Saturday, August 18, 2007 The power of touch By Janette Huang-Teves Mom-about-town
FOR first-time mothers, the experience of giving birth and taking care of a newborn baby can be quite overwhelming.
To prepare myself for motherhood, I thoroughly read the “mommy bibles,” "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "What to Expect the First Year." However, I realized later on that learning from the real life experiences of fellow mothers proved to be more valuable and effective.
Recently, Tumble Tots and the Philippine Association for Childbirth Education (Pace) held the first-ever "Positive Parenting Fair" in the city.
"Through the fair, we aim to empower parents. We have invited experts in various fields to talk about topics and issues that are relevant to today's parents," shares Dyan Bian-Cortez, the young and dynamic managing director of Tumble Tots.
The successful event discussed useful topics such as Pre-Natal Stretching; Hospital Procedures; Making a Birth Plan; Introduction to Prepared Childbirth; How to Cope with Labor and Delivery; Role of the Birth Partner; Introduction to Breastfeeding; Tips on Infant Massage; among others.
"As parents, we have taken on the most important role of our lives and we need all the help we can get. We hope to inspire you as you journey on the exciting and sometimes bumpy road, to becoming the best parents you can be", says Romanita "Rome" Kanapi, co-organizer of the fair.
An active member of PACE, Rome is a certified Childbirth Educator and Infant Massage Instructor. She has been teaching Prepared Childbirth Classes since 1981 and holds classes every weekend in Makati and Quezon City.
Infant massage
Although, my second child Chelsea is already 1 and 1/2 years old, I still wanted to continue learning about infant massage. So, I attended this particular session during the fair.
Infant Massage is the "process of rubbing an infant's muscles and stroking the infant in a manner specifically designed for them" (Source: "Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Infancy through Adolescence").
"One can start infant massage immediately after birth. However, make sure not to massage over the umbilical cord ending until it falls off naturally", advises Rome.
It is important to note that the massage technique for infants is unlike massage for adults. It is a method that allows parents, grandparents or caregivers to engage and relax the child in mutually gratifying interaction.
In addition, about 10-15 minutes of massage, two to three times each day is recommended.
Preparation
"It is good to get a baby into a routine for massage. It can be performed early in the morning, after a bath, or just before bedtime-the caregiver and baby discern what is the perfect time depending on the response or cues", suggests Rome.
Moreover, the room has to be warm because the baby's clothes will be removed and infants have difficulty regulating their body temperature.
During the massage, it is suggested for the baby not to wear a diaper to allow freedom of movement. As a precaution against leaks, the baby can be placed on a thick towel.
How to begin
Begin the massage by laying a towel or blanket on the floor or a bed.
Rome explains that permission must be asked from the infant prior to commencing any massage. To do this, the parent applies a small amount of unscented natural oil (e.g., coconut, vegetable or olive oil) on the palm of one hand and rubs both palms together near the infant's ear. The objective is to let the infant associate that sound with a pleasurable experience. (Note: Rome discourages the use of mineral oil as it is a derivative of petroleum which tends to clog pores).
Afterwards, the parent then holds up both hands with opened palms for the infant to see asking, "Do you want a massage?" or "Are you ready for a massage?"
For infants to be massaged, Rome says that they must be in a "quiet alert state". If the infant shows signs that he or she does not want a massage, schedule the massage at another time.
During the massage, the parent engages the infant, smiles, explains what every body part is, and communicates with the infant through the power of touch relaxation. Massaging the legs, stomach, chest, arms, face, and ending with the back, is one example of a natural progression of massage for the infant.
Strokes and techniques
Utilizing two baby dolls of different ages (newborn and 3 months old), Rome expertly demonstrated the basic strokes and techniques of infant massage. I am also sharing to you additional information taken from "Komar's Korner": Feet and Legs
Indian Milking: Support baby's foot with one hand and stroke the leg starting at the buttocks and moving down the leg toward the ankle. Switch hands, holding baby's foot with your other hand and stroking baby's leg down to the ankle. It may help to hold your hand in a "C" shape while stroking baby's leg. Continue repeating the milking stroke alternating your hands so that you first stroke the outside and then the inside of the leg.
Squeeze and Twist: Using the "C" shape of your hands, starting at baby's hip hold the leg with both hands close together, alternate a gentle squeezing and twisting motion from the hip to the ankle.
Stroke up Sole to Foot: Begin by stroking the bottom of baby's foot from the heel to the toes with your thumbs, one after another.
