Postnatal Stimulation Baby Massage
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Preparation
Choose a moment in which you and your child are
relaxed and calm. A half hour after the baby has eaten is
recommended.
Be sure that the room temperature is warm (78 degrees
Fahrenheit). Undress the baby completely, if the weather is cold
or humid cover the areas of the baby's body that are not being
massaged.
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Put the baby on a soft surface so your baby will feel
comfortable and secure. Keep some little pillows handy. It is a
good idea to put some cream on your hands and rub them together
so they will be soft and warm. Basically the massage flows from
the head to the toes. With soft and gentle touches you will work
on the head, face, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach and legs.
While you massage your baby look tenderly at him/her. Doing this
you stimulate all the senses of the baby and establish a more
intense visual and tactile communication. Feel free to speak to
your baby, do not inhibit yourself.
Remember that your touches should be tender do not make mechanic
motions. Try to be flexible by not keeping a rigid routine.
If the baby wants to change position let them do so. Do not
force your baby to keep a position, you can go back to these
areas later on. |
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Technique
Pressure to use:
Close your eyes and press your eyelids. The pressure you should
use is the same as pressing your eyelids without any discomfort.
In the small areas use your fingertips. In bigger areas use the
palm of your hand. "Little strokes" mean to touch your baby's
skin gently and "massage" is to softly move the muscles under
the skin.
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Step by Step Description
-
The head
Touch the forehead, temples and the base of the
cranium , Eyebrows and eyelids , Nose , Cheeks , The area around
the mouth , Ears and surrounding area
-
Jaws
The frontal part of the neck
(Remember doing this very gently)
Make small strokes and massage the posterior part of the neck with
slow movements down to the shoulders.
Softly put both hands on his/her shoulders. Caress the baby from the
neck to the shoulders in the direction of his chest.
-
Shoulders and arms
Form a ring with your fingers and thumb around your child's arm.
Begin to caress around the armpit and then go down along the arm. Be
very careful when you arrive at the elbow, it is a very sensitive
region. In the wrist you can gently practice turning motions using.
Remember to take great care with all these motions.
-
Stomach
Massage the stomach in a circular way (the genitalia area is excluded
from the massage). Caress the abdomen moving your hands clockwise
beginning below the ribs.
-
Legs
Caress each leg with your whole hand, press gently on the thighs.
Slightly flex the legs and knees pressing the thighs gently against the
body.
-
Heels
and feet
A foot massage is very relaxing. Begin by putting a soft pressure on each
toe, then the foot and return to the toes again. Sometimes a foot massage
can help reduce stomach pain. Caress gently all the toes. Apply circular
movements at the heels.
-
Back
Turn your baby around.
Begin with large and slow movements that include head, neck, back and legs
always in one direction.
Give your baby soft strokes on the shoulders and back and massaging with
your fingertips with circular movements. Do not massage the spinal cord,
only put your hands over it and let the baby feel the warm sensation. You
can even make small circular movements on your baby's back. Put your hands
at the top of the legs and begin gently caressing while working your way
down towards the foot.
When you arrive to
the feet start again from the top. With soft and slow movements finish the
massage starting once again at the head and back to the toes.
Remember :
Repeat these exercises when you want to have a few
special moments with your baby.
Do them when you have adequate time for you and your
child.
Do not feel impatient if the baby does not
cooperate...simply try again later.
Sciatica
Leg cramps
Massage Therapy Symptom Category
Head
and Face :
Headache and Head Heaviness
-
Face Neuralgia
-
Eye Fatigue
-
Eyesight Going
Ear and Nose :
Snuffle
-
Chronic Rhinitis, Nasal Sinusitis
-
Pollen Rhinitis
-
Tinnitus and
Deaf
Oral and Pharynx :
Toothache
-
Stomatitis
-
Sore Throat
Neck, Shoulder, Arm, Hand, Chest :
Neck Pain, Shoulder Stiff
-
Stiff Neck
-
Periarthritis Shoulder
-
Hand and
Arm Paralysis
-
Tennis Elbow (Elbow Joint Pain)
-
Twist of the Wrist
-
Chest Pain, Intercostal Neuralgia
Low back, Back, Leg, Foot
:
Low Back Pain
-
Back Pain
-
Sciatica -
Knee Pain
-
Leg Cramps
-
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Digestive System :
Abdominal, Stomach Flatulence
-
Chronic Gastritis, Stomach Ache
-
Stomach Ulcer, Duodenal Ulcer
-
Chronic Diarrhea, Enteritis -
Constipation
-
Hemorrhoids
Respiratory System :
Colds Symptoms
-
Cough, Expectoration
-
Chronic Bronchitis
-
Asthma
-
Hiccups
Circulatory System :
Insomnia
-
Vertigo, Meniere's -
Hypersomnia, Exhausted
-
Heart Arrhythmia, Palpitations
-
Hypertension
-
Hypotension
Genitourinary System :
Cystitis,
Urinary Tract Infection
-
Nephrotic, Oedema
-
Frequent Urination
-
Erectile Dysfunction
Women Disease :
Dysmenorrhea, Menoxenia
-
Pregnancy Reaction
-
Menopausal Syndrome
-
Female
Infertility
Children Diseases :
Sleep Problems (Baby Howling)
-
Bedwetting
-
Institutional Weakness
-
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Other Common Symptom :
Weight Loss and Reducing Fat
-
Freckles, Chloasma, Acne
-
Hair Loss and
Alopecia -
Diabetes
-
Alzheimer's
