Joanne Peh has picked out name for new baby girl

Local celebrity couple Qi Yuwu and Joanne Peh welcomed a baby girl via natural birth at noon yesterday.

Both mother and daughter are said to be doing well after the delivery at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, two days shy of Singapore's 50th birthday on Sunday.

The couple did not wish to speak to the press yesterday, but in an interview with The New Paper last Tuesday, Qi had admitted he would prefer to have a girl instead of a boy.

He also said they have already decided on their baby's name. Qi came up with the English name while Peh thought of the Chinese name.

Actress Peh, 32, and her China-born actor-husband Qi, 38, got married in a private wedding at Sentosa last September, and announced Peh's pregnancy in January.

Qi said the couple had hired a female videographer to document the birth.

Friends of the celebrity couple expressed joy at the good news.

Celebrity make-up artist Kenneth Lee, who did the make-up for Peh's wedding last year, told TNP: "Congratulations to Joanne and Qi Yuwu! I am so happy for them. Of course I have to give her baby a present, maybe I will give her a red packet."

He added: "I can't wait to see the baby!"

Film-maker Randy Ang, who directed local historical movie 1965 starring both Peh and Qi, said: "I was just with Qi at a radio station doing some promotional events on Thursday evening.

"I already congratulated him then, and I asked him if he was excited, he said yes."

Doting father

Ang, 36, added: "Qi portrayed a doting father in the movie, I believe he has the chops to be one.

"I am happy for them. I might visit the couple when they are more settled down."

Fellow celeb parents also offered advice to the first-time parents.

Local actor Chen Tianwen, 52, who welcomed his baby son in June, said: "It's going to be a tough journey and there will be many things they have to learn from scratch.

"It's a must to have a babysitter at the beginning so that it's not so tiring for the parents.

"They shouldn't buy too many baby clothes as babies grow very fast. My baby was 3.5kg when he was born and he is almost 6kg now. I wish good health to Joanne and her baby."

Local actor Andie Chen, who welcomed first child Aden with wife and television host Kate Pang in June last year, said: "There will be certain sacrifices they have to make.

"For example, Kate cut her workload to half of what she used to do so that she could take care of the baby. We take turns to look after Aden, but our couple time and time with friends will be sacrificed."

The 30-year-old added: "It's always a blessing to have a child in your life. It may be extra hard for celeb couples to have a normal life when they have a child, but I hope Joanne and Qi Yuwu enjoy the ride and live happily ever after."

This article was first published on August 8, 2015.
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