Effect of massage stimulation on weight gain in full term infants
Abstract
Background Massage is a tactile/kinesthetic stimulation with biochemical and physiological effects on the body. Newborn infant massage stimulation given by mothers may promote maternal-infant bonding and attachment, enhance infant weight gain and stimulate the production of breast milk. There have been few studies on the effect of massage stimulation on weight gain in full term infants, and this topic remains controversial.
Objective To examine the effect of massage stimulation on weight gain in full term infants.
Methods This quasi-experimental study was held in Sanglah Hospital and Bunda Setia Maternity Clinic. Massage stimulation was performed by mothers once daily for a four week period. Massage stimulation was given to 30 full term infants and their weight gain was compared to 31 control infants who did not receive massages.
Results There were no differences in subject characteristics between the massage and control groups. Median weight gain in the massage group was 1230 grams, while that in the control group was 830 grams (P=0.028).
Conclusion Weight gain in full term infants in the massage group was significantly greater than that in the control group after 4 weeks.
References
2. Roesli U. Pedoman pijat bayi kurang bulan & bayi usia 0-3 bulan. Jakarta: Trubus Agriwidya; 2001.p.11-4.
3. Rosalina I. Fisiologi pijat bayi. Bandung: Trikarsa Multi Media; 2007.p.9-12.
4. Field T, Schanberg SM, Scafidi F, Bauer C, Vega-Lahr N, Garcia R, et al. Tactile/kinesthetic stimulation effects on preterm neonates. Pediatrics. 1986;77:654-8.
5. Field T. Massage therapy facilitates weight gain in preterm infants. Curr Dir Psych Sci. 2001;10:51-4.
6. Field T. Stimulation of preterm infants. Pediatr Rev. 2003;24:4-10.
7. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Freedman J. Stimulation programs for preterm infants. Soc Policy Rep. 2004;18:1-14.
8. Field T, Diego MA, Hernandez-Reif M, Deeds O, Figuereido B. Moderate versus light pressure massage therapy leads to greater weight gain in preterm infants. Infant Behav Dev. 2006;29:574-8.
9. Diego MA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M. Vagal activity, gastric motility, and weight gain in massaged preterm neonates. J Pediatr. 2005;147:50-5.
10. Mathai S, Fernandez A, Mondkar J, Kanbur W. Effects of tactile kinesthetic stimulation in preterms: a controlled trial. Indian Pediatr. 2001;38:1091-8.
11. Dieter JNI, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Emory EK, Redzepi M. Stable preterm infants gain more weight and sleep less after five days of massage therapy. J Pediatr Psych. 2003;28:403-11.
12. Dasuki MS. Pengaruh pijat bayi terhadap kenaikan berat badan bayi umur 4 bulan [master’s thesis]. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University; 2003.
13. Liaw J. Tactile stimulation and preterm infants. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2000;14:84-103.
14. Serrano MS, Doren FM, Wilson L. Teaching Chilean mothers to massage their full-term infants: effects on maternal breast-feeding and infant weight gain at age 2 and 4 months. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2010;24:172-81.
15. Field T, Diego M. Vagal activity, early growth and emotional development. Infant Behav Dev. 2008;31:361-73.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Accepted 2016-10-11
Published 2011-08-30
