PAPA

Drinking in early pregnancy tied to cleft lip
September 30, 2008 (Tuesday)

Women who binge drink in the first three months of pregnancy have an increased risk of having infants with cleft lip and cleft palate, according to findings in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"Some evidence exists that women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are more likely than nondrinkers to have infants with facial clefts," Dr. Lisa A. DeRoo and colleagues write, "but summarizing previous findings is hampered by different categories of drinks and time points of reference across studies."

DeRoo, with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues investigated this topic in a study involving infants with oral clefts born between 1996 and 2001 in Norway. A total of 377 infants with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, 196 with cleft palate only, and 763 unaffected subjects were included in the study.

Mothers completed questionnaires within a few months after delivery regarding alcohol use during the first trimester.

Compared with non-drinkers, women who drank at least five drinks per occasion had more than a two-fold risk of having an infant with cleft lip or palate. For women who drank this amount on three or more occasions, the risk of a cleft defect tripled.

The researchers conclude: "These data on possible further (harmful birth) effects of alcohol reinforce the public health message that women should not drink alcohol during pregnancy." Source from Chinadaily.com.cn

My FM DJ Jack Lim Welcomes Baby Boy
September 29, 2008 (Monday)

Popular My FM DJ Jack Lim and his wife Veronica Ong have become parents for the first time after having a baby boy.

The baby was born last Friday and weighted 3.61kg, according to the visual image source from another My FM DJ Vivian's blog. Click here to see more photos & video clip.

Melamine found in cheese packets. M'sia to Taiwan?
September 27, 2008 (Saturday)

Wu Yu-ping, an executive with Taiwan's Pizza Hut, displays a pack of melamine-tainted cheese powder that is offered at the pizzeria chain's takeouts (CNA)

Last night, after watching Taiwan news on Astro, out of concern, my father-in-law immediately called & advise us not to allow our Coo Coos to consume any dairy products in our country now that the news about melamine product contamination are connected to a Malaysian company. Here is a piece of news that I've found on the net:

Pizza Hut Taiwan on Friday began an investigation into melamine found in its cheese packets after tests showed a high level of the chemical.

The packets were recalled after tests showed they contained melamine concentrations of 70 parts per million, spokeswoman Wu Yu-ping said at a news conference. Such a reading is 28 times higher than Taiwan's safety threshold

Pizza Hut Taiwan was informed of the test result late Thursday, and the supplier, Pick Food and Machinery Corp, halted production of the cheese packets supplied only to Pizza Hut.

Pick Food said the creamer and cheese powder for making the cheese packets for the 145 Pizza Hut outlets in Taiwan were supplied by Fonterra Brands Pte Ltd and the Persnam Corp.

Fonterra said its cheese powder came from New Zealand and was cleared of melamine by tests in Taiwan.

Persnam Corp said its creamer was supplied by Eonlipids SDN BHD of Malaysia and it has asked the Malaysian supplier to provide safety information.

Anyway, it's not concluded anything yet as the company is still waiting for tests results that will determine which ingredients were contaminated. Well, I wonder possible for us to skip every dairy products altogether?

China Footprint in Space
September 26, 2008 (Friday)

REUTERS/Xinhua/Li Gang

China's third manned space mission blasted off from a remote desert site yesterday with Shenzhou VII at the Jiuquan launch centre in the northwestern province of Gansu carrying three astronauts on a mission that will include the nation's first ever space walk.

It is China's third manned space venture since October 2003, when it joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to have sent astronauts into space.

After hosting the successful Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics last month, I'm very proud of China especially after watching Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivering a speech at the United Nations high-level meeting on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York via CCTV channel last night. He urged the international community, especially developed nations, to speed up intensive efforts to realize the MDGs. I'm impressed with his humble and committed firm speech & here is the several excerpts:

"China, the most populous country in the world, has accelerated development mainly through its own efforts and through reform and opening-up since 1978, and has brought down the number of people in absolute poverty from 250 million to 15 million in less than 30 years"

"The nation's free compulsory education, medical care for 800 million farmers, and governance at various levels have all witnessed substantial progress"

"Though not rich, China has honored its commitments to the Millennium Declaration and done what it can to help some least developed countries.

