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Massage is Good for Babies
Premature babies are exposed to many forms of stress while during their stay in intensive care nurseries, such as invasive procedures, blood drawing, bright lights and loud noises. Stress can interfere with their immune system’s functioning and render them more susceptible to infections. Several research studies have demonstrated the positive effects massage therapy has on premature babies. It lowers stress and enhances their immune system’s functioning.
Massage promotes growth and development in premature infants. Prior to birth babies are physically stimulated while in their mother’s wombs.
Because premature and low birth weight babies are usually placed in incubators or open beds and are attached to numerous monitors that interfere with them being touch as often as full term babies are.
The Touch Research Institute has conducted numerous studies that revealed the benefits associated with infant massages. It stimulates the immune system, and increases the baby’s resistance to infection. Also massaged babies gain weight faster.
Oxytocin levels are increased by massage. It is a hormone with pain relieving and calming properties.
A review of 14 randomized research studies involving premature and or low birth weight babies was conducted.
It included studies in which one group of babies did not receive massage and were used in comparison to those who did. In the majority of these studies, the babies were stroked or rubbed for about 15 minutes, three or four times a day, for five or ten days. The studies determined the babies receiving massage gained more weight each day (approximately 5 grams). The massaged babies were discharged earlier from the hospital, had slightly higher developmental test scores and fewer complications. The studies did not determine any negative effects of massage. While it is a time consuming process for nurses to provide, parents can perform it without extensive training.
Massage Benefits:
* Improves weight gain
*Assists the baby with becoming more organized
*Allows the baby to be more alert and interactive with others
* Helps start oral feeding earlier (rather than tube feeding)
*Promotes healthier bones
*Supports infant-parent interaction
*Promotes weight gain in preterm infants
*Lowers cortisol levels, a significant stress hormone
*Increases muscle tone
* Improves sleep and awake patterns
* Shortens lengths of stay in hospitals
*Improves motor and cognitive development at 8 months of age
*Infant massage is an inexpesive tool
* Can be used as part of the developmental care plan of preterm infants
Benefits for Parents and Caregivers
* Provides all of the important ingredients of the parent-infant bonding and attachment: eye-to-eye, touch, smell, movement, voice and temperature regulation.
* Encourages pre-verbal communication between caregiver and infant
*Helps parents feel more competent and confident in caring for their children
* Helps to lower parental stress, if they are working and must be separated from their child for extended periods during the day
* Allows parents interactive play or one-on-one quiet time with their child
* Creates a regular time of intimacy between parent and child
*Elevates parents’ self-esteem by enhancing and reingforcing their skills as parents and validates their role
* Gives parents the tools for understanding their child’s unique rhythms and patterns
* Teaches parents how to read their infant’s cues and recognize their states of awareness
* Gives parents a unique way to interact with their children who may be hospitalized. Helps parents feel a greater parent of the healing process
* Daily massage helps parents to unwind and relax
* Provides a positive way for fathers to interact with their infants/children
Want to find out more about holistic family health, then visit Dr. Elaine Ferguson’s site on how to choose the best infant massage for your needs.
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Filed under massage by on Mar 17th, 2010. 
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