Before Your Money and Mental Health Are Drained: What Helped Me in the NICU and Tips for Saving Money

Admission to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) often happens suddenly.
I had no time to prepare and no mental space to process it.
However, as time went on, I gradually realized what items were truly helpful and what I wished I had bought sooner.
To all the moms and dads going through the same experience, I hope this helps even a little.

1. Electric Breast Pump

The NICU staff asked me to provide breast milk if possible, so I pumped every day and delivered the frozen milk.
The Medela breast pump was a real lifesaver here.
The suction is consistent, and it puts less strain on the mother's body.
While renting is an option, buying becomes more cost-effective the longer the hospital stay lasts.
That is why I recommend the Medela electric breast pump.

You can just slip it into your nursing bra, and it's easy to use while drying your hair or scrolling on your phone.
Most importantly, by using the 10-level suction settings to find the strongest level that doesn't cause pain, my milk supply clearly increased.

Having 10 minutes of free time during my daily pumping sessions was also crucial for my mental well-being!

I also bought a type with tubes, but it leaked air quickly, so I switched to this model. It costs a bit more, but if you're going to use it for a long time, the tubeless version is definitely recommended!

Breast Milk Storage Bags

This is the one thing I really want to share.
In the NICU, you bring your breast milk to the hospital.
Every day, multiple times.
Without dedicated breast milk storage bags, you can't store or transport it. Major brands like Pigeon or Medela are so expensive that they might end up costing more than formula.
The cheapest ones I found are:

✔️ Milk volume: 100ml or less per session
Nishimatsuya Smart Angel, 100ml, 60 count (16 yen per bag)

✔️ Milk volume: 180ml or less per session

momocozy, 180ml, 120 count (24 yen per bag)

・Pigeon, 160ml, 20 count (50 yen per bag)

Monthly cost comparison(8 pumping sessions per day)
・Pigeon: 12,000 yen
・momocozy: 5,760 yen

That's a difference of 6,240 yen!
When your milk volume is lower, using the Nishimatsuya bags as well can lead to significant savings!

By the way, momocozy is a well-known brand that also makes breast pumps, so I felt safe using them!

Picture Book: "Kira Kira Pika Pika" Series

This is a picture book recommended by a nurse.
Newborns have almost no vision yet.
However, they do react to sharp contrasts between black and white.
This book is designed with patterns that babies at that age are instinctively drawn to.
It's not a book for "reading" a story, but for "feeling" colors and shapes.
I showed it to my baby every time I visited. Even when I wasn't there, the nurses would read it to them.
That alone was a small comfort, and I regretted not buying it sooner.

Wrist Rattle

A staple for developmental support to encourage reactions to sound and movement.
I started using it after a nurse told me, "It's okay to bring this in."
My wife opposed it, saying, "Choose something cuter," but
since it had the black-and-white contrast that is said to be easier for newborns to see,
I insisted on it using my own pocket money.

Mittens

Even with such tiny hands, they can scratch their face.
The NICU staff told me, "It would be helpful to have mittens," so I prepared some.
They are small, but they serve a real purpose.

Bringing your own diapers

If you use the hospital's diapers, they may be added to your expenses.
I recommend checking early in the hospitalization to see if you are allowed to bring your own.
While the selection of newborn and extra-small sizes is limited, being able to provide your own can potentially reduce costs.
Try asking how many they change per day and consider it!

Notebook

This might have been the most unassuming, yet most important thing.
Every day, there are updates from the doctors and nurses.
Information about vitals, future outlooks, and things to watch out for.
Even if you feel like you understand in the moment, you'll have forgotten half of it by the time you're on your way home.
Write down "things I want to ask today" before visiting.
Take notes when the doctor comes by.
Just doing that made me feel much calmer and more prepared to face things.

* Please be sure to check each hospital's rules regarding bringing your own items.
* Amazon links are affiliate links.

I would be happy if you could also share in the comments what items you found useful to purchase ☺️