Before working in the NICU, I had never even heard of infant massage, even with having two children of my own. My experience working with babies in distress has taught me just how essential massage therapy is for patients in the NICU.
Massage therapy is an intimate intervention that can help parents bond with their children. It benefits the child, and parents find great comfort in seeing their little one relax as they begin to familiarize themselves with their parent’s touch and form a trusting bond.
The Benefits of Massage Therapy for Infants
Massage therapy’s benefits for babies significantly increase their quality of life during their hospital stay, especially for those required to endure many invasive and non-invasive treatments—sometimes multiple times a day. Some benefits include a shorter length of stay; reduced pain; and improved weight gain, feeding tolerance, and neurodevelopment.
One benefit of working the night shift as an RN is that at some hospitals, it is the time when we bathe our infants. Infant massage helps infants fall asleep and remain comfortable for the night. A nurturing touch elicits oxytocin, which is associated with a calm mood. It only takes 20 seconds of touch for the body to release oxytocin, a stress-reducing hormone. After a warm bath and linen change, it is a perfect time for a lotioned massage. It helps to relax the infant’s muscles and relieve stress from their bodies. Immediately, you can see the look of contentment on their little face.
Why Are Infants At Risk in the NICU?
Some babies are in the NICU for months at a time and are extremely sick for most of their stay. As a result, long periods of inactivity or stress can cause their muscles to constrict and become stiff or hypertonic from underuse. Depending on which body system the inactivity affects—most commonly the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, or digestive system—it is vital to preserve the baby’s energy so their body can focus on healing the major-body system that is ailing. Often, this exertion causes their muscles to suffer because the patient needs a great deal of rest. Infant massage increases circulation, allows the muscles to relax, and aids in promoting a good quality of life with a comforting touch.
Feeding intolerance is a common hurdle for premature infants. Healthcare providers must monitor it very closely, as this condition can quickly turn fatal. Massage restores the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, a network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress. It increases gastrointestinal motility, making food easier to digest. In addition, studies have shown that massage therapy significantly reduces the amount of undigested food sitting in an infant’s stomach, which can lead to vomiting and pain. It helps to relax the rest of the digestional tract, allowing easy passage of milk or formula through the small and large intestines. It reduces cramping, acid reflux, and bloating.
Helping Parents Through Parenthood
Infant massage has many health benefits and is a skill most parents, caregivers, and health professionals can learn to increase their infants’ quality of life. Parents also benefit from massaging their babies by increasing their oxytocin levels, helping with postpartum depression and attachment, and providing coping strategies to get them through parenthood.
References
(n.d.). Massage Therapy: Here to Help. Nationwide Children’s. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2014/02/massage-therapy-here-to-help
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS). Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23266-parasympathetic-nervous-system-psns
Seiiedi-Biarag, L., Mirghafourvand, M. (2020). The effect of massage on feeding intolerance in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Ital J Pediatr, 46, 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-020-0818-4
The Magic of Touch and Connection. Infant Massage usa. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.infantmassageusa.org/blog/2022/6/12/the-magic-of-touch-and-connection
Pados, B.F., McGlothen-Bell, K. (2019). Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU. Nursing for Women’s Health, 23(3), 265-271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-020-0818-4