The Effects of Massage Therapy on Term Neonates Development and on Maternal Bonding

Postnatal Depression, Infant Development, Breastfeeding

infant massage

This study collects data from 2 groups of mother- term neonate pairs at the Neonatal Department of Children Hospital II, Ho Chi Minh City (in group M: neonates are massaged by their mothers during the first 2 months after birth, in group X: neonates are not massaged), and then, evaluates the effects of Massage Therapy on the mental and physical development of neonates and on maternal bonding (breast feeding, postnatal depression) during the first 2 months after birth.

Infant Massage has been known for a long time, almost as far back as the first time it was recorded around 1800 BC. This was one of the original forms of medicine before the medical revolution broke out in the 1940s. To date, more than 600 studies have been published on the effects of weight gain on massaged infants, primarily in preterm infants. In addition, the latest research also helps identify other effects such as shortening hospital time, better sleep, reducing pain, crying less, strengthen immunity, reducing bilirubin in neonates with jaundice. On the other hand, the effect of the parent direct massage for children is also determined, the reports show an improvement in the parent-child interaction, increase breastfeeding, and reduce breastfeeding. The rate of postpartum depression reduced significantly. Steps to proceed * Step 1: Randomly select 2 groups of mother- term neonate pairs by letting every mother, who matching with eligibility criteria, draw 1 of 120 same color and size lotteries in which include 1 to 120 numbers randomly drawn from a web page https://stattrek.com/statistics/random-number-generator.aspx . There are 2 groups of mother - term neonate pairs (60 pairs each): * Group M: neonates are massaged by their mothers during the first 2 months after birth. Mothers in this group will be given instructions on breastfeeding, and massage therapy (by principal investigator as International Association of Infant Massage Certified Instructor) in 2 days before discharge, and mothers will record Parenting Dairy form (The diary includes the number of defecation times, the number of spitting up times, the number of crying times over 15 minutes, the number of massage times, and the sleep time during the day) * Group X: neonates are not massaged. Mothers in this group will be given instructions on breastfeeding only, and they will record Dairy of taking care baby form like the other group. * Step 2: At 1 day after discharge, the investigator make a phone call with mothers of group M to track and remind them massage for their babies. * Step 3: At the time of 10 days before the baby turn 1 month - old and 2 month - old, the investigator make a phone call with mothers in both groups to track and remind massage for children (group M), as well as the record Parenting Dairy (both groups) * Step 4: At the time the child turn 1 month - old and 2 month - old, the investigator make a home visit to both groups, let mothers perform Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, collect data from Parenting Dairy, assess the height - weight - head circle of the babies.

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