Replication studies have been conducted in Israel16 and the Philippines.17 In the
study performed in the Philippines,17 which was done with an exact replication
of the Field et al methodology,18 preterm infants who were massaged gained 45%
more than infants who were not massaged. In the study conducted in Israel,16 a
31% greater weight gain and more organized sleep were reported for the massaged,
versus the control, preterm infants. In addition, the mothers who provided the
massage experienced less postpartum depression. These studies approximated
the weight gain data (47% and 31%, respectively) published by Field et al14 and
Chapter 6: Pregnancy, Labor and Infant Massage 105
Scafidi et al.19 A recent study by Dieter et al15 suggests that a 46% greater weight
gain can be achieved in preterm infants following only 5 days of massage.