When the baby finally arrives, most people expect joy, excitement, and happy tears. But for many new mothers, the emotions that follow birth can be far more complicated. If you’ve felt overwhelmed, numb, irritable or even unlike yourself in the weeks or months after giving birth—you’re not alone. You could be experiencing something called postnatal depression (PND).

Breastfeeding is often called “liquid gold” – and for good reason. Mother’s milk is a complete, living food tailored for a baby’s needs, offering unparalleled nutrition, immunity, and love all at once. In Malaysia, breastfeeding is more than a personal choice; it’s a cherished tradition and a public health priority.

So you just popped out a whole human, your uterus is doing the cha-cha back to size, your boobs are leaking like faulty paip Jabatan Air Sabah, and you’re bleeding more than a horror movie finale. But wait — here comes aunty, uncle, and their three uninvited children to "tengok baby."

In Malaysia’s cities and towns, expectant mothers can usually rely on regular clinics and hospitals. But in remote regions like interior Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan, pregnancy and delivery can be a struggle against geography, poverty and understaffed clinics. 

In multicultural Malaysia, traditional pregnancy and postpartum practices are deeply influenced by the concepts of “hot” and “cold” foods in each major ethnic community – Malay, Chinese, and Indian.

Your newborn may be small, but make no mistake: this little creature just flipped your entire world upside down with nothing more than a cry and a full diaper. Welcome to the fourth trimester, a.k.a. baby bootcamp, where sleep is mythical, laundry is endless, and your new superpower is catching vomit mid-air.