By the end of June 2008, China had written off 24.7 billion RMB(3.63 billion U.S. dollars) in debts owed by 49 heavily indebted poor countries and least developed countries in Asia and Africa. It has also provided 206.5 billion RMB (30.37 billion dollars) in various forms of assistance to such countries, of which 90.8 billion RMB (13.35 billion dollars) is free aid"   

Ah, China pasti boleh!

Naomi Watts shows off her burgeoning belly
September 25, 2008 (Thursday)

Checking, checking for milk with melamine contamination
September 24, 2008 (Wednesday)

Products in M'sia used milk/whey powder from the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and US
September 23, 2008 (Tuesday)

I wonder whether our government conducts spot check inspections on our local daily products now that email and sms are already spreading like wildfires about numerous products are found with banned ingredients as well, phew!  

Pickup story from The Star. Major supermarket chains are in the midst of checking their inventories to remove products which may contain milk ingredients from China.

However, they have not received any instruction from the Health Ministry regarding the widened ban on confectionery with milk, chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate which contain milk from China.

Tesco’s corporate and legal affairs director Azlam Shah Alias said: “Our technical team is checking our inventory now. If a product is found to have any of the banned ingredient, we will take it off the shelves.”

Carrefour will also adhere to directives sent by the ministry, said its public relations director Raf Adiba Radzi.

“But we have yet to receive one from the ministry,” she said, adding that the ministry had given general directives like this in the past but “not necessarily for milk products”.

On Friday, Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) advised consumers to avoid buying “White Rabbit Creamy Candy”, “Yili Brand Fruit Bar Yogurt” flavoured ice confectionery and “Dutch Lady” strawberry-flavoured milk after they were found to contain melamine.

Retailers and importers were also ordered to not sell milk, ice-cream, yoghurt, confections like chocolates, biscuits and sweets containing milk from China.

Unilever (Malaysia) Holdings, Dutch Lady and Nestle have all released statements saying that their products in Malaysia used milk or whey powder from the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Local firm Hai-O was surprised that the “Monmilk” brand under Mengniu would also be banned, adding that it had just signed a distribution deal with the Chinese firm.

“We are very surprised. Mengniu is supposed to be one of the top firms in China, with stringent quality controls,” said a Hai-O representative.

Babies' best bet is breast
September 20, 2008 (Saturday)

Now that the milk scandal in China spread to other brands and not just confine to Sanlu and liquid milk as well, what else is the best bet for babies here? The answer is surely breast milk when it comes to nutrition.

We're pretty lucky as Malaysia only imports daily products from Australia and New Zealand. Here is the latest news about the scandal from Reuters.

China ordered widespread checks on dairy products and a recall of tainted items as a milk scandal that began with powdered baby formula spread to liquid milk and sparked an outcry from China's trading partners.

The State Council, or cabinet, also called on medical authorities to give free examinations and treatment to infants who fell ill after drinking milk contaminated with potentially deadly melamine, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The council vowed to punish enterprises and government leaders responsible for the scandal.

"Local authorities should rectify the dairy industry so as to bring a fundamental change to the dairy market and products," Xinhua quoted the council as saying.

Panicked parents have crowded hospitals and demanded redress since officials and the Sanlu Group, China's biggest maker of infant milk powder, said last week that babies developed kidney stones and complications after drinking milk made from powder contaminated with melamine, a compound used in making plastics.

At the latest count, 6,244 children have become ill. Four have died and 158 are suffering acute kidney failure.

A government food quality watchdog in China has said nearly 10 percent of milk and drinking yoghurt samples from three major dairy companies contained melamine.

