preemie-l RE: Preemie Massage/Touch
Anne Turner (aturner@nla.gov.au)
Fri, 14 Jun 96 16:13:00 PDT
I would like to make an anecdotal contribution to this issue.
My first prem, that I had nearly seven years ago, was Elizabeth, a little
girl who was both premature and small for dates baby. I did not massage
her, as I was not really encouraged to touch her alot, the nursey was a
scrub and gown, parents only kind of place. I asked if I could go to the
Postnatal baby massage demo. and was told well you really need a baby to go
with you. Mine was in a humidicrib.
Elizabeth was and still is a very small girl and has needed encouragement
and short periods on medication to maintain her growth curve. She never took
much to solids, and often rejected formula.
My second preemie, born 8 months ago, Maree, was 28 weeks gestation, and at
2lbs a pretty good match for that gestational age. I have massaged her from
about 4 weeks onwards, once a day every day. She eats really well, and
aside from some minor reflux problems has never looked like not growing and
following her growth pattern really well. I have great hopes that she will
actually be one of those mythical preemies that you can't really tell once
they reach 2. (Do these really exist??)
I have always previously put this difference down to the small for dates
issue, but perhaps the massage comes into it somehow.
I really only massage my baby because I love doing it, and she seems to like
it. I wish I had done it for Elizabeth, but if wishes were horses....
ANNE TURNER