Tuesday, May 4, 2004 9:46 AM CDT
Baby Kneads: Moms learn to massage their babies' cares away
By Sue Smyser, Features Writer
Moms and dads have a knack for kissing away their children's hurts.
And now a new program at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center teaches new parents and parents again to massage their children's cares away.
Baby Kneads, taught by Adrian M. Donaldson, a nationally certified massage therapist and member of the American Massage Therapy Association, focuses on relieving discomfort from emotional stress, colic, teething and congestion.
"Baby Kneads instructs parents and caregivers in the art of bonding, and finding time for just them and baby," Donaldson said.
"And even if it's not their first child, it's a great way to spend 15 to 20 minutes with just those two."
Donaldson said massaging speeds neurological development by using tactical stimulation.
"It helps the nerves develop," she said.
The class is taught in a series of three sessions over a three-week period, with each class lasting about an hour.
The first sessions were taught during April and other classes are being scheduled. The cost is $25 for all three sessions.
Three mothers and their babies participated in the last class.
Lucia Grabb said she and her 8-week-old son Matthew are enjoying the time together.
She said her baby likes the massage.
"He likes being rocked, and the massage helps his stomach," Grabb said.
Another class member, Kyla Plunkett, brought her 4-month-old daughter Emma and older daughter Sydney, 5˝, to the session.
While mom does the exercises on Emma, Sydney practiced the same massage techniques using her doll.
Likewise, Donaldson uses a realistic doll whom she calls "Sam" to instructs the class.
Plunkett said the massage helps to soothe and calm her baby.
Emma seemed to enjoy the massage, smiling and responding to her mother's touch.
However, Mason Peterson, son of Jennifer Peterson, got tired and fussy shortly into the session.
Donaldson said it may have been too much stimulation for him, and babies sometimes do get too much stimulation.
But the fussing is taken in stride.
"Crying is ‘celebrated' in this class," Donaldson said.
"It's their only way to communicate with us. It's not looked down on at all. The younger the baby is, he might only be able to handle two or three minutes of massage. Whatever works."
Peterson said her baby, who is 6 weeks old, is sleeping a little longer now and she credits the class for that plus.
"I thought the class sounded interesting," she said.
In the third session, Donaldson gave a brief review of what had been taught in previous classes.
The babies were placed on a pillow that each mother brought, along with their baby's blanket.
They used grape seed oil for the massage because it's nontoxic.
Donaldson said the massage creates a special bond between mother and child.
"Bonding is important for infants and creates a lasting connection. They love our touch," Donaldson said. "You do it naturally."
The massage helps both baby and mom to relax. She asked the mothers to create a mental picture of their child.
"Is he sad, crying, big, little? How do you picture your baby?" she asked.
Before beginning the session she asked the moms to take a deep breath and exhale.
"It helps to calm you down before you work on the infant."
The babies, wearing diapers only, peered up at their moms from their pillows.
Donaldson encouraged them to talk to their babies and ask them if they would like to do some stretches.
Donaldson encouraged the mothers to talk to their baby and let them know what they were doing by showing the babies their hands and making contact.
Donaldson asked the moms to hold their baby's arms, cross one over the other in a gentle stretch, then criss-cross an arm and a leg diagonally in the same way.
After the stretches Donaldson instructed the moms to place their hands under the baby's bottom and gently bounce the infant up and down to relax them.
The class continued with the moms turning the babies on their tummies and beginning back rubs with a little oil on their hands.
Some newborns suffer from colic, but Donaldson has a massage technique to help that, too.
"Sam, would you like your belly rubbed? It's gonna help all that gas," she said to the doll.
Then she talked the moms through the technique to help crying babies and worn-out moms find some peace and quiet.
When it came time to do the legs and feet, Donaldson asked the moms to gently squeeze their baby's toes while playing "This Little Piggy ..."
"Just have fun with your baby," she said.
Contact Sue Smyser at ssmyser@jg-tc.com or 238-6864.
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