The nitrogen-rich compound can be added to watered-down milk to get past quality inspections, which check for nitrogen to measure protein levels. Read more

Mark Wahlberg Welcomes Baby Boy
September 20, 2008 (Saturday)

Mathew Imaging/Filmmagic.com

Mark Wahlberg and his fiancee Rhea Durham welcomed their third child, a boy, Tuesday in Los Angeles, Usmagazine.com exclusively reports.

A name was not immediately available.

Though the longtime couple already have a 4-year-old daughter, Ella, and a 2-year-old son, Michael, Wahlberg only proposed to Durham recently.

"We continue to grow in our relationship, and we have a much better chance of succeeding and staying together now," he told Us.

"I was not prepared to be married, no matter who it was when I was 20 or 30," the 37-year-old actor added. "Committing to making it work and all the other things that go into building a solid foundation is where I'm at now."

And while Wahlberg and Durham are thrilled about the expansion of their family, daughter Ella "was extremely disappointed when she found out that we were having a boy — she wanted a little sister," the actor previously told Us.

"She already had all these plans of dressing a little sister up in clothes," he said. "But I told her, 'Honey, that means you’ll be more spoiled than the boys.' She goes, 'Oh, daddy, I didn’t think of that!'". Source from US Magazine

Stopping imports of tainted milk from China
September 19, 2008 (Friday)

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said that through this mechanism, all incoming dairy products from China at six checkpoints throughout Malaysia would be stopped immediately and returned.

“In Malaysia we have six entry checkpoints and all these entry points are on high alert ... any product of this nature coming in through these checkpoints will be stopped immediately and be returned -- it is called ‘level six alert’ at these entry points.

“We would like to inform the public that Malaysia only imports dairy products from Australia and New Zealand. We do not import from China.

“Nevertheless, we are still imposing the level six checks to stop the entry of any of these products into the country,” he told reporters after closing the Asia-Pacific Health Minister’s Conference On Climate Change and Health here on Friday.

Liow said the government would stop imposing the mechanism after China resolved the contamination of its dairy products. Apart from imposing the mechanism, the government was also issuing alerts to all the hospitals and doctors to be wary of the effect of dairy products which contained melamine, he said.

Jennifer Lopez's Sister Has Baby Girl
September 19, 2008 (Friday)

Her sister Lynda has given birth to a baby girl, her rep tells Usmagazine.com.

The news anchor and her beau Adam Goldfried welcomed Lucie Wren Lopez Goldfried at 11:45 p.m. on August 28.

"Mother, father and baby are doing great," her rep tells Us.

Lynda -- who helped her older sister Jennifer celebrate her recent success running a triathlon -- first showed off her bump at the Christian Dior Cruise 2009 Collection fashion show in NYC on May 12.

No doubt Jennifer -- who welcomed twins Max and Emme in February with Marc Anthony -- will love doting on the little one.

Of motherhood, she recently told Elle: "This is the first time in my life where I'm just going to be a little bit selfish. I don't know if I'm going to have kids again, so I want it to be a beautiful experience. I don't want to have any drama. I want to just be smiling every day." Source from Usmagazine.com

Baby formula milk sold in country is safe
September 18, 2008 (Thursday)

Pickup story from The Star. Baby formula milk sold in the country is safe, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said.

“Parents need not be worried about milk powder contaminated with melamine as is the case in China because Malaysia does not import baby formula milk from China,” he told reporters after meeting Kelantan MCA members here yesterday.

According to reports, three infants have died and more than six thousand have fallen sick after after consuming milk contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical used to make plastic cups and saucers.

Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya, Fonterra Brands Malaysia assured customers that its milk products in Malaysia were safe.

In a statement, company general manager John McKay said consumers could buy its Anmum, Fernleaf, Anlene, Chesdale and Anchor brands with absolute confidence.

“The issue relating to the safety of China milk powder products is confined to products made from China-sourced raw milk sold by Sanlu in mainland China.”

McKay said none of the batch in question was exported out of China, adding that the recall for Anmum Maternan in China only applied to one batch manufactured and distributed only in China.

