Massage has many benefits for both full-term and premature infants. Humans need touch to thrive emotionally and physically and massage has special benefits to preterm infants, who might spend long periods of time in an isolette away from their mothers. Often many of the touches that premature babies receive in the hospital are medically necessary touches such as having their heart listened too or their heel poked for a blood test. Massage give the babies a soothing personal touch.
Promotes Weight Gain
Research has shown that infant massage can increase the health of preterm babies. A study conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute and cited on family.go.com, showed that premature babies who received fifteen minute massages, three times a week "gained 47 percent more weight and were discharged six days earlier from the hospital."
Increases Nuerological Development
In the same study, premature infants who received massages were more alert, active and had more mature development than the infants that did not receive massages.
Soothes Infants
Kadi Martin, a senior clinical nurse in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit says that "premature babies don't know how to relax." Gentle massage and light touches help to calm and soothe infants. A light hand on the baby's back and feet can help the baby sleep.
Increases Bonding Feelings
The parents of premature infants might feel distant because of the need for their babies to stay in the hospital, in an isolette, surrounded by wires and machines. Parents who are able to touch their babies can increasing the bonding feelings as they start to learn their infant's body language and moods. Babies benefit from parents who feel emotionally connected to them and are responsive to their needs.
