preemie-l Dave and Laurie's post about massage
DUNN Family (nightowl@centuryinter.net)
Mon, 17 Jun 1996 10:28:48 -0400
>as pretentious here - just trying to pass along some good information!
I sure don't think you're pretentious. :)
>
>Hi again, Helen! I'm a lot like you when it comes to this :"new age" stuff,
>but I think in this case I've been convinced.
I've never seen massage as a new age thing...it's something that's been
passed down in my family for generations.
>specifically asked her about hypersensitive preemies, and she said that if
>you start v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y with them, and listen to their cues, that=
they
>really, truly can benefit from the increased contact.
this would apply to any hypersensitive infant (or child too). You must work
slowly and learn their cues about what they like and dislike. Eventually it
may work up to a massage that is much like any other you give. I've yet to
meet the baby that doesn't like it...as long as it's done with his/her
feelings in mind. :)
>other countries, it has only begun to be accepted in the U.S. since the
>early 1980s. Studies have shown that systematically touching your baby,=
skin
>to skin, for as little as 12 minutes a day can offer many benefits. Not=
only
>do the babies gain weight faster, but their neurological connections
>actually improve and they are able to process input better!=20
the other countries part...must be where we get it from...my father's
Swedish and his mother taught me some about massage...but my mother's mostly
German and she and her family taught me about massage too (a bit different
from dad's family)...and then my husband's family...well you get the
picture. Like I said it's been handed down thru generations. :) And every
one of them says it's to help the baby learn better! For a child, it helps
those that are having trouble concentrating, as with schoolwork or
something. Ever notice how a good back rub or shoulder rub helps you to get
some sort of work finished?
>
>You don't even have to devote a solid twelve minutes each day to massage =
=97
>you could do it for two minutes six times a day if that is more convenient
>for you. The important thing is that you are both relaxed, and that the
>touch is skin to skin. In other words, pay attention to your baby's cues to
>see if your baby is receptive at that time, and don't try to massage your
>baby through a shirt or pajamas. Also, some babies get really sleepy after
>a massage while others become wide awake, so you may want to keep that in
>mind before attempting a late night massage for the first time.
I think this is an excellent way of expressing it to those that have never
done it! It's the skin to skin contact that works...and if you think about
kangarooing...this is what you are doing. In fact, for the very early, very
young, hypersensitive infants for many generations, my family has held to
"just holding them close, skin to skin" until they can tolerate more. =20
My grandmother used to carry one baby (born at just 4 pounds about 50 years
ago) by putting her (with just a cloth diaper on) between her breasts and
wrapping a long scarf around the two of them and putting on her regular
dress (with an extra button or two undone) over that then going on about her
day tending to the other children and doing housework and such. But I don't
think she ever called it kangarooing. ;-) It's one of those funny stories
everyone loves to tell...but I think it's precious...and told her so...with
so many lost babies, and preemie babies I may be more sensitive than most of
my family, but just picturing a little baby held this way with her soft,
sweet-smelling, little head snuggled just under the chin...just gives me a
real warm, fuzzy feeling. :)
>their level of hypersensitivity. While doing a massage on these babies, try
>to keep other sensory input to a minimum. In other words, don't have the TV
>on or music playing, don't talk, and you may even want to avoid direct eye
>contact during the massage.=20
Very important for hypersensitive kiddos!!! Just cut all other stimulations
until you have reached the point where they are positively responsive...like
when they hold up the leg you start with...and then if you want to add to
it...start with something softly quiet, like just a little humming of a
simple tune. As time goes on, you can do more.
>
>When you're ready to try a massage, the first thing to do is to ask your
>baby if he would like a massage. This may sound silly, but once your baby
I laughed at this sounding silly... :) It's just like when you ask them if
they want their diaper changed...and even if they are hungry...we do this
from the very beginning with so many things. It doesn't really even have to
be a question so long as you are consistant with the words, then the baby
will learn to associate those words (sounds) with having the massage done.
>realizes what a massage is they will usually let you know if they're ready
>for one. Pay attention to them! Do they look away? They're probably not
>interested. Do they maintain eye contact, or as they get older, maybe even
>smile or lift their usual starting leg, you can probably assume that=
they're
>ready to begin! It is usually better to begin with the legs (one at a
>time), then the arms (one at a time), and eventually work your way up to
>their trunk and face.. Use a firm, but gentle pressure.
Infants are generally creatures of routines...they like a sense of order and
repetition that they can rely on...if they are getting this it will only
take a short time for them to show you cues about what they like.
>
>Preemies, or other babies who have spent time in the hospital, may be
>especially sensitive to having their feet touched (thanks to all the heel
>sticks they've experiences). If so, you can try massaging only the tops of
>their feet, or avoid the feet altogether.
One thing to keep in mind about babies that have been in the hospital,
especially after having been home for awhile, is that hospitals aren't the
usual routine and even if that's all this baby may have known, due to the
nature of the stay...things change, and the unexpected happens often
(unexpected for the baby and his routine)...the point being that they will,
if massage is practiced, be calmed by keeping up your massage routine as
much as possible. Even if it can't be at the same times it was at
home...the baby will react positively to having it as often as possible.
When my youngest were all back in the hospital with RSV...they always
responded well to my massages...fragmented tho they were. :)
There are probably lots of variable ways to do massage...you may wish to
look at lots of them or try your own creations, even, before settling on one
method.
>Finish off the "body part" (in this case, the leg) by lightly stroking the
>entire leg with your fingertips. This stroking will signal that you're all
>finished with that part of their body.
This is very important with infants...you're giving them non-verbal clues
(which they respond well with) to what's happening...a final signal of some
kind is essential. One for finishing *a part*, one for finishing *an area*,
one to signal *whole body* completed.
After you're finished...if you have a sleepy baby...wrap in a favorite
blanket and lay in bed with a gentle kiss goodnight. :) If you have an
alert baby...snuggle a bit, laugh and tickle maybe, sing him a song, play a
little...they will (the awake ones) usually be wanting to watch your face at
this time. It can be a very close moment. :)
BTW...I really loved the whole post! (I must have missed Helen's request)
It's an excellent way to teach massage to someone who's never done it
before. (i just can't imagine *not* doing it...I used to think it was just
something everyone else did)
TTYS
Andee
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Andee MOST-MOM | Miracle Kids: Bryana-13, CJ-10, Allyssa-7, & *triplets*
Shawn COMP-WIZ | Mackenzie-4, Rebecca-4, & Jessica-4 (1 boy & ID girls)
Now in Sparta WI | EMail nightowl@centuryinter.net for ALL of us! :) :)
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