The statement said Fonterra was a minority 43% shareholder in Sanlu and did not export China-made milk products.

Three die in China baby powder scandal, thousands sick
September 17, 2008 (Wednesday)

REUTERS/Jianan Yu

Pickup story from Reuters. China said on Wednesday a third infant had died from drinking milk contaminated with toxic melamine and 6,244 infants were sick as four officials were sacked amid a widening scandal.

The number of infants diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158, Health Minister Chen Zhu told a news conference carried live on state television.

Four city officials and a company boss have been sacked in the health scare which has seen thousands of parents in southern China flood into Hong Kong to buy foreign-made milk powder.

China has been beset by scandals about toxic and unsafe food and other products in recent years. In 2004, at least 13 babies died after drinking fake milk powder that had no nutritional value.

Facing alarm at the latest food safety scandal, the government sacked four officials in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province in north China and base of the Sanlu Group, the dairy company first linked to the toxic milk.

The sackings included the vice mayor in charge of agriculture, Zhang Fawang, and the director of the city's food and drug watchdog, Zhang Yi, as well as chief officials for animal husbandry and quality inspection.

The chairwoman and general manager of Sanlu, Tian Wenhua, was also dismissed from what has been China's biggest seller of infant milk powder.

But with other big dairy companies found to have also used milk carrying melamine, the widespread anger over the poisonings may be far from dying down.

The results of a government-led probe announced on Tuesday showed that out of 109 dairy producers checked, 22 had been found to have produced batches of milk contaminated with the compound.

Happy Malaysia Day!
September 16, 2008 (Tuesday)

Kelana Jaya, 15th September 2008: Hand In Hand, they snub their noses at racial politics. Credit: TV Smith

CooCooMamaPapa wishes all Malaysians a Happy Malaysia Day.

Baby Sling making a bold fashion statement nowadays
September 15, 2008 (Monday)

Credit: Xposure/Ramey

Nicole Kidman gives daughter Sunday Rose, 2 months, a tour of London while shopping along the city's Portobello Road on Friday. And the actress has happily taken her daughter on outings. Source

Check out how does the Malaysian fare in this MummyHugs Baby Sling Fashion Show... 

China probes all milk powder in baby health scare
September 13, 2008 (Saturday)

China has launched a nationwide probe into all baby milk powders after a contaminant linked to the deaths and illness of thousands of pets in the United States last year was found in one brand of formula.

Chinese authorities this week were investigating whether tainted formula lead to the death of one infant and caused kidney stones in dozens of others, reviving memories of a fake formula scandal four years ago in which at least 13 babies died.

One baby died in northwestern Gansu province from kidney stones, a rare complaint in infants, and more than 50 others had developed kidney stones there and in other provinces this year.

Investigations showed that most of the babies had drunk Sanlu-brand formula, state media said.

The Sanlu Group, a Hebei province-based dairy producer partly owned by New Zealand dairy export giant Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd., issued an immediate recall of milk formula made before Aug. 6, saying about 700 tonnes of melamine-contaminated powder were in circulation, Xinhua said on Friday. Calls to the company went unanswered.

Melamine, which is used as an ingredient in plastics, fertilizers and cleaning products, was "highly suspected" to have contaminated batches of Sanlu-brand milk formula, China's Ministry of Health said late on Thursday.

Melamine has been used by Chinese suppliers of animal feed components to artificially bolster its apparent protein content.

Veterinarians linked it to the formation of kidney stones and kidney failure in thousands of deaths and illnesses in pets in the United States last year.

China's quality watchdog, the Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), had launched a probe into all baby milk producers, Xinhua said.

"The results (of the investigation) will be announced to the public in a timely manner," AQSIQ said in a statement on its website.

SEVERELY PUNISHED

China's Health Ministry pledged to punish those responsible.

"(Authorities) in collaboration with local governments will determine the cause and the responsibility and severely punish those responsible," the ministry said.

