Adults exposed to rosemary showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power, suggesting increased alertness. They also had lower anxiety levels and performed math computations faster. Adults exposed to lavender showed increased beta power, suggesting increased relaxation. They performed math computations not only faster but also with fewer errors and had less depressed mood

EEG asymmetry responses aromas International Journal of Neuroscience math computations (+) beta power (-) decreased depression increased relaxation (+) lavender decreased anxiety (-) increased alertness (+) decreased frontal alpha (-) rosemary Technique Aromatherapy Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Rosemary Aromatherapy Other Lavender Non-Specific Non-Massage Adults Infants None Emotion Neurological Task/Test Anxiety Depression Frontal Alpha & Beta Power Math Performance

Adults exposed to rosemary showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power, suggesting increased alertness. They also had lower anxiety levels and performed math computations faster. Adults exposed to lavender showed increased beta power, suggesting increased relaxation. They performed math computations not only faster but also with fewer errors and had less depressed mood

EEG lavender rosemary depressed & non-depressed mothers Infant Behavior and Development math computations (+) beta power (-) decreased depression (-) increased relaxation (+) decreased anxiety (-) increased alertness (+) decreased frontal alpha (-) Technique Aromatherapy Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Rosemary Aromatherapy Other Lavender Non-Specific Non-Massage Adults Infants Emotion Neurological Task/Test Anxiety Depression Frontal Alpha & Beta Power Math Performance

Massaged newborns had fewer postnatal complications and showed increased weight gain, and better performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (particularly on the motor scale), and less stress behaviors following 10 days of massage.

Cocaine exposed preterm neonates behavioral differences (-) hormonal differences Pediatrics Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (+) Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional 10 Days=10 Visits frequency Day Daily Newborns Drug Exposed behavior task/test risk Stress Behaviors (-) Brazelton Neonatal Behavior (+) Weight Gain (+) Postnatal Complications (-)

Massaged newborns had fewer postnatal complications and showed increased weight gain, and better performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (particularly on the motor scale), and less stress behaviors following 10 days of massage.

year-? Cocaine-exposed children right frontal EEG asymmetry (+) non-empatheric behavior (+) International Journal of Neuroscience Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (+) Infants Infants Infants Newborns Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional 10 Days=10 Visits frequency Day Daily Newborns Drug Exposed behavior task/test risk Stress Behaviors (-) Brazelton Neonatal Behavior (+) Weight Gain (+) Postnatal Complications (-)

Infants showed more eye contact when adults, who were smiling and cooing, also touched them as compared to infants who received smiling and cooing without touch.

Infant preference touch stimulation face-to-face interactions Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology touch Infants Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine positive results Smiling and Cooing while Touching Smiling and Cooing Infants Non-Specific behavior Eye Contact (+)

Depressed mothers increased their infant's positive affect and attentiveness by providing touch stimulation.

Depressed mothers' touching still-face interactions Child Development Emotion Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Touch Stimulation NonProfessional Infants Non-Specific Depression

Infants with Down syndrome improved in muscle tone and in performance on motor tasks following massage therapy.

year-? motor function (+) Journal of Early Intervention Motor Tasks (Performance) (+) Disease Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Infants Down Syndrome Non-Specific task/test ortho Motor Tasks (+) Muscle Tone (+)

Elderly retired volunteers were assessed after giving infants massage for a month versus receiving massage for a month themselves. Results were: 1) they reported less anxiety and fewer depressive symptoms and an improved mood after giving infants massage; 2) their pulse decreased; 3) their cortisol levels decreased; and 4) they reported improved self esteem and a better lifestyle (e.g. fewer doctor visits and more social contacts) after the one month period. These effects were stronger for giving infants the massages than receiving massages themselves, suggesting that the massager can benefit from simply giving massages.

Elder retired volunteers Journal of Applied Gerontology compare Giving MassagexReceiving Massage doctor visits (-) social contacts (+) Self-Report Technique Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive resultsMassage Professional Volunteer Massage NonProfessional frequency Month Monthly Elderly Infants None emotion lab behavior psych/soc cardi/pulm Anxiety (-) Depression (-) Mood (+) Cortisol (-) Life Style (+) Self Esteem (+) Pulse (-)

Fathers gave their infants daily massages 15 minutes prior to bedtime for one month. The fathers in the massage group showed more optimal interaction behavior with their infants.

