My recent experience as a Massage Therapist is teaching parents baby massage. Now, most parents want to learn these techniques to help with their child’s gas and teething discomforts, general bonding and promotion of grow.

Last month I was honoured to work with a couple who recently gave birth to their second child who unexpectedly was born with Down Syndrome.

I did some research before hand to make sure I fully understood the symptom picture of what a baby born with down syndrome would have and the massage techniques that parents can do to help him thrive.

If you are not aware of the symptom picture it can range to some or all of the following:

●      lower than average cognitive disability to severe mental disability

●      hearing loss

●      congenital heart disease

●      seizure disorders

●      cataracts

●      hypotonia or hypertonia of the muscles

●      protruding tongue

●      constipation issues

●      spinal cord compression

Massage can help:

●      improve muscle tone

●      increase performance on motor tasks

●      provide relief from constipation

●      communicate love if hearing loss has occurred

Tests are currently being done to determine the severity of his health condition, but this special little guy definitely proved that he is thriving! When the nurses on the post partum floor at the hospital told his mom that “down syndrome” babies cannot latch therefore breastfeeding was hopeless, his mom and him worked very hard and two months later they are still breastfeeding!

Massage for any baby is a way to communicate love and help stimulate sensory receptors to make them more aware of their body parts as they grow.

We started off the massage session with me (the RMT) showing how to apply pressure, technique and how each technique will affect this little body. He seemed to like the massage when his mom or I preformed it on him.

Lastly, it was dad’s turn! He watched how both of us handled his son and massaged him gently. This little guy was already five weeks old when we started massage. His dad had not felt confident in handling his little body and they did not have a physical bond yet due to his unexpected health status.

Words cannot describe the beautiful moment when he placed his son on his lap, and started to massage him just like we had practiced. This baby was so relaxed, but his eyes were wide open and locked on his father! The energy in the room was blissful because this was the first time that father and son had really physically bonded to each other!

I am so thankful for that moment and it is a story I will continue to share with others on the magic and simplicity of nurturing touch and massage within a family.

The word is that dad has made time every night after bath to massage his little guy and is empowered with massage techniques to help him strive and move forward to positive growth and love from his family.

Toddlers are walking and moving and need a little more to keep them interested. Massage or Nurturing Touch for toddlers can still be used to relax them, help them grow strong and provide physical comfort and bonding.

Massage can be done while your child is:

●      sitting and playing with toys

●      standing or being held

●      laying down to sleep

●      on their stomach playing

It is best to find a time in the day when your child is not as active and your treatments may be short and spread out (5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day). Incorporating hand or finger puppets with the massage is a great way to introduce nurturing touch.

**Incorporate massage stories and songs like itsy bitsy spider, this little piggy, twinkle twinkle little star with your massage strokes while you draw out the actions with your hands**

I educate and at times lecture to my patients, friends and family about how to detect and manage stress that may be lurking in their body, mind and spirit.

As a Woman, Friend, Sister, Girlfriend, Daughter, Grand Daughter- I seem to put the importance of helping others ahead of myself.

It came upon me one day while speaking to a friend about how “I don’t have TIME to take care of myself” …wait a minute… isn’t that exactly the excuse everyone else gives me?

I decided there and then that to achieve optimal wellness and health, I must put myself as the FIRST priority of the day.

Here Are Some Ideas I Came Up With To Put Myself First:

• Preparing good, nutritious FOOD ahead of time for meals
• Getting at least 7-8 hours of SLEEP/day
• EXERCISE every day- even if its parking far and walking more
• Drink lots and lots of WATER
• Do NOT over work-Achieving great things come in time and not by over working
• Surround yourself with people who make YOU smile
• READ a book-to get your mind off every day life
• HAVE FUN!!!

So stop over stressing about things that won’t matter tomorrow and get outside to enjoy the great weather and HAVE FUN!!

This was his first ever Massage! Lucky guy, he was in for a treat! So I thought.

You see, this little guy among many babies suffered from gas and bloating! He was up all night, and always seemed to be in pain. His abdomen was hard and he sure was trying to push gas out.

My new client told me that I was her last hope to help with his gas pain. No pressure!

So we got right to it! I started with leg pumping (individual, together with a hold and together in a clockwise motion). He started to fuss, so mommy had to soothe him for a minute.

Next I tried the Water Wheel technique, even more crying and fuss, but he let out a FART!

We had to break again, but continued with this technique and the little guy let out two more BIG farts!

I continued to show my client the rest of the colic and gas routine: I Love You technique, costal border thumb stripping, full moon/half circle and touch relaxation.

Massaging your baby twice per day for at least two weeks will NATURALLY help to improve their digestion therefore reducing gas.

I have no doubt in my mind that if this great mom continues with her techniques and avoids acidic foods, everything will work itself out!

What is a Doula?

According to DONA (Doulas of North America):

“The word ‘doula’ comes from the ancient Greek meaning ‘a woman who serves’ and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.”

Some clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

• Can result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• Will help to reduce the negative feeling about one’s childbirth experience
• Can reduce the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans
• Can decrease the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction

Role of The Doula

A doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping the partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.

A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.

A doula does not replace nurses or other medical staff. They do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care.

A Doula is there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

For your best birth experience, hire a doula to make that happen.

Contact a doula in your area: DONA International