This report uses a case study format to describe how a neurologically protective massage is taught to a mother of a medically stable preterm infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The massage is based on information available in the research literature and includes timing and content for teaching new parents about the use of time-out signals, engagement cues, containment principles to promote a sense of safety to the baby, and about how these elements serve to direct the progression of the massage. In addition, a research-based stroking sequence that accesses the vagus nerve to promote parasympathetic nervous system functioning is used. These research-based elements are woven into a presentation that gives the mother emotional support, offers her ways to interact with her baby, and helps her participate in her infant's growth and development in a safe way. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Interest in infant massage has grown tremendously in the last decade, as the importance of developmental care and family involvement in the care of hospitalized infants has been recognized. The International Association of Infant Massage was formed in 1986 to train infant massage instructors in the United States and around the world. On completion of their training, these instructors started a variety of infant massage programs in hospitals and community agencies. Interest in infant massage also grew in the lay community as a result of local and national publicity.
The Baby's First Massage Program was started in 1993 in Dayton, Ohio, by the author, who is a certified infant massage instructor. The focus of the program is to train instructors to teach families how to provide therapeutic massage to the healthy newborn and to those babies who experience alterations in their nervous system because of prematurity, exposure to illicit drugs in utero, or birth trauma.1 and 2
The author uses a case report format to describe her personal experience with teaching the mother of a hospitalized preterm infant how to provide massage to her baby. A discussion of the implications for nursing practice follows.