Father-infants interactions (+) Early Child Development and Care optimal Interaction Behavior (+) Technique compare Massage GroupxNon Massage Group Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage NonProfessional Fathers frequency Month monthly Daily (Parent Massage-15 min prior Bedtime)=30 visits Infants behavior Infant Interaction (+)

Infants who received massage therapy versus those who were rocked experienced 1) greater daily weight gain; 2) more organized sleep/wake behaviors; 3) less fussiness; 4) improved sociability and soothability, 5) improved interaction behaviors; and 6) lower cortisol and norepinephrine and increased serotonin levels (suggesting less depression).

IInfant Behavior and Development compare MassagexRocking Organized Sleep/Wake Behaviors (+) Sociability (+) Interaction Behaviors (+) Depression (-) Infants Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Rocking Other Non-Specific Infants Depressed Mothers emotion lab behavior risk Cortisol (-) Serotonin (+) Norepinephrine (-) Sleep Wake Behaviors (+) Fussiness (-) Social Behavior (+) Soothability (+) Daily Weight Gain (+)

Infants of intrusive mothers with depresive symptoms showed more differential responding to the facial expressions than the infants of withdrawn mothers.

EEG Depression and Anxiety compare Differential Responding to Facial Expressions Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Observation Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Infants Intrusive Mothers Depresive Symptoms Withdrawn Mothers behavior Responding to Facial Expressions (+)

Early touch interventions and their effects on high-risk infants are reviewed.

premature infants Journal of Pediatrics Early touch interventions high-risk infants Review Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Touch Interventions Other Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity undefined

Massaging the lower limbs for a few minutes enhanced habituation (or simple learning) by infants.

Infant Behavior & Development lower limbs simple learning (+) Behavior Learning (+) Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Brief Sessions Few Minutes frequency Infants None Task/test Habituation (+)

Women who had extended and early contact with their newborns looked at, talked to, and touched their infants more, watched less television, and talked less on the telephone than mothers with minimal contact with their infants. These findings suggest that increased postpartum contact with infants leads not only to more interaction, but also to more touching as well as touching in more intimate places (face and head), thus highlighting the value of rooming-in arrangements for mothers and infants.

touching newborns rooming-in minimal contact Birth compare Extended/Early Infant ContactxMinimal Infant Contact Looking (+) Talking (+) Intimate Touch (face & head) (+) television (-) telephone (-) TV Viewing (-) Telephone Talking (-) Infants Infants Newborns Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Observation Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Adults Newborns Female Mothers None behavior Infant Interaction (+) Other Behaviors (-)

Alleviating Stress in Newborns: Stressful effects of intensive care nursery environments are reviewed including the effects of high-intensity noise, bright lights, cold, invasive and painful procedures. Touch interventions were associated with 1) fewer startle responses, 2) decreased need for ventilation, and 3) fewer clenched fists. The stimulated infants averaged greater weight gain, were awake and active for a greater period of time and scored better on the Brazelton Scale.

stress intensive care unit Perinatology intensive care nursery high-intensity noise bright lights cold invasive painful awake (+) Infants Infants Newborns Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Touch Interventions Environmental Stressors Observation Other Newborns Non-Specific behavior tsk/test risk cardi/pulm Startle Responses (-) Clenched Fists (-) Alertness (+) Activity Levels (+) Brazelton Neonatal Behavior (+) Ventilation Needs (-) Weight Gain (+)

Preschoolers demonstrated less "task" related touch but more "communication" related touch in their classroom as compared to the infants and toddlers in their classrooms. Affectionate touch and aggressive touch was more prevalent among toddlers than other age children.

nursery school Early Child Development and Care compare Classroom Behavior PreschoolersxClassroom Behavior Infants Toddlers Preschoolers Communication Related Touch (+) classroom infants toddlers Behavior Touch Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Observation Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Children Infants None behavior Task Related Touch (-) Communication Touch (+) Affectionate Touch (+) Aggressive Touch (+)

Preterm infants gained more weight following as few as 5 days of massage therapy.

weight (+) Journal of Pediatric Psychology Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional frequency 5 Days=5 Visits Day Daily Preterm Neonate Prematurity Risk Weight Gain (+)

Routine heelstick procedures and tactile-kinesthetic massage were performed on stabilized preterm neonates to examine the differential effects on Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension (TcPO2). TcPO2 levels during the heelstick were significantly lower than during the massage stimulation. The findings indicate that social forms of touch such as massage do not appear to have a medically compromising effect on TcPO2.

Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension (+x-) Infant Behavior and Development MassagexHeelstick Procedures TcPO2 (+x-) tactile-kinesthetic massage stabilized preterm neonates social touch Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Heelstick Procedures Other Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity cardi/pulm Transcutaneous O2 Tension (-)

Preterm infants gained 47% more weight, became more socially responsive, and were discharged 6 days earlier at a hospital cost savings of $10,000 per infant (or 4.7 billion dollars if the 470,000 preemies born each year were massaged). The underlying biological mechanism for weight gain in the massaged preterm newborns may be an increase in vagal tone and, in turn, an increase in insulin (food absorption hormone).

Tactile/ kinesthetic stimulation Pediatrics Social Responsiveness hospital cost (-) preemies vagal tone (+) insulin (+) food absorption hormone (+) Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Preterm Neonate Non-Specific Prematurity behavior risk Social Behavior (+) Weight Gain (+) Discharge Date (-)

Although the underlying mechanism for this relationship between massage therapy and weight gain has not yet been established, possibilities that have been explored in studies with both humans and rats include (a) increased protein synthesis, (b) increased vagal activity that releases food-absorption hormones like insulin and enhances gastric motility and (c) decreased cortisol levels leading to increased oxytocin.

weight gain preterm infants Current Directions in Psychological Science Food Absorbption Hormones (+) Review Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Rubbing Other non-specific Preterm Neonate Rats Prematurity lab neurological gastro/intest Cortisol (-) Protein Synthesis (+) Insulin Levels (+) Oxytocin Levels (+) Vagal Activity (+)

Preterm infants who were massaged before sleep fell asleep more quickly and slept more soundly with better sleep patterns. They showed improved weight gain as compared to infants who were not massaged before sleep.

tactile/kinesthetic stimulation sleep/wake behavior Infant Behavior and Development compare MassagexNon Massage Sleep Patterns (+) massaged Sound Sleep (+) Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional non-specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity neurological risk ADL Sleep Depth (+) Weight Gain (+) Time to Fall Asleep (-)

Preterm Infants received tactile/kinesthetic stimulation over a 10-day period. The infants averaged 21% greater weight gain per day and spent more time awake and active during sleep/wake behavior observations.

growth replication Infant Behavior and Development tactile/kinesthetic stimulation Sleep/ Wake Behavior Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute abstract positive results Massage Professional Preterm Neonate frequency Prematurity behavior risk ADL Alertness (+) Activity Levels (+) Weight Gain (+) Sleep (-)

Preterm infants received three daily 15-minute massages for 10 days. The massage therapy infants gained significantly more weight per day than did the control infants. For the massage therapy group, the pattern of greater caloric intake and more days in Intermediate care before the study period along with more obstetric complications differentiated the high from the low weight gainers, suggesting that the infants who had experienced more complications before the study benefited more from the massage therapy.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics compare MassagexNon Massage weight (+) control infants high weight gainers low weight gainers Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional frequency 3x/day=15 min/Session=10 Day Daily Preterm Neonate Prematurity lab risk Caloric Intake (+) Weight Gain (+) Days In Intermediate Care (+) Obstetric Complications (+)

Preterm infants received three daily 15-minute massages for 10 days. The massage therapy infants gained significantly more weight per day than did the control infants. For the massage therapy group, the pattern of greater caloric intake and more days in Intermediate care before the study period along with more obstetric complications differentiated the high from the low weight gainers, suggesting that the infants who had experienced more complications before the study benefited more from the massage therapy.

-Seminars in Neonatology compare MassagexNon Massage weight (+) control infants high weight gainers low weight gainers Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional frequency 3x/day=15 min/Session=10 Day Daily Preterm Neonate Prematurity lab risk Caloric Intake (+) Weight Gain (+) Days In Intermediate Care (+) Obstetric Complications (+)

Preterm infants who received massage therapy as newborns showed greater weight gain and more optimal cognitive and motor development eight months later.

growth and development preterm newborns Cognitive and Motor Development (+) Pediatric Nursing Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity psych/soc risk Cognitive Development (+) Motor Development (+) Weight Gain (+)

In a review of preterm infant massage studies, massage therapy was found to facilitate weight gain only when the intervention was started when the preterm infant weighed between 1100 and 1300 g.

