Benefits of infant massage for infants and parents in the neonatal intensive care unit

In this review of the literature, we explore the current research available on the ancient therapeutic technique of massage for infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This review identified literature to support that infant massage has beneficial effects on preterm infants, including shorter length of stay; reduced pain; and improved weight gain, feeding tolerance, and neurodevelopment. There are benefits for parents of infants hospitalized in the NICU as well. Parents who performed massage reported less stress, anxiety, and depression. Teaching parents infant massage techniques can provide benefits to both infants and their parents.

Authors: Britt Pados & Kelly McGlothen-Bell

Publication Information: Nursing for Women’s Health. 2019; 23(2): 265-271. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.004

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