The World Health Organisation said it was in close consultation with Chinese health authorities.

"We are monitoring the situation in China and for potential wider implications for other countries," WHO China representative Hans Troedsson told Reuters in an emailed statement.

It was unclear whether any of the problem formula had been exported.

The United States' Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Thursday not to buy or use baby formula from China, which is banned in the United States.

The health scare broke after Xinhua quoted doctors at a hospital in China's northwestern Gansu province as saying that "fake milk powder" from one brand could have been responsible for kidney stones developing in 14 patients, all under 11 months.

Dozens of other cases of babies developing kidney stones had emerged at other hospitals in Gansu and in at least six other provinces.

Kidney stones are small, solid masses that form when salts or minerals normally found in urine crystallise inside the kidney.

If they become large enough, they can move out of the kidney, cause infection and lead to permanent kidney damage.

In 2004, at least 13 babies in eastern Anhui province died after drinking fake milk powder that investigators later found had no nutritional value, a scandal that rocked the country and triggered widespread investigations into food and health safety.

China is the world's second-biggest market for baby milk powder. Source from Reuters

Curtis Jr. Has Arrived!
September 12, 2008 (Friday)

Usher, Tameka Foster Expecting a Baby
September 10, 2008 (Wednesday)

Photo by: Frank Micelotta / Getty

Usher is going to be a father for the second time, PEOPLE has learned.

The R&B star and his wife Tameka Foster are expecting their second child together, a source close to the singer confirms.

The couple welcomed their first child, Usher Raymond V, in November 2007. Since then, Usher, 29, has spoken publicly about how much he loves being a dad. "I'm so proud to be a father by the time I'm 30," he told PEOPLE last month. "I'd hate to be 80 years old and not be able to run with my kids. I need to still be able to do flips when they're in high school!

Usher also told Essence in a July interview that his son, nicknamed Cinco, is an "extension of his union" with Foster, whom he married in August 2007.

Recently, Foster was spotted wearing a belly-disguising outfit during Usher's Sept. 4 NFL kick-off concert in New York. The dress was "very deceiving," the source says. "You couldn't tell she was pregnant when she was sitting down."

The singer has also been busy with his charity, the New Look foundation, and a summer camp he ran for teenagers. In August, Usher told PEOPLE that being a father inspired him to give back.

"Having a child just completed the story," he said. "I already had a giving heart, and I wanted to do something to mentor children."

Usher's rep could not be reached for comment.

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the news of the pregnancy.  Source from People

Minnie Driver Welcomes a Son!
September 09, 2008 (Tuesday)

Photo by: ER / Flynet

Minnie Driver became a first-time mom to son Henry Story Driver, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

The baby was born Friday in Los Angeles and weighed 9 lbs., 12 oz., rep Jessica Kolstad says.

Driver, 38, who has not revealed the identity of the father, told PEOPLE in June that the dad will be involved in the baby's life.

"He's going to be a dad so yeah he's going to be there for the kid," she said. "I'm not getting married to this person and I don't know what's going to happen but everyone is cool about the situation."

As the new mom takes on her most important role yet, Driver says she is looking forward to simply observing and spending time with her child. "Babies are endlessly fascinating to look at and I'm obsessed about their complete and utter lack of guile. I'm looking forward to seeing life through the eyes of my own kid."

She also says she plans on spending lots of time hanging out at the beach with her child. "I love the ocean and this baby will probably be surfing and swimming before it can walk." Source from People

Heidi Klum Says She, Seal Are "Hands-On" Parents
September 08, 2008 (Monday)

Splash News

It's no secret that Heidi Klum and Seal have help in caring for their three children -- Leni, 4, Henry, turning 3 this week, and Johan, 21 ½-months -- for the couple are often photographed out and about with their nannies. In a new interview with Parade, however, Heidi is quick to point out that the couple are "very hands-on with the children" and handle most of the everyday parenting responsibilities themselves. Whether it's cooking, shuttling the kids to and fro, or potty-training, Heidi says that she and Seal have it covered. "We drive them to school every morning. Leni is ... in preschool. Henry has to be potty-trained before they take him in pre-K, and Johan’s turn comes next," Heidi explains. In any event, anyone needing confirmation of their dedication to the kids need look no further than the couple's California home!