Letter-to-the-Editor Evidence-Based Medicine Pediatrics Weight Gain (Timing Between 1100 &1300 g.) (+) Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity risk Weight Gain

In a review of preterm infant massage studies, massage therapy was found to facilitate weight gain only when the intervention was started when the preterm infant weighed between 1100 and 1300 g.

Current Directions in Psychological Science Weight Gain (Timing Between 1100 &1300 g.) (+) Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity risk Weight Gain

Massage Therapy for Infants and Children: The effects of massage therapy on infants and children with various medical conditions are reviewed. The conditions range from infants who are premature, cocaine-exposed, HIV-exposed and infants of depressed mothers. The childhood conditions include asthma, burns, cancer, dermatitis, diabetes, eating disorders (bulimia), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric disorders.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics infants of depressed mothers asthma burns cancer dermatitis diabetes eating disorders (bulimia) juvenile rheumatoid arthritis posttraumatic stress disorder psychiatric disorders Review Massage Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract variables-? results-? Massage Professional non-specific Infants Children preterm Preterm Neonate Prematurity Drug Exposed HIV+ undefined

Massage Therapy Effects on Infants and Children: Infant and child massage therapy studies ranging across several conditions are reviewed along with recommendations to pediatricians and parents.

Contemporary Pediatrics Massage Therapy Effects massage therapy studies Review Massage Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract variables-? results-? Massage Professional Non-Specific Children Infants None Massage Professional Non-Specific Children Infants None

Massage Therapy Effects: Infant, child and adult massage therapy studies ranging across many conditions including attention disorders, depression, addictions, pain syndrome, immune and autoimmune disorders are reviewed along with potential underlying mechanisms.

Massage therapy effects American Psychologist attention disorders addictions Immune Disorders Autoimmune Disorders pain syndrome underlying mechanisms Review Massage Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine variables-? results-? Massage Professional non-specific Adults Children Infants ADHD Depression Pain undefined

Infants who received massage therapy before bedtime by a parent experienced less difficulty falling asleep and better sleep patterns.

Sleep problems Early Child Development and Care bedtime Behavior Sleep Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Infants None ADL Falling Asleep (+) Sleep Patterns (+)

Preterm infants who received tactile stimulation showed greater weight gain. A potential underlying mechanism for the massage/weight gain relationship is an increase in vagal tone, which in turn increases food absorption.

Stimulation preterm infants Pediatrics in Review massage/Weight Gain Mechanism=+Vagal Tone=+Food Absorption Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity risk Weight Gain (+)

Preterm infants who received tactile stimulation showed greater weight gain. A potential underlying mechanism for the massage/weight gain relationship is an increase in vagal tone, which in turn increases food absorption.

Stimulation preterm infants Pediatrics in Review massage/Weight Gain Mechanism=+Vagal Tone=+Food Absorption Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity risk Weight Gain (+)

Preterm infants who received tactile stimulation showed greater weight gain. A potential underlying mechanism for the massage/weight gain relationship is an increase in vagal tone, which in turn increases food absorption.

Stimulation preterm infants Social Policy Report massage/Weight Gain Mechanism=+Vagal Tone=+Food Absorption Infants Infants Premature Preterm Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity Massage Professional Non-Specific Preterm Neonate Prematurity risk Weight Gain (+)

Infants of depressed mothers took longer to habituate their mothers' face/voice and afterwards displayed no visual preference for mother or stranger, compared to infants of non-depressed mothers who showed a novelty preference for stranger.

Infant Mental Health Journal (In Press) compare Infants Depressed MothersxInfants Non-Depressed Mothers HabituatIon (mothers' face/voice) Visual Preference (Mother/Stranger) novelty preference Infants Face Discrimination Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract results-? Observation Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Newborns Depressed Mothers behavior HabituatIon (-) Visual Preference (-)

Infants of depressed mothers exposed to rosemary or lavender oil showed a shift in EEG toward greater relative left frontal asymmetry. This shift is associated with an approaching pattern of behavior and response to positive stimuli.

lavendar rosemary nopub year-? left frontal asymmetry (+) Infants Odor Perception Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Aromatherapy Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Infants Depressed Mothers neurological EEG (+)

