Maternally-administered massage and weight gain in preterm and low birthweight infants: a systematic review

Early tactile experiences have long-term effects on preterm infants’ sensory performance. Weight gain is key to infant development; while research confirms that massage impacts positively on weight gain in this population, most of the literature focuses on massage administered by health professionals/researchers. This review aims to examine whether massage provided by an infant’s mother impacts on weight gain in preterm and/or low birthweight infants.

Orla Urquhart
MSc, Clinical Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland
orla.urquhart@northerntrust.hscni.net

Callum Urquhart
DEdCPsy, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Queens University Belfast

Jacqueline Gracey
PhD, Lecturer in Health Sciences, Ulster University

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Keywords

massage; weight gain; child development; infant; low birth weight; premature; occupational therapist

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 16/ISSUE 6, NOVEMBER 2020

Effects of interactive behavioural cues-based massage on hyperbilirubinaemia, breastfeeding and growth of term infants

Infant massage is indicated for increased weight gain and improved neurodevelopment in term and preterm infants. In addition, massage therapy has been known to decrease bilirubin levels and promote stool frequency in term infants and improve self-confidence in new mothers. This study evaluates the effects of an interactive behavioural cues-based infant massage programme on admission rates for hyperbilirubinaemia, frequency of breastfeeding and the growth of healthy term infants. The findings suggest that training mothers to identify infant behaviour cues has beneficial effects.