What the Experts Say...in their words, not mine...
Williams Syndrome and the Power of Infant Massage
For babies with special needs, additional benefits can include improved eye contact and socialization, acceptance of positive touch, a decrease in gas and general gastrointestinal distress, less constipation and discomfort, relaxation of tight muscles (hypertonia) or normalization of muscle tone for babies with weak/floppy muscle tone (hypotonia), more awareness of overall body/limbs (i.e., more hand play in mid-line), enhancement of self-regulation (baby more able to maintain an alert and interactive state), sensory system normalization (baby better able to tolerate various textures and stimuli without becoming overwhelmed), emotional state normalization (baby is able to release pain and tension from trauma/treatment incidents, and to connect with family in a healthier dynamic), and overall normalization of posture and postural control abilities.
By Carole Shugard, C.I.M.I., Susan Curwen, C.I.M.I., and Kalena Babeshoff, Consultant and Director, Foundation for Healthy Family Living, May 2008
WHY MASSAGE
Besides the fact that it is just plain fun to touch your baby, infant massage helps babies grow and develop better. Other cultures highly value touch to help babies grow. In some Eastern societies a mother is reprimanded if she doesn't give her baby a daily massage. One of the most exciting areas of research is the connection between touch and growth. Touched babies thrive. askdrsears.com
Massage therapy reduces tension, anxiety, and pain in patients awaiting invasive cardiovascular procedures.
Wentworth LJ, Briese LJ, Timimi FK, Sanvick CL, Bartel DC, Cutshall SM, Tilbury RT, Lennon R, Bauer BA.Source
Source..Department of Nursing Administration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
“a loving way to communicate with your baby”…Vimala McClure, the author of Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents
Preterm infant benefits
Weight gain is the most consistent outcome associated with preterm infant massage (Scafidi et al, 1990; Mathai et al, 2001; Sankaranarayanan et al, 2005; Field et al, 2010; Kulkarni et al, 2010). One explanation put forward for this weight gain is the separate finding that significantly lower levels of energy and stress behaviour were expended among preterm babies in the intervention groups (Lahat et al, 2007), which meant that they were able to ‘sleep and grow’ (Lampl and Johnson, 2011). Another explanation is that infant skin has a high rate of absorption (Nikolovski et al, 2008), so topical oil may have been absorbed systemically to provide a nutritional function (Fernandez et al, 1987; Solanki et al, 2005). The most important finding from preterm infant massage studies is the significant reduction in mortality and infection (Darmstadt et al, 2005; Darmstadt et al, 2008; Mendes and Procianoy, 2008). Darmstadt's research demonstrated a 26% reduction in mortality (Darmstadt et al, 2008), and that preterm babies were 41% less likely to develop a nosocomial infection when massaged with sunflower seed oil compared to no treatment (Darmstadt et al, 2005). Reduction in infection in a preterm population is related to reduction in mortality.
Randomized, controlled studies have documented greater weight gain in preterm newborns receiving moderate pressure massage therapy (see Field, Hernandez-Reif & Freedman, 2004; Vickers, Ohlsson, Lacy & Horsley, 2004 for reviews). These include our studies on preterm newborns who received 5-10 days of massage therapy and showed a 21-48% greater increase in weight gain and hospital stays of 3-6 days less than control infants (Diego, Field & Hernandez-Reif, 2005; Dieter, Field, Hernandez-Reif, Emory & Redzepi, 2003; Field, Schanberg, Scafidi, Bauer & Vega-lahr, 1986; Scafidi, Field, Schanberg, Bauer & Vega-Lahr, 1990; Wheeden, Scafidi, Field, Ironson & Valdeon, 1993) (see table 1). These weight gain findings have been replicated by at least 4 independent groups (Cifra & Sancho, 2004; De-Roiste & Bushnell, 1996; Goldstein-Ferber, Kuint, Weller, Feldman, Dollberg, Arbel & Kohelet, 2002; Mathai, Fernandez, Modkar & Kanbur, 2001).
