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.
Massage also raises oxytocin levels, a hormone that possess pain relieving abilities and a calming effect.
Fourteen randomized massage studies involving premature and or low birth weight babies were reviewed.
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.
Massage Benefits:
*Improves weight gain
*Assists the baby with becoming more organized
* Allows the baby to be more alert, so he can interact with you and others
*Helps start oral feeding earlier (rather than tube feeding)
*Promotes healthier bones
* Supports parent-infant interaction
*Promotes weight gain in preterm infants
* Lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone
*Increases muscle tone
*Improves sleep
* Shortens lengths of stay in hospitals
*Improves motor and cognitive development at 8 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 the essential elements of intimate parent-infant bonding and attachment: eye to eye, touch smell movement, and temperature regulation
* Encourages pre-verbal communication between infant and caregiver
*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
* Increases parents' self-esteem by reinforcing and enhancing their skills as parents, and validates their role
* Provides parents with the tools for understanding their child's unique behavior and patterns
* Teaches parents how to read their infant's 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 infant child
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.
categories: infant massage,family health,premature babies,health,massage,health,parenting,child development,child care,touch therapy,mother,father,Health,child health,child care,maternal health
