preemie-l RE Massage for preemies

Gary Hardy (garyh@yarra.vicnet.net.au)
Sat, 15 Jun 1996 22:43:23 +1000 (EST) 

Tiffany Field's research on the benefits of massaging preemies makes 
sense to me.  I only regret that I waited almost two weeks to give 
Vincent this comfort.  He was very ill with sepsis when he was born at 26 
weeks  and I was frightened of how fragile and premature he looked. I 
needed encouragement to hold him and was thrilled that his oxy sats went 
right up whenever we cuddled. 

I didn't know how to touch him.  It wasn't until a lovely nurse showed
Gary and I how to comfort him and I saw clearly how he responded, turning 
his face toward her hand, that I realized the poor little baby was 
desperate to feel loving touch.  It was a breakthrough for all of us and 
the beginning of our healing from the traumatic separation.

At 30 weeks we began kangaroo care, and Vincent began to get well. Once 
he was past 4 lb I just couldn't keep my hands off him.  He liked me to 
stroke and kiss his feet, and this is something he still expects whenever 
I change his nappy.  He has always loved massage and skin to skin contact 
and for most of his first year, I massaged him at least once a day.  I am 
certain that this helped him to thrive.  

Vincent is 20 (17) months now and much too busy to lie still for more 
than a minute.  I rub his legs and feet vigorously in the morning
which makes him laugh and I massage whatever part of him I can get hold 
at different times.  He loves being touched and is very tolerant of 
grooming.  

It may be that regular massage has made Vincent tolerant but it's 
my feeling that needing a high level of physical contact is his nature.
His first few weeks must have been terrible beyond imagining.  I want to 
contact his NICU to find out if massage has become a more routine 
practice since Vincent was a patient.

Massaging Vincent and doing his physiotherapy has been great for me too.  
I feel I can really do something for him to make him feel loved and 
confident and to enjoy the little body that suffered so much initially.  
He has a great appetite, He's tall and strong and affectionate, talking 
well and almost walking.  For a baby who suffered a grade 4 brain bleed, 
he's doing extremely well.  I know that massage has helped.

Anne Casey (partner Gary, parents of Jessica 4 and Vincent 20 months, 17 
corrected)