
Brand Stroydeficiency. “Next up will be a
DNA test to check if couples are carrying
mutated DNA that can potentially cause
a genetic disease if they pass it on. If they
have it, we will turn our focus to preparing
them for an IVF, increasing their chance
of success in 1 cycle. If they don’t have
any lethal mutations, they can get
pregnant naturally without worry,” Adam
patiently explained.
Under this pathway, couples can also
purchase the Home Artificial Insemination
IUI so that there is an option for them if
the male partner feels too stressed out
during the ovulation time frame. “When
they get pregnant, during the 10th week
of gestation, we will organize a Noninvasive
Prenatal Test to confirm that the
baby is genetically healthy, giving parents
a wonderful fertility journey. After
delivering the baby, our Confinement 1
& 2, which won the Reader’s Choice Best
Confinement Natural Food Supplement
Award, will help the mother to recover
and prepare for the next baby!”
health, and if they really want to speed
things up, they can also use our Home
Artificial Insemination IUI to run a
shortcut. Act now, because as we age,
our fertility will drop, especially for
ladies, after 35 years old, fertility will
drop drastically,” he concluded.
Adam hopes that couples take action
immediately at least to improve their
general health first. “By following the
simple advice I gave previously. I would
recommend them to start taking our
VHC Formula Female 1, Female 2 and
Male to enhance their Reproductive

Bump to Birth
After Birth Care
Nursing moms:
5 ways to keep your
mood up
Breastfeeding moms know that they are giving their baby the best in terms of nutrition.
However, there will be times when most nursing moms will feel stressed out. This can be due
to exhaustion, or even frustration of trying to cope with their newborn baby. At times, these
feelings can lead to new moms questioning if their sacrifices are worth it. The answer is, YES,
it is all very well worth your efforts, and you are not alone in feeling this way.
Many new moms undergo the same, low down, gut-wrenching moodiness which can
sometimes feel like it’s too much to bear. However, there are always ways to deal with these
circumstances, and here are a few tried and tested ways to cope.
22 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Bump to Birth
After Birth Care
1. Stay cool and well-hydrated
Dehydration can be the biggest culprit among new
moms who are feeling exhausted and confused while
trying to cope during the first few weeks at home
with their baby. Even a slight level of dehydration can
wreak havoc with one’s mood and may even lead to
headaches, dizziness and disorientation. So, keep a
bottle of water, or any non-caffeinated, sugar-free drink
at hand, and take regular sips (every half hour or so) to
keep your body hydrated, and your mood up!
4. Listen to feel-good music
If you have watched the movie The Secret - Law Of
Attraction, you would surely remember the advice to
listen to your favourite music to switch your mood
from bad to good, anytime! Well, we’re here to tell
you that there is indeed much truth to it, as music
works in wondrously magical ways to alter your mood
and make you feel great again. However, do also keep
in mind that new moms are in a particularly sensitive
period in their lives. Hence, do take care and avoid
picking out songs or tunes that have a not-so-great
memory attached to it, for that would surely beat the
purpose. The best strategy would be to get all your
favourite songs into your MP3 player and play them on
loop whenever you need a music fix.
2. Avoid being sedentary for
too long
The less you move around, the poorer your blood
circulation will be. This in itself is a mood wrecker, and
it leaves you feeling lifeless, down and out. In fact, did
you know that despite doing nothing, you can still end
up feeling tired and lifeless due to not having enough
exercise? Try some light and easy movements just
to move that body about, such as walking, or if you
are up to it, some easy yoga moves, to help promote
better blood circulation as well as better moods.
5. Breathe, aka Blow out the
candles!
If you are into meditation, then it probably goes
without saying that you already got this under control,
so good on you! However, if you are not into it, then
this would be another way to manage those icky moods
and bring about better vibes and feelings. Just sit still,
close your eyes, and breathe. One tactic that works like
a charm is called ‘blowing out the candles’. You simply
ask yourself (according to your level of stress), how
many candles you would need. Let’s say if the ‘answer’
is three, then take in a deep breath, and breathe out
as if you are blowing out a candle. Then, repeat this
another two times until all the candles are ‘blown out’.
Try it, will you?
