By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: Long before a baby’s first cry fills a home, parenthood begins with questions — how to prepare for childbirth, how to hold a newborn, and how to care for a small life whose arrival will change everything.

Those hopes and uncertainties lay at the heart of the Mega Parenthood Workshop 2026 today, as Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau and Columbia Asia Hospital Iskandar Puteri brought families together to prepare for one of life’s most profound responsibilities.

The joint initiative earned Malaysia Book of Records recognition for the Most Participants in a Prenatal Workshop with a record number of 550, marking a milestone in the hospitals’ efforts to make professional guidance more accessible to parents and parents-to-be.

Beyond the record was a deeply human purpose: helping families approach the arrival of a child with greater understanding, steadier confidence and the reassurance that support is within reach.

Held in conjunction with Columbia Asia’s 30th anniversary and co-organised with MommyDaddy&i, the workshop combined medical knowledge with practical lessons for the tender, demanding days that surround a birth.

For expectant parents, the distance between anticipation and anxiety can be narrow. The joy of imagining a child’s arrival often sits alongside concerns about labour, feeding, recovery and recognising when a newborn needs medical attention.

The programme addressed these concerns through educational talks, interactive discussions and demonstrations led by experienced healthcare professionals, giving participants opportunities to ask questions and learn skills they would soon need at home.

Hosting the event was Dr Malar Shanti, whose warmth and enthusiasm helped guide participants through a programme spanning pregnancy, childbirth and the adjustment to life with a newborn.

A central feature was the parenthood dialogue, “From Tests to Tides: Pregnancy to Postpartum”, moderated by Dr Malar.

Consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists Dr Suresh Subramaniam, Dr Eliza Mohd Noor and Dr Woon Shu Yuan shared insights into pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The discussion extended the focus beyond the delivery room to the period after childbirth, when a mother’s recovery unfolds alongside the unfamiliar rhythms of caring for a baby.

Other sessions covered pregnancy and birth preparation, neonatal jaundice, newborn essentials and breastfeeding techniques. Baby-bathing demonstrations and prenatal physiotherapy added a practical dimension, translating professional advice into lessons participants could carry into daily life.

These are seemingly ordinary tasks that acquire extraordinary significance when a child first comes home. A bath, a feed or a concern about jaundice can leave new parents searching for reassurance; the workshop sought to give them a firmer foundation from which to begin.

Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau chief executive officer Dr James Chong said the anniversary provided an opportunity to strengthen the organisation’s contribution beyond its healthcare services.

“As Columbia Asia celebrates 30 years of serving the community, we are proud to commemorate this occasion through an initiative that extends our impact beyond healthcare services,” he said.

“Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience, and we believe every parent deserves access to the right knowledge, guidance and support throughout this journey.”

Chong said the workshop was intended to help parents and parents-to-be approach their new responsibilities with greater confidence.

The record recognition, he added, gave the occasion particular significance while reinforcing the purpose behind the gathering.

“Beyond the achievement itself, it represents our shared commitment to promoting prenatal education, encouraging healthier beginnings and making a positive difference in the lives of families.”

The event culminated in the Malaysia Book of Records award presentation and a signing ceremony, formally recognising the joint achievement.

Participants also received gifts and had opportunities to win grand prizes, while collaborating organisations were acknowledged for their contributions to the programme.

The workshop was supported by Tourism Johor and event partners including GK Bio International Sdn Bhd, Care Luxury & Resorts Sdn Bhd, CryoCord Sdn Bhd, Chicco Malaysia, Joie Malaysia, Watsons Personal Care Stores Sdn Bhd, MOG Eyewear and Applecrumby Malaysia.

Both hospitals expressed appreciation to the participating families, healthcare professionals and partners whose involvement made the initiative possible.

As Columbia Asia marked three decades of service, the gathering placed the beginnings of family life at the centre of its community outreach — a reminder that care also begins in the questions asked before a child is born.

The record will stand as a measure of how many came together. The workshop’s deeper promise lies in what families take home: knowledge to guide an uncertain moment, confidence for an unfamiliar task, and reassurance as they prepare to welcome a child. Before the first cry, there is already a need for care — for the parents learning how to answer it.