Infants of depressed mothers exposed to rosemary or lavender oil showed a shift in EEG toward greater relative left frontal asymmetry. This shift is associated with an approaching pattern of behavior and response to positive stimuli.

lavendar rosemary International Journal of Neuroscience left frontal asymmetry (+) Infants Odor Perception Touch Research Institute University of Miami School of Medicine abstract positive results Aromatherapy Other Non-Specific Non-Massage Infants Depressed Mothers neurological EEG (+)

Oil massage is a time-tested method of infant care practiced all over the world and is known to have beneficial effects. "Traditional systems of medicine in India advocate oil massage as an integral part of infant care," Dr. K. N. Agarwal writes in a recent issueof the Indian Journal of Medical Research. Agarwal and his team from the University College of Medical Sciences in Delhi studied the effectof oil massage on 125 healthy infants. The infants were approximately 6 weeks of age and were divided into five groups. Four groups received oil massage with herbal oil, sesame oil, mustard oil, and a mix of mineral oil with vitamin E, respectively. The fifth group served as "control group"and did not receive any massage. The mothers were taught to massage the legs, back, arms, chest, abdomen, face and head inthat order. Oil massage was advised for a total of 10 minutes daily and was continued for 4 weeks. On completion of the study, the researchers observed that weight, body length, head circumference, girth of arm and leg was increased in the four groups that received oil massage. The most significant increase was seen in the group that received massage with sesame oil. The length, arm and leg girth in this group were 1 centimeter (cm), 0.9 cm and 0.7 cm more than that of the control group, respectively. A significant increase in the blood flow through the femoral artery, the main artery supplying the leg, was also seen in this group. The investigators also observed that the infants slept better soon after the massage. The beneficial effects on growth and sleep are probably due to increased blood flow and increasein levels of growth promoting hormones like growth hormone and insulin, the authors explained. Vegetable oils such as sesame oil are best suited for massage as they have a beneficial effect on growth and blood flow, and are better absorbed as compared to mineral oil, Agarwal and colleagues concluded.

Infant Massage (Use of Oil) sleep (+) India Indian Journal of Medical Research Technique Infants Newborns Oil massage infant care Traditional Indian medicine healthy infants age=6 weeks five groups Four treatment groups one control group herbal oil sesame oil mustard oil mineral oil vitamin E mix sequential massage legs back arms chest abdomen face head 10 minutes daily 4 weeks most significant increase sesame oil group Bron: Reuters Health AMTA Foundation University College of Medical Sciences Delhi India abstract positive cardi/pulm measurments Blood Flow (+) Weight (+) Body Length (+) Head Circumference Girth of Arm and Leg (+) cardi/pulm measurments Blood Flow (+) Weight (+) Body Length (+) Head Circumference Girth of Arm and Leg (+) Age, Arteries, Article, Blood, Blood Circulation, Blood Flow, Blood-flow, Communities, Community, Control Group, Department, effect, effects, Female, Growth, Healthy, Hospital, Human, ii, Increase, Infant, Infant,Newborn, Infants, Length, Lubrication, Male, Massage, Measurement, Medical, Medical Sciences, Methods, Oil, Oils, Protein, Proteins, Science, Serum, Sleep, Use

The biochemical and clinical response to massage in preterm infants was assessed. Eleven stable infants, of 29 weeks' median gestational age, median birth weight 980 g, and median postnatal age 20 days, were studied. Blood samples were obtained for the determination of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol 45 minutes before the start of massage and approximately one hour after completion of massage. Cortisol, but not catecholamine, concentrations decreased consistently after massage (median difference -35.8 nmol/l; 95% confidence interval - 0.5 to -94.0, Wilcoxon matched pairs). There was a slight decrease in skin temperature (median difference -0.36 degrees C, 95% confidence interval -0.09 to -0.65) but there was no change in oxygenation or oxygen requirement. This study has shown that it is possible to detect an objective hormonal change following a supposedly 'non-therapeutic' intervention in preterm infants. The development of such methods of assessment are likely to be of particular relevance in the extremely immature or ill neonate in whom behavioural evaluation cannot play more than a limited part.