3. Eat foods rich in
Omega-3 fatty
acids
Foods such as tuna,
almonds, peanut butter
and fortified eggs contain
nutrients such as Omega-3
fatty acids which have moodenhancing
properties. If you love
tuna, try making a tuna sandwich
the next time you’re feeling down, and chances are,
you’ll be feeling chirpy in no time! Alternatively, you
can also try a teaspoon of peanut butter, or a handful
of almonds. Other mood-enhancing foods nursing
moms can try include bananas, blueberries, yogurt, oat
cookies, and of course, dark chocolate!
BabyTalk | January/February 2022 23

Bump to Birth
9 Months
Managing the
“pandemic bump”
stress
Under ‘normal’ circumstances, pregnancy can be quite a challenging period, and most
women can expect some level of anxiety throughout their nine months’ gestation. Issues
such as finance, the baby’s health, finding a good daycare after maternity leave is over, and
even stretch marks, etc - these are things that commonly affect pregnant women. During
the pandemic, things these worries may or may not be relevant, but as most pregnant
women (and new moms) can testify right now, there are new challenges to face, and they
can get a tad overwhelming for some.
Here, we offer you some simple yet effective advice, or for some, reminders, on how to
tackle some of the most common issues pregnant women are facing during the pandemic.
24 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Bump to Birth
9 Months
Will my baby be alright?
It is perfectly normal to worry about
the health of your baby, and during a
pandemic, it stands to reason that a
pregnant mom has cause to overthink
this issue due to the current situation
out there. The Covid-19 virus, after
all, is still very much alive and people
are still getting infected everyday. To
this, we advise pregnant moms to
take appropriate measures to keep
themselves safe and away from danger
as much as they can. It may not be as
simple as that, for many have errands
to take care of which require them to
brave the outdoors, such as grocery
shopping and doctor’s appointments.
Both these examples can have
disastrous outcomes if a pregnant
mom does not take it upon herself
to keep herself safe by sanitising her
hands whenever needed, keeping a
safe distance from other people, and of
course, donning a good facemask for
the entire duration of being outdoors.
These are the basic steps no pregnant
mom can afford to overlook to keep
herself and her unborn baby safe from
harm. Apart from that, it would be a
great, or even life-saving idea to stay
away from crowded places, especially if
it is a place where you think it would be
difficult to observe the recommended
SOP of keeping a distance of a meter
away from each person. There is no
way of telling who is a carrier of the
virus, or even, if anyone out there
whom you met is sick and does not
know it. Hence, the best way for you
to keep yourself and your baby safe is
to do what’s right - no compromising!
How to ensure your baby is healthy is
of course, a whole other story, which
brings us to our next tip.
How can I take care of
my baby’s health?
Now, more than ever, it
is essential to stay well
and avoid falling sick.
Pregnancy can affect
the immunity of some
pregnant women, and
jeopardize their wellbeing.
This will, of course, affect
the unborn baby at some
level. It will be a great idea
to try and stay healthy and
strong throughout your
pregnancy, so as to not put
your wellbeing at risk, and just
as importantly, keep your baby
safe and healthy. Our most
important tip is to nourish your
system and flood it with
nutrient-dense foods.
Vegetables and fruits
should be prioritised
followed by healthy
carbohydrates and of
course, good quality
protein. Try taking a green
smoothie each day, made
from at least two types of
green leafy vegetable, one
cruciferous vegetable, and
one each of red, blue, yellow,
orange, purple and white fruit
or veg. Choose fruits that are
your favourite, for they
will help sweeten up your
smoothie and taper off the
taste of chlorophyll from the
leafy greens! Don’t forget to
also add a dash of curcumin
powder, a few peppercorns,
and last but not least, some
flaxseed. Add the appropriate
amount of water (or any other
liquid such as green tea, soy, etc),
blend and drink it through the course
of the morning. Your body may never
get the chance to fall ill, and that’s not
a bad thing at all, isn’t it? What's even
better is, your baby will get accustomed
to the taste of these good foods and
will be more likely to lean towards
them later on in his or her life!