"We have a colorful and beautiful backyard with toys all over the place and a pool full of toys and a tennis court covered with tennis balls."

Heidi, 35, and Seal, 45, were married in 2005. Source

Liv Tyler and Milo Live Like Gypsies
September 06, 2008 (Saturday)

INF

The life of an actress has taken Liv Tyler around the world and back, but she hasn't made the voyage alone. Along for the ride is 3 ½-year-old Milo William, Liv's son with estranged husband Royston Langdon. "As a young baby it's best for him to be close to me," Liv, 31, explains to This Is Bristol. "Of course he is very safe and it's better for us to be together." While the time may come when the arrangement is no longer practical, for now Liv says she wants to spend as much time with Milo as she can "and really listen to him and look him in the eyes and talk to him and make him feel heard." She admits, however, that mother and son "do live a little bit like Gypsies."

"We are home for a few months and then we make a new home in Toronto for three months. [Milo] always says, 'That's mommy's work' when he sees a motor home because he thinks of a movie set. He thinks, let's go play in mommy's trailer and bring some toys and we'll have a ball.'"

No matter what far off location they're currently calling home, "to me the most important thing is that Milo knows that I'm always there," Liv adds. Source from This Is Bristol

Tiger Woods Expecting Baby No. 2
September 03, 2008 (Wednesday)

Nordegren and Woods 
Photo by: David Cannon / Newscom / Getty

Tiger Woods is going to be a daddy for the second time.

"Elin and I are proud to announce that we are expecting our second child in late winter," the golf champ wrote on his official Web site Tuesday.

"This has been a year of contrasts," Woods, 32, began. "I had a solid start to the season, won the U.S. Open in an exciting playoff, and then unfortunately had to shut it down after successful knee surgery."

Continued the athlete: "And now, I have some wonderful news to report. Sam is going to be a big sister."

Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, welcomed Sam Alexis Woods, in June 2007. The couple also revealed photos of the newborn – a week after her birth – on Wood's official site.

"It was a dream come true for both Elin and myself," he said of fatherhood at the time. "I've been changing diapers and doing feedings. I definitely don't sleep now." By Brian Orloff of People

Bare-breasted virgins compete for Swaziland king
September 03, 2008 (Wednesday)

                                         His Majesty King Mswati III

Tens of thousands of bare-breasted virgins competed for Swaziland King Mswati III's eye on Monday in a traditional Reed Dance.

Walking through the dense crowds in a leopard skin loin cloth, Sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch was expected to choose his 14th wife.

Critics say Mswati, who has courted controversy for his lavish lifestyle while two thirds of his subjects live in poverty, sets a bad example by encouraging polygamy and teenage sex in a country where about 40 percent of adults live with HIV.

Some of the women did not seem to mind, hoping to escape from the southern African nation's hardships for the easy life.

"I came here to dance. I wish the king would have chosen me because it's nice at the king's place. The wives live a nice life," said Tenene Dlamini, 16, in a traditional brown skirt.

"Everything is done for them. They don't work. They earn."

The Reed Dance has been a big date on the Swaziland cultural calendar since Mswati began the ceremony in 1999.

But he may not be as relaxed this year among the throngs of young half-naked women.

Political groups seeking democratic reforms have become more active in a country where the opposition has been effectively banned since 1973 by royal decree.

They are critical of plans to hold next weekend's celebrations of the king's 40th birthday in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Swaziland's independence from Britain.

Still, some of Swaziland's women came to the Ludzidzini Royal Village to show their admiration for the monarch.

"I respect the king and I respect my culture," said Nontobeko Sdidlamini, 16, carrying a shield made of animal skin and wearing an orange bracelet which read "Sex Can Wait".

