The Power of Infant Massage, Especially Premature Babies

It’s always nice when someone says something nice about you. For us, especially having had a taste for bad press, being quoted by reputable professionals is a huge compliment.

Dr. Peter Nieman is an engaged developmental peadiatrician with two academic assignments at two hospitals in Calgary. He said this about infant massage.

The outcome is potentially amazing. Three studies showed a 21% to 47% greater weight gain for massage therapy versus the standard care; a greater degree of bone mineralisation; earlier hospital discharge; and more optimal behavioural and motor responses were all noted in the group of babies who received massage therapy.

The underlying mechanism of how massage therapy works requires further study. The current focus is on hormones and chemicals, such as IGF-1 and oxytocin, together with the effects of massage on gastric motility.

Claudie Gordon-Pomares, a respected psychologist who spends her time between Canada and France – in fact she lives close to Calgary – has traveled far and wide and over the past 20 years has collected more than 17,000 observations. She is particularly interested in multisensory stimulation for babies. The thinking is that early stimulation of the senses (smell, taste, sight, hearing and touch) lead to better development of the baby’s later personality.

For the whole article, go there: http://www.healthykids.ca/secure/articles/infant_massage.html

So, remember to include lots of cuddles in your daily recovery program!

–
Kim