Resist trying to
control everything in
your life
Here where we tend to place
unnecessary stress onto our lives- by
trying to micromanage the goings-on
not just in our own lives, but in others’
as well, such as our hubby, family
members, co-workers, etc. Most people
are quite sensitive to the needs of a
pregnant woman and will have no
issues making a few exceptions in their
own lives to accommodate the needs
of a lady with a baby. However, this has
a limit, and it is easy to overstep that
boundary if you’re not careful enough,
or, if you’re too caught up with your
own needs and wants.
Get enough sleep
Not getting enough sleep is bad
enough if you’re not pregnant, but
when you are, it can get extremely
detrimental to your health! If you’re
going to put yourself first in any area
26 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Bump to Birth
9 Months
of your life, let this be it - get the
appropriate amount of rest no matter
what, no matter where. A well-rested
body is better able to cope with the
rigours of everyday stress, especially
if you are pregnant and working, or,
if you are pregnant and are having
to look after an older child or two,
coupled with housework. Lack of
sleep can easily lead to frustration and
confusion due to exhaustion, so don’t
underestimate a good night’s snooze
- your body and your mood will thank
you for it!
Stay well-hydrated all
the time
Water, smoothie, juices, soups - as
long as you’re getting the good stuff
free from sugar, artificial flavourings,
colourings, preservatives, etc, you can
be sure to be on the right track to
wellness throughout your pregnancy.
Your body and your baby needs to
stay hydrated to be healthy and well.
A well-functioning body will have a
much better chance of fighting off an
infection, compared to a dehydrated
one. You’ll also be less prone to
headaches as well as joint aches.
Staying well-hydrated, especially if it’s
by drinking eight glasses or more of
water a day, will also keep constipation
at bay, and that is something each and
every pregnant mom would appreciate,
very much!
Keep your doctor in
the know
Having a good doctor-patient
relationship with your doctor is a
great way to feel just a little more
confident of your wellbeing, for you
can always give him or her a buzz to
inquire on anything that is bugging
you, in terms of your pregnancy, or
your baby’s wellness. This will definitely
help eliminate some stress while being
pregnant during this era of worldwide
pandemic. You can also ask your doctor
for tips on how to stay healthy and safe
throughout your pregnancy, as well
as recommendations for good quality
supplements that will help protect your
pregnancy from within.
28 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

In the kitchen
Haenim Smart Care UV
LED Bottle Sterilizer
Helps to curb not only the
Influenza Virus, Norovirus,
and a broad spectrum of
bacterias, but is lab tested
and proven to be effective
in killing 99.9% of Human
Coronavirus as well.
Shopping as a new parent, or even a pregnant mommy,
can be exciting, as it is mind-boggling as well. This
is due to the overload of products available for our
picking and choosing. Following the aftermath of the
worldwide pandemic, we are all left more cautious
as well as conscientious about our spending. Many
of us have come to realise how smart spending can
positively affect our lives, and that of our families. Now,
when we shop, we tend to ask if what we’re intending
to buy is worth the money we’re about to part with.
It is an empowering process, an enlightenment of
sorts to some, one which we should learn from, and
take with us throughout our lives to avoid spending
unnecessarily.
Shop smart, live smart, and be happy with what you
buy! And here, we have a few top picks of our own,
some of which are award-winning products, for you
to check out.
Fiffy Liquid Cleanser
Available in Green Tea, Mint,
as well as a No
Flavour variant, the
Signature Product
of award-winning
brand Fiffy
is formulated
without the
common
nasties such
as parabens
and sulfate,
allowing moms
to wash their babies’
things without worry
or doubt.
30 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Portable Wrap Baby
Bottle Warmer
Lovely cotton bottle wrap
that can be connected to
any charging spot.
Uses low voltage
for safety. For
use when you’re
not in a hurry.
For aiding in
nursing
Lunavie Nursing Covers
These pretty and
functional nursing
covers, also
known as nursing
ponchos, will
ensure that you
get to breastfeed
your baby
anywhere, any
time, while being
modestly covered
up. In style too, may we add!
Cocoonababy Big
Flopsy Maternity &
Nursing Pillow
A reliable, comforting
accompaniment during
nursing and even bottle
feeding. The Big Flopsy is also
perfect for sleeping, chiling,
relaxing, etc in comfort.
On The Go
Ergobaby Omnibreeze
Baby Carrier
A lightweight
baby carrier
with features
geared toward
comfort and
ease for baby
and parent.
