Peh learns to change diapers
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 31, 2015 5:00 PMByGwendolyn Ng
Singapore actress and mother-to-be Joanne Peh, 31, is already checking out YouTube videos for tips on diaper changing.
"These videos teach you how to not get squirted all over if it's a boy when changing diapers. I'm very blessed to be a mother in this era where there's a wealth of information available," says Peh, who will also be consulting her mummy friends for advice.
Peh and her actor husband Qi Yuwu made public the news of the pregnancy through a statement issued by MediaCorp on Wednesday.
Her bliss was palpable when she spoke to Life! over the telephone yesterday and one can imagine her joy when she called Qi with the good news last month.
The celebrity couple may still be in the honeymoon period of their four-month marriage, but Peh is more than happy to welcome an addition to the family.
Qi, 37, says in a separate telephone interview he is still digesting the news.
He says: "Changing diapers shouldn't be too difficult. It's just a matter of learning how to do it. I've done it for my roles. Honestly, I think the challenging part of parenting is the mentality, where one has to be responsible for the kid."
He says: "Just like our marriage, one can never be fully prepared for life events. We will learn and improve along the way. I'm still learning how to be a husband."
On raising their first-born, both talk about the importance of values and character. They believe in letting their child enjoy his or her childhood and not stressing him out over academic excellence.
She already has some hands-on experience with Qi's seven-year-old nephew in his hometown of Guangzhou in China. Peh, who loves to read, buys the boy building blocks and reads him stories to develop a love of reading in him.
Qi, who says they will be heading to Guangzhou next week to spend Chinese New Year there, says: "She has an affinity with kids. She's really good with my older brother's son. I think Joanne will be a good mother."
They are working out where Peh will give birth, but it is likely to be in Singapore.
She wrapped up filming for historical film 1965 earlier this month and will not be taking up any acting projects for now. She may make the occasional variety show appearance, but will focus on her work as an ambassador to promote the arts with the National Gallery Singapore.
The jubilee baby - this year is Singapore's 50th birthday - is expected to arrive in July or August.
"The baby is really special regardless of whether it's a Jubilee baby or not. It's such a blessing. It's hard to articulate. A lot of mums will tell you, you can't express in words how you feel," says Peh, who is planning a natural birth.
She hopes her baby will inherit qualities from her and Qi. "I hope our baby will have our playful personalities, as well as his romantic personality and, hopefully, my analytical and organisational skills."
So do they prefer a boy or a girl? And how many kids do they plan to have?
Peh says in jest: "As long as the baby is healthy, we will let nature take its course. This is not like buying a mobile phone where I can choose a silver 16GB."
nggwen@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 30, 2015.
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