Stroking Top of Foot: Stroke the top of the foot toward the ankle.
Squeeze Each Toe: Gently squeeze each toe. This is a great time to recite: "This Little Piggy Went to the Market"
Walking: Press gently all over the bottom of baby's foot with your thumbs.
Swedish Milking: Support baby's foot with your hand. Using a "C" shaped hand, stroke the leg from the ankle to the hip with a smooth downward stroke, alternate hands to massage both sides of the baby's leg.
Stomach
Stomach strokes help tone the intestinal system and relieve gas and constipation. It is very essential that these strokes be done in a circular clockwise direction on baby's stomach. If baby is lying on their back, visualize that the head is at 12 o'clock and that her feet are at 6 o'clock. Your hands move in the same direction as the hands of a clock.
Water Wheel: Using the sides of your hands, make paddling strokes on baby's stomach, one hand following the other, as if you were scooping sand toward yourself. Start below the ribs and move into the lower abdomen. Stroke hand over hand with a gentle but firm pressure.
Thumbs to Sides: With your thumbs at the level of baby's bellybutton, stroke out to the sides. Be gentle and do not poke.
I Love You: This is a three-part stroke, which spells out the message "I love you" to the baby. Baby loves a high-pitched voice saying "I love you" as you share this stroke. "I": make a vertical I-shaped stroke on the left side of baby's stomach; "Love": make a backward upside down L-shaped stroke moving from your left to right, as if you are reading words on a page; and "You": make an upside down U-shaped stroke from your left to right.
Chest
Massaging baby's chest will help tone the lungs and heart. Imagine you are filling the child's heart with love.
Arms and Hands
These strokes are similar to those for the legs and feet. Baby receives the benefits of increased circulation and warmth for their arms and hands as well as a release of tension. Never forcibly pull the baby's arms away from their body to do a stroke, but gently stroke the arm allowing baby to relax and gradually extend their arm to you.
Face
With light fingertips, stroke across the forehead from the center to the sides. Then glide across the bridge of the nose and down along the sides of the nose. Be careful to avoid the fontanel (the two soft spots on the top of your baby's head). Massaging the sinuses on the face helps clear the sinuses of excess mucous. This is beneficial to infants as it eases the process of ridding the nasal passage of excess mucous.
Back
The back massage strokes are very relaxing, and are favorites of both babies and toddlers. Lay the baby on their stomach. Talk to the baby while he is on his tummy. Your voice contact is vital since he can't see you.
Back and Forth: Begin with both hands together at the top of baby's back. Glide your relaxed hands back and forth, in opposite directions, going down the back to the buttocks, then up to the shoulders, and back down again.
Small Circles All Over Back: Use your fingertips to massage small circles on both sides of baby's spine moving all over the back. Be sure to massage small circles on baby's hips and buttocks, too. Avoid doing these circles directly on the spine.
Combing: With your hand open and fingers spread apart, gently "comb" baby's back starting at the neck and moving to the buttocks. Your strokes become gradually lighter each time. Repeat several times. End with a very light "feather" touch. You may also begin with baby's head and stroke down the back.
Tips on infant massage
Rome reveals the following do's and don'ts when performing infant massage:
Do's
* maintain eye contact with your baby
* talk or sing to your baby to help you and your baby relax
* slide fingertips gently and evenly over baby's skin
* begin with a very light touch and gradually increase pressure
* keep oil away from baby's eyes
* be sensitive to baby's cues
* use only a few drops of oil
Don’ts
* massage within an hour of feeding
* massage a sick baby
* continue if baby is crying, upset or cranky
* force baby in a position when massaging
The power of touch
Studies conducted at the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami have documented the amazing effects of massage for infants. Some of the many physical benefits are as follows: improves circulation and respiration; stimulates digestion and elimination; enhances weight gain; promotes longer and deeper sleep patterns by soothing the nervous system; relieves gas and colic; strengthens the immune system through relaxation; and stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Along with the physical benefits are the emotional and psychological benefits, which include parent and infant bonding; increases parent confidence and sensitivity; provides opportunity for mothers/fathers/grandparents/caregivers to spend quality time with baby; and establishes close, loving communication which provides security and stability for the child.
According to the author of "Loving Hands: The Traditional Art of Baby Massage", Dr. Frederick Leboyer, "Touching is the first communication a baby receives. The first language of its development is through the skin...Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant, food as necessary as minerals, vitamins and proteins."
(For your comments and suggestions, you may e-mail me at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://www.mom-about-town.blogspot.com)
