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The 3 Most Useful Items for Your NICU Stay

September is NICU Awareness month. Most parents don't receive any warning that a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) stay is imminent. Preemies can be born from 22 weeks to 37 weeks gestation, and sometimes even full term babies may need the neonatal care that only a NICU can provide. Rest assured, mama or daddy. Your little one is in excellent hands. Having a loved one in ICU is always scary and causes worry. When it is your brand new baby, the fear is unimaginable.

When my son arrived early at 30 weeks, I had not even had my baby shower yet. The few things I had picked up were not going to fit his under 3 pound body, and did babies this small even wear clothes yet?

A wonderful friend gave me the gift of a fully-stocked diaper bag the day after my son's birth because we had just had a chat over dinner a few days before about how I had positively no clue what all you put in those giant diaper bags. Needless to say, much of those wonderful things were not quite right yet for my baby who was in an incubator with wires and needing oxygen assistance.

The need for the following items was gleaned from experience and a few very awesome nurses that helped me navigate those first days and weeks while my husband and I experienced our new normal and our new roles as parent, caregiver, and advocate.

1. A pump for breast milk and accessories.

Breast milk is really important for preemies. Many preemie moms have trouble with production, but whatever you can pump they will store for your baby. The hospital where I had my son had hospital grade pumps available for rent, and you could buy your own attachments at their in-hospital store. The NICU also had pumps you could borrow to put by your baby's bedside or a private pumping room nearby. When he was discharged, my husband and I purchased a pump and travel kit for me to use.

2. A small soft side cooler and ice packs.

In addition to pumps available for use (with your own sterile attachments), our NICU gave sterile bottles and labels for me to use with my pump. I would date the milk I pumped at home, freeze it, and then transport it to the NICU for their freezer.

I had some production problems and luckily our NICU also participated in a donor breast milk program, but it felt so good to be able to provide something that could help my baby.

3. Hand lotion.

You will scrub in at a scrub in station every time you enter and leave the NICU, when you touch your baby for Kangaroo care or diaper changing, before and after pumping, if you touch your face, etc. Hospital grade soap and sanitizer made my hands raw. Plus, it was February in Ohio so it was very cold. I found Aveeno lotion to be the best as it had little fragrance and moisturized well without a residue.

Good luck, preemie families. I hope you experience the blessing of a wonderful care team and supportive network of friends and family during your time in the NICU.
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