What are the health benefits of massaging a newborn baby?

Saxena found a compromise and decided to postpone the massage for two weeks. During this time, her daughter gained less than 100g per week and she slept intermittently.

Then Saxena hired a retired nurse specializing in newborn care and learned the art of baby massage, and things got better, not only did her daughter start to sleep well, but she also got a good night’s sleep. gained weight.

Saxena’s experience supports a growing body of evidence on the incredible benefits of massaging babies in South Asia, including premature (born) babies.

Studies have shown that oil massage, when performed correctly, can increase children’s weight, prevent bacterial infections, and reduce infant mortality by up to 50%.

However, parents interested in this practice should first discuss it with their health care provider, to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for their child.

For families who cherish this intergenerational practice, the results confirm their own observations. A former advertising manager, Saxena is from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, known for its tradition of massaging mother and baby soon after birth. The Saxena family has followed this practice for generations.

“My mom always told us that she recovered much faster after I gave birth – I was her third child – and how well I was growing because she started my massage the day she got home afterwards. childbirth, ”says Saxena.

Newborn nurse Saxena taught Saxena how to heat the oils, alternately massage between pure coconut oil and almond oil, and apply it safely to her daughter’s skin while daily half-hour sessions, followed by a hot bath.

“We started the massage with light movements on the baby’s stomach and spread it to other parts of the body. Then we gently massaged the ends, then the tips of the toes up to the head to remove the trapped gas. Saxena said.

And researchers say massaging babies can provide them with health benefits that last into adulthood.

“The skin is the largest organ in the body, but we often underestimate the importance of skin care for overall health,” says Gary Darmstadt, MD, professor of neonatology and developmental medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

On her first trips to Bangladesh and India, Darmstadt noticed that families, especially mothers and grandmothers, spend a lot of time massaging their newborns.

“I was amazed to learn that this had been happening for centuries, and then I started to study it,” he says.

And in 2008, in a study of 497 premature babies who received daily massages at a hospital in Bangladesh, Darmstadt and colleagues showed that this ancient practice could save babies’ lives.

“We have seen a 40 percent reduction in the risk of infection and a 25 to 50 percent reduction in the risk of death, which is very important,” he says.

Through separate experiments, the medical team found that regular massage helped build the baby’s microbiome – the layer of bacteria found on the skin and in the gut. The microbiome plays a very important role in strengthening immunity, acting as an effective barrier that can prevent infection.

“Malnourished children who were massaged with oils had a more diverse microbiome. The oils improved the skin’s function as a barrier against infection, making it harder for bacteria to penetrate the skin, to penetrate the skin. in the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections, ”says Darmstadt.

These results were particularly critical for the management of premature babies. “In premature babies, the skin barrier does not work well, so these babies experience water loss through the skin,” explains Darmstadt. “Water evaporates from the body very quickly, therefore the body temperature drops. And when the body temperature drops that low, it can cause a threat to the life of the child.

“The infant loses a lot of energy due to hypothermia, energy that could have been directed towards growth and other aspects of bodily functions,” adds Darmstadt.

In a study not yet published by Darmstadt and his team, researchers followed 26,000 babies, not just premature babies, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Half of them were massaged with sunflower oil and the other half with mustard oil. The researchers noted an improvement in growth for all the children.

“Although there was no significant effect on the mortality of children of normal birth weight, among smaller children (birth weight less than 1.5 kg) there was a significant reduction in 52% risk of death, “says Darmstadt. .

Other researchers have found similar benefits. Study suggests that massage stimulates the vagus nerve, a long nerve that connects the brain to the abdomen, which leads to better digestion and absorption of nutrients, which in turn may help children gain weight. weight.

Plus, having a daily abdominal massage can reduce stress and pain, which can be especially important for premature babies who spend months in the hospital.

“We suggest parents start massaging their babies at birth,” says Tiffany Field, professor of pediatrics, psychology and psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine, specializing in baby massage.

Field studies on massaging premature babies from different countries encourage the practice and remind parents that it is very important to practice massage correctly.

Darmstadt also recommends a moderate approach: “What we don’t want to do, especially in premature babies, is massage vigorously, as this can damage the skin barrier and can be harmful,” he says.

* All content in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice from healthcare professionals. The BBC encourages anyone interested in baby massage to seek expert advice in advance, as improper practice of these techniques can harm young children and babies.

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