Infant massage

Neonatal Services

International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM)

Lucy Stanford (Senior Sister) and Kerry Spiking (Nursery Nurse) are currently training for their baby massage certificate through the IAIM (International Association of Infant massage).

Mother massaging her baby

History of IAIM

The IAIM was founded by Vimala McClure in 1976 after an inspired trip to India. Although infant massage has existed for centuries in many countries around the world Vimala was the first person to put together a professional programme.

During her trip to India in 1973 when Vimala was 21 she was working in orphanages in India, where she worked with older children and women where she was taught to massage the babies. During her last week Vimala contracted malaria, delirious with fever the women in the neighbourhood came to look after her. They massaged her and sang to her until her fever broke and she will never forget the feeling of the hands and hearts touching her. On her way to the train station on her journey home she saw a shanty where a family lived by the roadside, a mother was sitting in the dirt with her baby across her knees lovingly massaging and singing to him. As Vimala watched her she thought that this mother had so little yet she could offer her baby this gift of love and security, a gift that would help to make him a compassionate human being. She then thought of the children in the orphanages, despite their disadvantages they were able to be so loving, warm and playful and thought that this was because they have been loved like this as infants. A seed was planted in her mind leading to the founding of IAIM.

Mission statement of the IAIM

The purpose of the International Association of Infant massage is to promote nurturing touch and communication through training, education, and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued and respected throughout the world community.

Benefits of infant massage

Babies

Interaction includes – promotion or bonding and attachment, verbal/ non verbal communication, pre- language communication skills, one to one quality time, undivided attention, feeling respected, using all the senses, love, tolerance, nurturing touch, early contact with both parents, empathy, imitation.

Stimulation of – circulatory system, digestive system, hormonal system, lymphatic system, nervous system, respiratory system, coordination and balance, language development, improved learning ability, muscular development and tone, growth, elimination, sensory integration, mind/body awareness.

Relief can help with:

gas and colic
constipation elimination
sensitivity to touch
physical and psychological tension.

Massage can help your baby relax which can be seen through improvement in sleep patterns, being calm, reduced stress levels and hormones, less hypersensitivity and hyperactivity.

Massaging baby's foot

Parents

Better understanding of their baby
reading and respecting behavioural cues
promotes bonding and attachment
improves self -esteem and confidence
improved parenting skills
early involvement for fathers
quality time
decrease of stress hormones
higher levels of relaxing hormones
improved sleep
stimulates lactation
decrease in postnatal depression
socialising with other parents

Family

involvement of siblings
decrease in sibling rivalry
relaxed environment
involvement of extended family
increased respect
reduction of conflicts
better sleep

If you feel that your baby would benefit from infant massage then please contact Kerry or Lucy on the unit, or alternatively leave them a message. Lucy and Kerry also offer a 5 week massage course following discharge home, running 1 session per week to all families that have previously been admitted to NICU or SCBU The sessions are for mums, dads or care givers and for babies up to 1 year of age.

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