It promotes
maximum air
flow, keeping baby and parent
cool, dry and comfortable.
Brown Premium
Baby Wipes
Made using
food grade
ingredients
and 7-step
purified water,
BROWN Baby
Wipes are safe to use on
a baby’s hand and mouth.
Plus, you can choose from
four lovely variants!
Cleverin Stick
Air Purifier
A really clever
air purifying
device that
can be carried
along with you
anywhere, for
fresher, cleaner
air wherever
you are!
Yummy, yummy, for
your baby’s tummy!
Rafferty’s Garden
Snack Bars
Available in Banana; Apple;
Blueberry, Banana & Apple;
as well as Apple & Raspberry,
these snack bars for your baby
are as yummy as they sound,
and they are made from
natural, real food ingredients!
Baebis Rice Biscuits
Delicious, nutritious rice puffs
in yummy variants such as
Cheese Puffs, Peach Berry
Puffs, Mango Avocado Puffs,
and Apple Banana Puffs which
are mouth-watering not just
for babies but for young
children as well!
.
BabyTalk | January/February 2022 31

For chillin’ &
relaxin’
Shnuggle Air Bedside
Crib
The ultimate
answer for
parents who
prefer their
newborn to
co-sleep with
them, but with the benefits of
superior safety measures.
4moms RockaRoo
Modern and compact, (only
one third
the size of
a traditional
baby swing),
this bouncy
baby seat
offers a
3-point safety
harness, and
a soothing,
gliding motion, similar to a
rocking chair, for a baby’s
complete relaxation.
Combi BEDi
Long auto
swing bed +
high chair
With this
multi-function
piece of
furniture,
parents can
enjoy the
flexibility to work at home,
complete daily housework or
rest with ease while taking
care of their baby!
Baby Snuggler
Available in two sizes, this
super-comfy baby lounger
with its breathable 3D mesh
fabric outer cover offers
a cozy feel for little ones,
almost mimicking a parent’s
loving hug.
Hygiene Care &
Toiletries
Sterimar Nose Hygiene
Available in two
variants, for
babies as well
as for adults,
Sterimar is
made using
100% sea water
from France to
maintain the
natural nasal
homeostasis,
helping to
prevent flu and sinus blockages.
Easy-to-use and helpful to have
in every household.
BZU BZU Natural
Cooling Powder
An award-winning talcumfree
baby powder with
no Asbestos, parabens or
formaldehyde. Contains
natural
plant
extracts
such as
Evening
primrose,
Jiou, and Peach leaf extracts
which keeps baby’s skin cool,
comfortable and protected.
For mommy’s health
& beauty care
Golden Bird’s Nest
Made from raw bird’s nest,
RO water, and cane sugar,
Golden Bird’s Nest is delectably
nutritious without being too
sweet, with delightfully chewy
bird’s nest strips.
Ruijia Collagen Peptides
The award-winning Ruijia
Collagen powder works
wonders as it helps to repair
the skin’s broken and damaged
elastic fiber network.
34 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Baby & Toddler
Mini Feature
When Your Baby
Starts Crawling!
Safety
tips and
pointers to
keep in mind
Wanting to move about,
(and trying their very best
to do so!) are natural signs
of healthy development in
a baby. However, when a
once stationary baby begins
to crawl about, and keeps
wanting to get from point A
to point B (and C, and D and
E and F!), as a parent, you
will naturally be concerned
about your little one’s
safety! Here’s what you
need to know.
Crawling babies are such a joy to
watch, yet, they can get into all sorts
of mischief. For one, they seem to
gravitate towards all the forbidden
areas of the house, such as the
staircase, the bathroom, the kitchen,
and yes, even out the front door! As
they are not yet familiar with the laws
of cause and effect, they will be prone
to knocking over, or pulling/pushing
things that are on their way. Worse still,
they may even decide to pop hazardous
objects which they may find, into their
mouth for a taste! As parents, here are
the five main points to keep in mind to
keep your crawling baby safe at home.
1. Place safety gates at all the
necessary places. Identify the
places in your home where your
baby is not allowed to wander to
or into, and cut off their access to
these places with good quality safety
gates. Do your homework/research
before making your purchase,
to ensure you get value for your
money, and more importantly, some
peace of mind!
