Infant Massage

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.

Also, premature and low birth weight babies are often placed in incubators, open beds, attached to numerous monitors that interfere with them being touch as often as full term babies.

The University of Miami's Touch Research Institute has reported for over twenty years the benefits associated with infant massages. It increases the baby's resistance to infection by stimulating the immune system. Also, massaged babies experience an accelerated weight gain.

Massage also raises oxytocin levels, a hormone that possess pain relieving abilities and a calming effect.

A review of 14 randomized research studies involving premature and or low birth weight babies was conducted.

The review included studies in which a control group of babies that did not receive massage. The were compared to the babies who did. The babies, in most of the studies were massaged for about 15 minutes, three or four times a day, for five or ten days. The studies determined that that babies receiving massage experienced more weight gain (about 5 grams), were discharged from the hospital faster, had slightly better developmental test scores and experienced fewer complications. Massage did not have any negative effects. While it is a time consuming process for nurses to provide, parents can perform it without extensive training.

Benefits for Babies:

*Enhances 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

*Facilitates weight gain in preterm infants

* Lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone

*Improves muscle tone

*Improves sleep and awake patterns

*Earlier hospital discharge

* Improves cognitive and motor development at eight months of age

*Infant massage is a cost effective 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 infant and caregiver

* Helps parents feel more confident and competent 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

* Provides parents with one-on-one quiet time or interactive play with their children

* Creates a regular time of infancy between child and parent

* Increases parents' self-esteem by reinforcing and enhancing their skills as parents, and validates their role

* Gives parents the tools for understanding their child's unique behavior and patterns

* Teaches parents how to read their infants' cues and recognize their states of awareness

Gives parents a precious way to interact with their children who may be hospitalized. It helps parents to feel a greater part 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 family health, then visit Dr. Elaine Ferguson's site on how to choose the best infant massage for your needs.