1. Aoife Mc Evoy RGN RCN PHN CIMI 23.05.2018
Infant Massage
Aoife Mc Evoy RGN RCN PHN CIMI

2. What you are going to hear.
Brief History
Benefits of massage for baby
Benefits of massage for parents
Benefits of teaching massage for PHN
How we manage to provide massage classes in Lucan.
Questions.
What you are going to hear.

3. Back in the day. China – Shang Dynasty 16th-11th century.
Egypt – Tomb of Akmanthor in Saqqara Egypt approx 2400BCE.
India – Ayurvedic Principles.
Greece and Rome – arrived to the western world at 800BC with the Hippocrates.
Harry Harlow – Famous monkey experiment
Vimala McClure – ‘Infant Massage, a handbook for Loving Parents’ 1977
China: Massage was a treatment as a branch of chinese medicine with inscriptions on bones or tortise shells of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th Century BC)
Tomb of Akmanthor aka ‘the tomb of physicians- painting of two men kneeding their feet and hands…. This co insides with the egyptians inventing reflexology.
India- belief that people became sick when they lived out of balance….. Ayurvedic Principles are principles of touch that balance people aka massage.
Hippocrates – ‘the physician musrt be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing’
Harry Harlow’s famous monkey experiement were the first to show that infants, contact comfort is even more importantnthan food. Infant monkeys, given the choice of a wire mother figure with food or a soft, terrycloth figure without food, chose the terryclothmother figure. Human infants with failure to thrive syndrome exhibit the same type of behaviour, through giving all the food the y need, they can continue to deteriorate without interventionthat involves emotional nurturin, contact comfort and care.
Vimala – years old working in a little orphanage in Northern India. Observed Massage and benefits. First child in 1976 – c-section… boook 1977
Back in the day.

4. Benefits of Massage for BABY
Interaction
Relaxation
Relief
Stimulation
Interaction: Verbal non verbal cues, pre- language communication skills, promoting of bonding, promoting secure attachement, ono-to ono quality time, undivided attention, early contact with both parents, using all senses.
Relaxation: improved sleep patterns, increased environmental coping mechanisms, regulating behaviour states, being calm, improves self regulation, increasing flexability and normalizing muscle tone, reduce stress, higher levels of oxytocin, serotonin, lower levels of stress hhormonr – cortisol,norpinephrin, higher levels of dopamine, enjoying positive time out.
Refief: gas/colic/constipation, GI cramps, softening of skin, relaxing of muscles reducing physical tension.
Stimulation: language development – improving learning ability, muscle and tone development, stimulates: circulaatory, digestive, lymphatic, resp, nervous and vestibular system.
Sensory intigration ( Mind/Body awareness)

5. Benefits of Massage for Parents
Bonding
Improved confidence
Social
Physical effect
It’s a family affair
Bonding: Better understanding of their baby, reading and respecting baby cues, promoting bonding, promoting secure attachment.
Confidence: improved self-esteem, improved parenting skills, early involvemnet of both parents, quality time to identify babys uniqueness.
Physical: decreased stress hormone, higher levels of oxytocin and porlactin, relaxation, improved sleep, stimulates lactation, decrease in post natal depression.
Family: involves sibling, decreased sibling rivalry, better sleep, increased respect, relaxed environment, reduced conflicts.
Benefits of Massage for Parents

6. Positives for PHN See numerous Mothers and baby’s at once.
Identify mothers who are struggling… signs of PND (postnatal depression)
Shown to prevent PND
Identify baby’s who have reflux, colic, constipation etc i.e stressors
Linking mothers eg. whatsapp group
Linking mothers with other groups in the area
Positives for PHN

7. The Lucan Model First: Training Second: Qualify as CIMI Third: Policy
Fourth: Pay it Forward
Fifth: Encourage continuous communication.
Evaluate….Evaluate….Evaluate
The Lucan Model

8. Before…

9. After….

10. What parents have said….
“learning massage and meeting other parents”
“ice-breakers were good to help me feel comfortable in the class”
“enjoyed the tea and chats”
“massage for constipation very useful and it works”
“relaxed atmosphere”
“learning baby cues, its much more than hunger”
“really values this as a way to bond with my baby and get advice from PHN and other moms”
What parents have said….

11. Questions...