2. Look out for all sharp corners
and edges, cover them! You can
use corner guards as well as edge
guards meant for baby-proofing
homes. These will soften the impact
of contact in case your little one
happens to knock into your furniture
while crawling about, and help to
avoid serious injuries.
3. Lock up drawers and cabinets
with hazardous materials. While
you’re at it, you might also want
to take safety measures to ensure
that drawers that can’t be locked
are made safe for your baby in
other ways (which includes moving
them to a different location till
your little one is a little older and
knows better!).
4. All plugs, cords and electrical
switches should be out of reach!
Babies are somehow drawn to
these dangerous objects, and the
consequences can be grave. So,
cover all outlets with baby-proof
caps, and tape down long cords to
prevent them from being tugged
and pulled by inquisitive little hands.
5. Keep your floors clean, and free
from small objects. In fact, make
sure there are no small objects
accessible to your baby on coffee
tables, side tables, armchairs, etc.
This action will help to prevent these
items from ending up in your little
one's mouth!
36 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
Know your child’s
Antibiotic needs
(and when it’s not needed!)
by Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling
Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist, Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh
I am sure most parents would have experienced having their child falling
sick at least once. When your child is down with fever, running nose, cough
and refusing to eat, it can be pretty stressful. Parents will expect a fast
remedy which may include antibiotics when they bring their child to see the
doctor. Conventionally, we used to think that by prescribing antibiotics even
though the child might not need it, it may work and even if it doesn’t, it won’t
do any harm. However, we now know the dangers of prescribing antibiotics
unnecessarily and many doctors now are being very careful when prescribing antibiotics.
38 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
Antibiotics are one of the most
common classes of medications
being prescribed to children. There’s
no denying that antibiotics play
important roles in saving countless
children's lives. However, overuse
of antibiotics can cause antibiotic
resistance which is a threat to public
health. Antibiotic resistance happens
when the bacteria develop an ability
to prevent themselves from being
killed by antibiotics that previously
were able to kill them. Antibiotic
resistant bacteria can be difficult or
impossible to treat. According to
the Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) report, each year,
in the U.S, there’s an estimate of 2.8
million people infected with antibiotic
resistant bacteria and causing more
than 35,000 death as a result. In
order to prevent antibiotic resistance
from happening, we have to be more
vigilant in prescribing antibiotics.
We also need to bear in mind that
antibiotics are not without side
effects. After consuming antibiotics,
children can experience diarrhoea and
vomiting and even allergic reactions
which can be life threatening.
Which illnesses do not require
antibiotics?
Bacteria and viruses are two major
types of infection that make people
sick. Bacteria respond to antibiotics
where bacteria are either killed or the
reproduction is being stopped. On the
other hand, viruses do not respond
to antibiotics and thus prescribing
antibiotics will not treat the disease but
instead causes more harm.
• Common flu are usually caused
by viruses and thus do not need
antibiotics. Symptoms can take as
long as 10 days before recovery.
Your child can be down with fever
and can even have yellowish or
greenish nasal discharge. However,
if your doctor suspects a bacterial
cause of sinusitis then antibiotics
may be prescribed.
• More than 80% of sore throats are
caused by viruses. However if your
child has streptococcal sore throat
which is caused by streptococcal
bacteria, antibiotics will need to
be given.
• Coughs are also normally caused
by viruses and would not require
antibiotics. However if it progresses
to lung infection that are caused by
bacteria then the doctor will need
to prescribe antibiotics.
• Ear infections will get better by
itself even without any treatment in
more than half of the cases. If your
child is not in pain and still well, we
can give some time and see if the
infection clears up by itself.
There is a possibility of ‘secondary
bacterial infection’ where the viral
infection increases the susceptibility
to bacterial infection. Parents must be
wondering that since viral infection
can turn bacterial, why can’t we take
antibiotics first instead of waiting for
the bacterial infection to occur. Well,
not all viral infections are followed by
bacterial infections. Thus treating viral
infection with antibiotics to prevent
bacterial infection is not recommended
as such practice will cause the
emergence of antibiotic resistance.
What can parents do?
• Do not expect or request to be
given antibiotics each time you visit
the doctor. Remember that most
cough, cold and nasal congestion
will get better by themselves.
