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Infant massage hits mainstream America by Heather M. Woolwine Public Relations Health care professionals, books, and magazines consistently present the latest in childrearing and behavior shaping, from validating or nullifying home- grown methods to studying how different cultures raise and care for their young. Born out of Eastern European and Asian cultural practices, infant massage landed in the US as early as the 1970s. But it didn’t begin to hit mainstream America until a few short years ago. Now, moms and dads across the country are signing up on a regular basis at local YMCAs, churches, community centers and hospitals to learn the art of infant massage from certified instructors. The number of certified instructors increased from 2,500 to almost 6,000 during the past five years. Hundreds of published research studies support infant massage, most noticeably a series of groundbreaking reports on the effect of touch and massage on premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. Preemies who received gentle strokes and limb manipulations gained 50 percent more weight than infants who did not receive therapeutic touch, according to a study by Tiffany Field, M.D. These infants also went home an average of six days earlier, thus saving the hospital about $3,000 per child.  But preemies or ill infants aren’t the only ones who may benefit from gentle touch.  Healthy infants experience improved circulation, enhanced senses, reduced stress, improved digestion, an enhanced immune system, better sleep, increased oxygen flow, and increased trust and bonding with parents. Women are automatically afforded an opportunity to bond with a new child through the processes of pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Men must search a little harder to find ways to bond with an infant, and tactile stimulation through massage is a helpful tool. During the last few decades, dads have become more involved with infant care, including feeding, bathing, and changing. Infant massage seems like a natural step to further the bond between father and child. By touching the infant in a manner equal to feelings of love and acceptance, fathers teach their children early in life that loving touch is capable of both parents and both sexes. Another benefit of infant massage lies in the idea that if it is performed regularly, the infant essentially receives a physical exam on a daily basis, so subtle changes in an infant’s health may be detected more quickly. Because of the nature of the massage, the infant positioned on his or her back with focused eye contact from mom or dad, parents become role models for active listening, empathy and support.  According to the Infant Massage Information Service, babies communicate happiness, worries, and fears during massage, mainly when the chest and stomach areas are massaged. The baby learns to trust that someone cares and supports them when having these feelings, and that someone is at least one if not both parents. Not to mention that hopping off the Amtrak called life to connect with the baby is good for parents, too. If the infant cooperates, the massage may result in 20 to 30 minutes of true down time for the family. By slowing down and paying attention to the baby, some experts believe that understanding an infant’s needs can lead to decreased abuse. Infant massage may be a way to help mothers dealing with post-partum depression connect with their infants and serves in general to make parents feel more confident and connected with their children. MUSC Medical Center, in addition to a breast feeding class, childbirth education, Getting to Know Me, and ABCs for Parents to Be, offers an infant massage class taught by certified infant massage instructors. Classes usually meet for three or four sessions and are designed for babies from birth to pre-crawling. For a fee schedule and to register, contact Grace Smith at 792-0590, pager ID 18559. Certified instructors are a must to ensure infants’ safety. Beware individuals who advise parents to massage in conjunction with bath time, with olive or cooking oils, or who demonstrate massage to the parent on the infant themselves. Infant massage is a form of intimate touch, so allowing a stranger to massage a semi-nude child does not relay a good message to the infant. Infant Massage Tips Ensure before beginning the massage that it is a good time for you and the baby, and commit to that time, with little to no interruption. Do not massage infants less than five months old in conjunction with bath time. It’s over-stimulating, so separate the two with a nap or bedtime. Never watch the clock during a massage. Go by what your child is indicating they want, if the baby wants more, be happy to oblige, and if the baby wants to stop, don’t worry about how little time you spent.  Always begin with massaging the legs. This is the least intrusive way because the legs are used to being touched through diaper changes. Use long, firm, gentle strokes. Light, feathery massages irritate babies. Never massage your baby if he or she is crying. (Only exception here is colic or painful gas. This requires special instruction.) Any arm movements going in and out from the chest indicate that you should stop the massage. If massaging an infant’s abdomen while he or she is lying in front of you, massage from your left to your right. Don’t put any pressure on the diaphragm. Use pure cold pressed vegetable, nut, seed, or fruit oil that is pesticide free. These oils are easily absorbed into the skin, unlike oil olive.  Under no circumstances should you massage an infant if one of the following conditions are present: open or weeping wounds, infected skin irritations, fractures or other acute injuries, bleeding, unhealed naval, burns including sunburns, undiagnosed lumps and if the infant has hiccups or has just been fed.   Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.