Pre-term and medically fragile infants require specialized medical care and when brought home facilitated bonding time. Massage can provide both of these in many situations, find out how pediatric massage can benefit your pre-term and medically fragile child.
Copyright (c) 2013 Liddle Kidz Foundation Infant and Children's Pediatric Massage
What happened when medical or healthcare circumstances prevent us from being able to hold our baby at the very special moment after birth? What if our child has to be placed away from us for weeks or even months? What can we do as parents and caregivers to facilitate healthy growth and bonding? The answer is using nurturing touch and infant massage. By using the power of touch; nurses, healthcare staff and parents may be able to help baby grow stronger and help them to leave the hospital sooner. And, once at home with their parents, using massage will help ensure a bond is created.
How does the power of touch help pre-term infants? In a series of studies, "pre-term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit were given 15-minute massages three times a day for 10 days while they were still in an incubator." When the group of infants were moved to the nursery the massaged infants gained 47% - 53% more weight and on average were hospitalized 6 days less than the infants who hadn't been massaged. At the one year mark, the group found that the massaged infants had a weight advantage, as well as, placing higher on infant development mental and motor tests.
As you make the transition to come home, your family can continue to use and benefit from touch. In the most simplest of terms, nurturing touch is a great stress reliever for both you and your baby. Studies have demonstrated that touch has the ability to decrease levels of Cortisol (stress hormone) in our bodies, and during massage Oxytocin is released in both the giver and receiver's body. Oxytocin is our feel good hormone and helps to provide us with loving, nurturing feelings helping us to bond. While Mothers produce this normally through the birthing process, for Fathers, additional caregivers and adoptive parents, using touch can aid during this crucial bonding time.
Many hospitals are now employing massage therapists, as well as, nurses and other healthcare staff, who are certified in neonatal massage for infants, and preterm infants. It's very easy to ask if the hospital or birthing center you are thinking about delivering at has these services. Additionally many doulas and midwives also provide specialty massage, and there are a number of independent Certified Infant Massage Teachers that are also ready to show teach you how to massage your baby!
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