What gifts would you prefer to receive from friends when you just gave birth? I would rather people not come with any because I got boxes of Chicken Essence, Milo, DOM which I rarely take at all and end up having to find place to keep them.

Cash or vouchers would be best. I don't think it's rude to tell them no to get items for your child. Though we Asians do not have a habit of coming up with a registry to let people pick what they are willing to purchase for the kid. It's all right to tell them that getting eg. grocery vouchers would be put to better use rather than getting chicken essence etc. just be frank with them. There's no prob with it.