Antibiotics are not the answer to
everything. You can ask the doctor
instead for ways to ease symptoms
that your child is experiencing.
• Watch and monitor your child’s
condition. If the condition seems
to be worsening with persistent
fever after 3-5 days, do not
hesitate to bring your child to see
your pediatrician and get your
child assessed.
• If your child really needs antibiotics,
remember to complete the
entire course of antibiotics even
if your child feels better before
the antibiotics are completed. If
antibiotics are stopped early, the
bacteria may not be completely
eliminated and complications can
occur as a result of that. Apart from
that, the remaining bacteria that
was not eliminated will continue to
grow and might mutate to a new
form that can be resistant to the
future treatment.
• Do not give your child antibiotics
that were prescribed for someone
else’s infection.
• Do not keep leftover antibiotics to
be used for future infection. See the
doctor and get a new prescription if
the need arises.
• If your child’s condition is not
improving despite being given
antibiotics, see your doctor again as
the bacteria may be resistant to the
antibiotic that was given.
• Prevention from getting sick is
always the best. Make sure your
child has a healthy and active
lifestyle. Educate your child to wash
their hands regularly and keep the
surrounding environment clean. It is
also very important to ensure that
your child’s immunizations are up
to date.
Remember that
antibiotics are not
always the answer
to infection.
Inappropriate usage of
antibiotics can cause
harm. Whenever you
have any doubts about
your child’s condition
or whether antibiotics
are needed, do not
hesitate to consult
your paediatrician and
discuss about your
child’s condition.
40 BabyTalk | January/February 2022

Life & Style
Out & About
Duopharma Biotech Launches New
Flavettes Nutriskincare Range
Duopharma Biotech Berhad (“Duopharma Biotech” or “the
Company”) officially launched its new Flavettes NutriSkincare
range recently, further expanding its consumer healthcare
portfolio into the health and beauty segment through the
established Flavettes brand. In 2021, Flavettes – the No. 1
Adult Vitamin C brand in Malaysia and a market leader in
the effervescent Vitamin C segment, targeted the steadilygrowing
beauty segment with the introduction of Flavettes
NutriSkincare variants – building on the popularity of its
effervescent Vitamin C products.
Using the tagline “Be Seri-Seri Inside Out", the new Flavettes
NutriSkincare range is positioned as a complete skincare
offering, with effective products in the easily absorbed
effervescent format, emphasising the importance of the
right nutrition in holistic beauty routines. All variants of the
Flavettes NutriSkincare range – sold in tubes of 15 and 30
effervescent tablets, are available in Watsons outlets and
other pharmacies nationwide, including their online stores.
JennOrtho launches foot
health campaign themed “Back On
Your feet”
Leading foot care expert JennOrtho today launched a foot
health campaign themed “Back On Your feet”, addressing
increasing feet problems in the country especially post covid
lockdowns. JennOrtho’s co-founder and CEO, Dato Dr Edmund
Lee, also a well-known orthotics specialist, officiated the
campaign and presented insights on foot issues affecting the
general public, especially school children returning to usual
daily activities after such long lockdowns, with varying health
implications and solutions. In Malaysia, the alarming fact is
the age afflicted is getting younger, especially children and
teenagers. After Covid 19, there will be a high rate of children
having foot pain returning to school. In view of the importance
of proper foot care, JennOrtho launched its Flat Feet Trust with
RM200,000 worth of footwear and orthotics insoles to the
public who have feet problems. During the event, JennOrtho
had also provided complimentary feet analysis to the public.
Some patients with foot problems also shared their own
ordeals of foot problems and how it has affected their health.
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LAC offers a convenient solution for your everyday health and wellness
at any age to bring you nutrition for life. Introducing antioxidants as part
of our diet has been proven to help stabilise free radicals and relieve our
bodies of oxidative stress. While our bodies can produce antioxidants naturally, it may not always be sufficient to counteract the
amount of free radicals we are exposed to on a daily basis. Beyond tapping on the intake of fresh produce and wholegrains,
LAC MASQUELIER’s ® French Pine Bark Extract is also a powerful source of antioxidants to support your body’s natural systems.
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42 BabyTalk | January/February 2022