EFFECT OF MASSAGE ON INFANTS
Keywords:
massage, infants, benefitsAbstract
In order to be healthy and develop properly, a newborn must not only be fed and dressed well. The baby also needs physical and emotional contact. Massage is one of the means of making these contacts. Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing. It is used for both relaxation and therapy. Its application is widespread throughout the world. Massage has a number of benefits: it improves blood and lymph circulation, skin trophicity, and strengthens exchange processes in tissues and organs. It has been proven that massage reduces stress levels. Baby massage is an ancient therapeutic technique used around the world. Newborn massage has been popularized as a method to reduce stress and promote the mother-child bond. The gentle movements of the mother's hands encourage emotional bonding. Talking and singing during the massage further enhances the mother-newborn contact. Massage is also believed to have a beneficial effect on premature babies. The effect is expressed in: shorter duration of stay in the incubator; faster weight gain, feeding tolerance and neurodevelopment. Contraindications for massage are: high fever, skin rashes, wounds, kidney and heart diseases. The purpose of this article is to determine the effects of infant massage. Material and methods: we performed a thorough search in the following databases: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ReseargeGate, PubMed. Conclusion: Massage has a beneficial effect on newborns, helping them gain weight, improving sleep, reducing pain, but also for their parents, reducing stress and increasing their attachment to the baby. We must not forget that every baby is unique in itself. It is essential to observe the signals it gives and for parents to adapt accordingly.
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