In a study currently underway, we are teaching mothers who are depressed to massage their infants. We want to examine the effects of the massage therapy on the infants' disorganized interaction behavior and their disturbed sleep patterns.
Adolescent mothers who have high Beck Depression Inventory scores are recruited for the study shortly after their infants are born. For this study we have asked depressed mothers to perform a 15-minute massage daily for a two-week period. Preliminary results suggest the following:
* Infants' drowsiness and quiet sleep increased immediately following the massage, and activity decreased, as might be expected;
* The infants' latency to sleep was shorter following the massage therapy study (by the end of the two-week period the latency to sleep decreased from 22 to 9 minutes);
* The infants' showed increased vocalizations, decreased restlessness and improved affect during mother-infant play interactions, and the mother's play behavior became more age-appropriate;
* The infants' fussiness decreased after the two-week period; and
* The infants' depressed mothers perceived their "depressed" infants as being easier to soothe.
These data on decreased fussiness and more organized sleep suggested that we should conduct studies having parents massage their colicky infants and their infants with sleep disturbances. Thus, we are using the same model for those groups.
Touch Research Institute
University of Miami School of Medicine
Tiffany Field, Ph.D.
Zero to Three Journal October/November 1993
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Knees into tummy and rocking is great for gassy tummies and colic. Naturally Loved Baby Series of 3 class 1-28-13
Friday, January 25, 2013
Open Book Stroke on the chest while chillin in carseat. This is a first but if it works, go with it! 1-18-13
Dad doing the Waterwheel Stroke on his daughter's tummy. This is helpful for colicky babies. 1-18-13
The Heart Stroke on the tummy helps with gas and constipation. 1-18-13
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
And both babies fall asleep. Massage is so relaxing and calming. Nourish 1-10-13
Sacrum circles while lying on mommas arm. This is a new position for me but if it works, go with it! Nourish 1-10-13
Open Book Stroke helps with reflux/gurd. Again, can be done sitting up or laying down. Nourish Family Center 1-10-13
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