plasma cortisol catecholamine preterm infants Archives of Disease in Childhood Infants Premature Preterm biochemical clinical response median gestational age median birth weight median postnatal age Blood samples catecholamine (0) Wilcoxon matched pairs oxygen requirement objective hormonal change non-therapeutic immature neonate ill neonate behavioural evaluation AMTA Foundation Royal Postgraduate Medical School abstract positive evaluation Massage Professional frequency Brief Sessions Preterm Neonate Prematurity lab Cortisol (-) Adrenaline (0)Skin Temperature (-) Noradrenaline (0) Oxygenation (0) Adrenaline, Age, Article, Biochemical, Birth, Birth Weight,Birth-weight, Blood, Catecholamines, Catecholamines/bl [Blood], Clinical, Concentration, Cortisol, Department, Evaluation, Gestational Age, Human, Hydrocortisone, Hydrocortisone/bl [Blood], Infant, Infant,Newborn, Infant,Premature/bl [Blood], Infants, Intervention, London, Male, Massage, Medical, Medicine, Methods, Noradrenaline, Oxygen, Oxygen/tu [Therapeutic Use], Plasma, Postnatal, Preterm infants, Quality of Life, Relevance, Skin, Skin Temperature, Temperature

In this paper the author reviews six years of running an on-going baby massage group in a health clinic and makes observations, based on experience, on the importance of offering these classes in health centres where they are accessible to all parents with young babies. As baby massage classes are becoming increasingly popular, private individuals are offering classes and, in some cases, there is doubt as to the qualifications of the instructors, their understanding, and their ability to give sufficient support to young mothers at a vulnerable stage in their lives. The quality of training given by the International Association of Infant Massage Instructors based in the USA is appraised and some thoughts are given as to the way ahead in making more baby massage classes available to all parents within the Primary Preventive Health setting.

Infant Massage (Review of Program) Teaching baby massage new parents Complementary Therapies in Nursing & Midwifery Infants Baby Massage baby massage group International Association of Infant Massage Instructors Primary Preventive Health AMTA Foundation Medline PubMed NLM abstract variables-? results-? Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust Barnsbury Family Health Clinic Non-Specific Mothers Teaching Massage Teaching Massage Observation Adult, Article, Association, Communities, Community, Experience, Families, Family, Family Health, Female, Health, Holistic Nursing/mt [Methods], Human, Infant, infant massage, Infant,Newborn, London, Male, Massage, Massage/mt [Methods], Mothers, Neonatal Nursing/mt [Methods], Parenting, Parents, patient education, Primary, Quality, Review, Running, Support, Teaching, Training, Young

Intracranial haemorrhage is usually a very rare occurrence in the fetus before the onset of labour but we have identified major, mostly subdural, prenatal intracranial haemorrhages in 47 infants of immigrant Pacific Islander parentage. Forty-four infants have been stillborn and the numbers from 1983 to 1986 were sufficient to account for the stillbirth rate for Pacific Islanders in Auckland being approximately 60% higher than rates for Europeans or Maoris. Two of three liveborn infants survived with neurological sequelae. Similar haemorrhages may be the cause of a congenital hydrocephalus in Pacific Islanders. A bleeding disorder can be excluded in most cases, as can trauma from accidents or assaults. Trauma during attempts at cephalic version of breech presentations by traditional methods could explain why 53% of deliveries were breech and other pathological and clinical features. Advice at antenatal clinics about possible dangers of traditional massage has coincided with a reduction in the incidence of haemorrhages since 1986.

Intracranial Haemorrhages Pacific Islander infants traditional massage New Zealand Medical Journal Disease foreign New Zealand fetus labour subdural prenatal immigrant Pacific Islanders Auckland Europeans Maoris liveborn infants neurological sequelae congenital hydrocephalus bleeding cephalic breech pathological clinical antenatal clinics abstract negative AMTA Foundation Medline PubMed NLM Princess Mary Hospital for Children, Auckland Massage NonProfessional Non-Specific Pregnancy Cranial Hemorrhages Fetus Stillborn risk Cranial Hemorrhages (+) Stillborn (+) Accidents, Adult, Article, Case Report, Cerebral Hemorrhage/et [Etiology], Children, Clinical, Danger, Delivery, Female, Fetal Death/et [Etiology], Fetal Diseases/et [Etiology], Fetus, Hospital, Human, Incidence, Infant, Infant,Newborn, Infants, Massage, Massage/ae [Adverse Effects], Medicine,Traditional, Methods, New Zealand, Pacific Islands/eh [Ethnology], Pregnancy, Trauma