For babies with special needs, additional benefits can include improved eye contact and socialization, acceptance of positive touch, a decrease in gas and general gastrointestinal distress, less constipation and discomfort, relaxation of tight muscles (hypertonia) or normalization of muscle tone for babies with weak/floppy muscle tone (hypotonia), more awareness of overall body/limbs (i.e., more hand play in mid-line), enhancement of self-regulation (baby more able to maintain an alert and interactive state), sensory system normalization (baby better able to tolerate various textures and stimuli without becoming overwhelmed), emotional state normalization (baby is able to release pain and tension from trauma/treatment incidents, and to connect with family in a healthier dynamic), and overall normalization of posture and postural control abilities.
By Carole Shugard, C.I.M.I., Susan Curwen, C.I.M.I., and Kalena Babeshoff, Consultant and Director, Foundation for Healthy Family Living, May 2008
WHY MASSAGE
Besides the fact that it is just plain fun to touch your baby, infant massage helps babies grow and develop better. Other cultures highly value touch to help babies grow. In some Eastern societies a mother is reprimanded if she doesn't give her baby a daily massage. One of the most exciting areas of research is the connection between touch and growth. Touched babies thrive. askdrsears.com
Massage therapy reduces tension, anxiety, and pain in patients awaiting invasive cardiovascular procedures.
Wentworth LJ, Briese LJ, Timimi FK, Sanvick CL, Bartel DC, Cutshall SM, Tilbury RT, Lennon R, Bauer BA.Source
Source..Department of Nursing Administration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
“a loving way to communicate with your baby”…Vimala McClure, the author of Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents
Preterm infant benefits
Weight gain is the most consistent outcome associated with preterm infant massage (Scafidi et al, 1990; Mathai et al, 2001; Sankaranarayanan et al, 2005; Field et al, 2010; Kulkarni et al, 2010). One explanation put forward for this weight gain is the separate finding that significantly lower levels of energy and stress behaviour were expended among preterm babies in the intervention groups (Lahat et al, 2007), which meant that they were able to ‘sleep and grow’ (Lampl and Johnson, 2011). Another explanation is that infant skin has a high rate of absorption (Nikolovski et al, 2008), so topical oil may have been absorbed systemically to provide a nutritional function (Fernandez et al, 1987; Solanki et al, 2005). The most important finding from preterm infant massage studies is the significant reduction in mortality and infection (Darmstadt et al, 2005; Darmstadt et al, 2008; Mendes and Procianoy, 2008). Darmstadt's research demonstrated a 26% reduction in mortality (Darmstadt et al, 2008), and that preterm babies were 41% less likely to develop a nosocomial infection when massaged with sunflower seed oil compared to no treatment (Darmstadt et al, 2005). Reduction in infection in a preterm population is related to reduction in mortality.
Randomized, controlled studies have documented greater weight gain in preterm newborns receiving moderate pressure massage therapy (see Field, Hernandez-Reif & Freedman, 2004; Vickers, Ohlsson, Lacy & Horsley, 2004 for reviews). These include our studies on preterm newborns who received 5-10 days of massage therapy and showed a 21-48% greater increase in weight gain and hospital stays of 3-6 days less than control infants (Diego, Field & Hernandez-Reif, 2005; Dieter, Field, Hernandez-Reif, Emory & Redzepi, 2003; Field, Schanberg, Scafidi, Bauer & Vega-lahr, 1986; Scafidi, Field, Schanberg, Bauer & Vega-Lahr, 1990; Wheeden, Scafidi, Field, Ironson & Valdeon, 1993) (see table 1). These weight gain findings have been replicated by at least 4 independent groups (Cifra & Sancho, 2004; De-Roiste & Bushnell, 1996; Goldstein-Ferber, Kuint, Weller, Feldman, Dollberg, Arbel & Kohelet, 2002; Mathai, Fernandez, Modkar & Kanbur, 2001).