Some said they would not want to be part of a polygamous arrangement with the king and were taking part in the ceremony to prove their virginity. Others fear they lost out.

"My sister is the king's tenth wife. I don't think he can choose me because he has already chosen my sister," said Zandisile Ntentesa, a 21-year-old prison employee.

The king, flanked by bodyguards with pistols and sticks, may face pressure from emboldened critics. But he can take comfort from the wealth which wins him tributes and songs at the reed ceremony.

Last month, Forbes magazine listed him as the 15th-richest monarch in the world. He was the only African on the list.

During the reed festivities, one of the king's wives drove up in a fancy BMW. Policemen told people to look the other way. By Phakamisa Ndzamela of Reuters

4th Parenthood Expo - Photos Review
September 01, 2008 (Monday)

51st Merdeka: Double celebrations as births rule the day
September 01, 2008 (Monday)

Nurses in the maternity ward with the Merdeka babies at Malacca Hospital yesterday.

Pickup story from NST Online. As triumphant cries of Merdeka rang throughout the nation yesterday, hospital maternity wards also reverberated with the cries of Independence day newborns.

Giving new meaning to the term "baby boom", the newborns, who began life amidst, or following, massive celebratory fireworks, were definitely cause for double celebration for their proud parents.

In Kuantan, clerk Norarzeliyanna Zenol, 24, from Felda Lepar Hilir, was in the midst of Merdeka celebrations when she experienced labour pains. Sensing it was good news, her husband, Shahrul Nazri Shahri, 25, rushed her to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital(HTAA) here.

At 6.14am, the couple became proud parents to a 3.1kg baby boy.

Housewife Zuraida Mat, 30, also gave birth to a 3.1kg baby boy. Her son was delivered at 1.41am, making it the first 2008 National Day baby here.

Meanwhile, nurse Leventi anak Rickup, 23, cannot wait to show her husband, an army officer in Mersing, Johor, their Merdeka baby.

Leventi, who moved here from Sarawak eight months ago, gave birth to a 2.9kg baby boy at 2.03am after she was warded on Saturday.

The three were among six National Day babies born at the hospital.

In Kuala Terengganu, Lili Suzana Sulong, 26, of Kampung Batu Rakit, could not stop beaming over her bundle of Merdeka joy.

She had given birth at 2.47am to her firstborn, a 1.74kg girl.

According to the state Health Department director Dr Nordiyanah Hassan, the baby was one of nine girls and 10 boys born in the state as of noon yesterday.

In Jitra, a Siamese couple found themselves marking Malaysia's anniversary with the arrival of their second child.

Customer service executive S. Marati, 25 and mechanic husband C. Chut, 28, welcomed a three kilogramme baby girl at 8.48am yesterday at Mahsuri Medical Centre.

Chut's daughter was among five Merdeka babies born at the medical centre.

In the Klang Valley, boys ruled the maternity wards on Merdeka day.

A total of 37 boys were born in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor between midnight and 5pm yesterday, easily topping the tally of newborn girls, which stood at 17.

And with 21 boys and 7 girls being welcomed at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, it boasted the highest number of Merdeka babies of all hospitals surveyed by the New Straits Times.

In Kota Baru, nine babies were born at Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZII) Hospital and eight were welcomed at Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Hospital between midnight and 9am yesterday.

The 17 Merdeka babies comprised nine boys and eight girls.

A spokesman from HRPZII's labour room said the first baby, a boy, was born at 1am and weighed 3.2kg.

HUSM's spokesman said their first Merdeka baby, a 3.1kg girl, was delivered at 12.38am by a 22-year-old housewife from Limbat.

Malacca saw the arrival of 10 Merdeka baby boys and 7 baby girls at Hospital Malacca as of 1pm yesterday.

The earliest-born baby was a girl, weighing 2.55kg, at 1.55am to proud mum Siti Masita Mohd Sahat, 35, from Kampung Umbai.