7 Easy Steps To Purchase Your Customised Ikea Kitchen Cabinet: From Planing to Installing!

Image Source: Ikea Malaysia

Are you giving your kitchen a facelift or simply moving in a new place? Ikea Kitchen cabinet is one of the most affordable choice of all but to most people it can be really troublesome because you don't have a contractor coming to your house and putting all the available catalogs on your face for you to choose from.

I have going back and forth for more than 5 times (Both Cheras and Damansara outlets) just to get the right design that can fit into my kitchen perfectly which I can actually get everything done in just 1 visit. I am going to simplified process by providing you a simple step to step guide. 

1. Measure your kitchen space

Get a measuring tape and start measuring. Do not leave out the windows and the pipe area. You will need this to decide on where should your sink be at and the position of the wall cabinet. 

2. Design it (roughly)

Use a piece of paper if you are not tech savvy. If you are good at computers, jump into the Ikea Kitchen Planner section and start designing it. 

3. Budget it (roughly)

Go to the Ikea website and look at the table top choices, door choices and etc. 

4. Make an appointment

Make an appointment at the ikea website and be on time because the there are a lot of people in line.

5. Talk to the consultant

Finally, visiting Ikea. Tell them what you need and who them your plan (on a paper or simply the file you made at ikea website). Have a look at the material you choose and have a feel of it, make any changes you need if you don't feel right.

6. Purchase it

The consultant will print a bill for you to make the purchase at the counter. After purchasing, collect it at the collection area!

7. Install it

Installation can be DIY or by paying a certain amount to Ikea for their contractor to install it!

Yes, it is this simple! I hope this article helps you on saving time!

Epidural Injection For Labor: Personal Experience

Do you really need epidural and what are the side effects of having one? If you are going for a C-section, I would say that you basically don’t have a choice but to get it as you will need it to numb the lower part of your body during the operation. However, for the mommies who choose to go for the natural way, do you really need it?


Speaking from experience, I was given 3 choices when I deliver Baby E. I went with Epidural because the nurse told me it will wear off 80% of the pain. However, it my case it was 100% no pain after injecting the epidural.

I did some research and asked around about the epidural injection, is it painful and what are the side effects. I thought I will share my experience so that you can have a better understanding. I am not a doctor or any medical advisor, and please be noted everyone is different so the decision is on you.

During the injection 

The anaesthesiologist will asked you to curve your body to a C shape (I was being told, people who are more flexible will hurt less) while he inject first an anaesthetic to numb the area around the part of spinal cord that he will inject the epidural later. Then, he will inject the epidural to your spinal cord. To me, the entire procedure was painless. I heard people said they can feel it when the epidural hits the spinal cord but to be frank, I felt very minimal of it. It was less than an ant bite.

After the injection 

The medical team will have you drip on an anaesthetic to prolong the epidural effect until you have delivery the baby then they will remove it. Downside Some mommies might have difficulties to push the baby out because you can’t feel anything. For me my pushes was quite successful the only complication was Baby E came out facing up.

Side effects 

There are a lot written online but I am just going to share mine with you. You will shiver like mad right after childbirth and feeling really cold and sleepy. Some people feeling like puking but it did not happened on me. I felt extremely sleepy and cold, then I passed out. After I am awake, I fainted in the washroom twice. I was told the reason I fainted because I have not been eating for more than 12 hours.

Will I take it again? 

Most likely yes! Contraction hurts like mad and the epidural did helps a lot on it. I cannot imagine if I gave birth without it. I might already kill myself during the process of delivery. Yes, I had a 0 pain delivery for Baby E and thank god about it.

My Advise 

Be ready and curve well during the injection. No matter what, do not move during the injection or the needle might break (This is serious). Be noted, you might have difficulty to push because you can’t feel anything. Just tell yourself, push hard and trust the medical team. Trust is very important because worrying will make you feel stress. Believe that everyone is doing their best, is your baby they are dealing with, a new life. There is no reason for them to not be serious about it.


Good luck!

Subscribe to our mailing list

Becoming a Mother: I almost killed my baby

I have shared my experience to many people and I would like to share this again because it is just an amazing journey!

When We Found Out

We never expect to have a baby this soon. It wasn't plan at all. I realised I was pregnant and we went to the gynaecologist on the next day. After consulting the gynaecologist, I am confirmed with 2 weeks pregnancy. It was a surprise and both my husband and I weren't ready at all yet we decided to keep the baby and we never regret it.

During Pregnancy

Everything seems normal during my checkup until on my 7th month. There was this one day I realised baby movement has slowed down. I rushed to the hospital and I was informed that the umbilical cord is around Baby E's neck. The doctor did asked if I would consider a C-section as it might be dangerous. At that moment I have decided to go for a C-section but if contraction comes earlier I would try on natural. It was a terrifying news, I started to monitor his movement everyday and getting really stressed up about it.

I rushed to the hospital a few times when I thought his movement slow down but it was all okay. Perhaps, I was too stressed up about it. I started my maternity leave slightly earlier because I can't take the stress at work while I need to work and also keep count on my baby's movement.

The Day!

Morning
The first day I started my maternity leave, I felt contraction in the morning. A very mild pain at my hips area and my husband sent me to the hospital. It was confirmed that it is a real contraction. I clearly remember it was 9.30am.

Afternoon
My gynaecologist broke my water when he saw me and told me it was opening at 3cm. The nurse advised me to take a shower and clean myself, so I did (Yes, I washed my hair). After that, I was asked if I would like to have any epidural injection and without hesitation I said yes because the contraction was getting more painful each time. The anaesthesiologist did the injection around 1.00pm and it of cause immediately numbed my legs and hips. After the injection, I was very relax because the pain went off almost immediately.

Evening
The gynaecologist came in to check again but it was still at 3cm. He was a little worried as baby heartbeat slowed down for a little while and it got back to normal. He told the nurse to monitor closely and I was being asked again would I like to consider a C-section. That moment both my husband and me decided not to and stick to natural.

Night
Baby heartbeat slowed down to a dangerous level and luckily I am all ready at the opening of 10cm for delivery. However, due to the heartbeat slowed down, I was asked to signed some document because it is a very dangerous situation. It was all planned to vacuum Baby E out. During the first pushed without even using the vacuum, I heard Baby E crying! But he went back in for some reason and I didn't know! I thought he was out. I was being asked to push again and the doctor vacuumed his head but failed! Baby E came out in a wrong position, he was facing up.

I was asked to have a last push otherwise very likely Baby E will die inside me. I pushed really hard and the doctor forcep Baby E out!

After delivery

He was purple, crazy purple and full of blood. I was very worried looking at him but I passed out. When I am awake after 2 hours or so, I shivered badly due to the side effect of the epidural. The doctor explained the situation to me and told me he did a Episiotomy before the last push and it might hurt bad after the epidural is over. Yes, it did hurt very badly on the second and third day! Crazily painful!

Did I missed something? Pain during delivery?

If you realised I didn't mention about pain during delivery. Due to the epidural, I don't feel any pain at all. Not even a little and I am not lying. You may find the article here on my thought of epidural, it is my honest opinion about it.

Regrets

I should have choose an emergency C-section when I was informed his heartbeat went down. If the last push didn't work, I will kill Baby E simply by making the wrong decision. The next time if something like this happened again, C-section without question.


I hope my experience sharing helps some soon to be mama to understand the process a little more. When I was pregnant, I was looking out for articles and stories like this to have a better understanding to avoid sudden panic during delivery.


To all soon to be mommies, good luck!

Subscribe to our mailing list