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Gentle Touch Training for Parents of Premature or Medically Fragile Babies |
This class teaches
If the pictures below reflect an experience familiar to you and your family, you are not alone.
The Gentle Touch Class (for the medically fragile) may be an option for you.
- Safety & precautions with common diagnosis in the NICU as it may relate to your individual circumstance
- Beyond the NICU: When I get baby home-Safe touch
- Containment holds & Nurturing Touch
- Progression from containment holds to Infant Massage strokes adapted for the premature baby & NICU
- Recognizing infant states, engagement & disengagement cues in the premature baby
- Sites to avoid massaging
- Research & the benefits: short term & long term
- Should I use oil to massage my baby?
- Contraindications
- Thinking ahead to gain more positive outcomes as my child grows
If the pictures below reflect an experience familiar to you and your family, you are not alone.
The Gentle Touch Class (for the medically fragile) may be an option for you.
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Focusing on you and your baby's health is your most important job. The Gentle Touch Class can assist you in how to touch your baby in a safe way that will not only aid in his/her growth with increased weight gain but also increase the odds for more positive outcomes long term. Your touch, actually helps your baby gain weight faster, as it stimulates the part of the nervous system that influences hormones that assist in food absorption. Also, it is not uncommon for premature babies to develop an aversion to their feet being touched due to the many heel sticks & medical procedures they received in the NICU. This can affect their development down the road when they begin to learn to crawl and walk. Other sensory issues are also commonly seen as the child grows and can affect every area of their development. Research has shown that when parents regularly touch their babies in a specific way, it helps to decrease/minimize these sensory challenges.
There is also opportunity for you to take future classes in months to come as your child grows and becomes ready for you to modify/adapt the massage strokes for his/her changing needs. This will add even more lifetime health benefits such as increased immune system and helping the brain grow. Learn more about the benefits of this class and other classes offered Here.
Many hospitals offer an NICU follow up “baby graduate” program for parents upon discharge from the NICU. These programs vary greatly, from basic to more comprehensive. Generally, such hospital NICU graduate programs provide support for the parents as they navigate life at home in caring for their baby. Occasionally, Gentle Touch & Massage education for parents are included in a program because of the many benefits for baby and family. The evidence shows that benefits include a possible decrease in readmission rates and fewer ER visits which are not uncommon, soon after discharge from NICU. When a parent learns this Gentle Touch, it can also an increase in their confidence in caring for their baby.
The Gentle Touch Class may be for you if
There is also opportunity for you to take future classes in months to come as your child grows and becomes ready for you to modify/adapt the massage strokes for his/her changing needs. This will add even more lifetime health benefits such as increased immune system and helping the brain grow. Learn more about the benefits of this class and other classes offered Here.
Many hospitals offer an NICU follow up “baby graduate” program for parents upon discharge from the NICU. These programs vary greatly, from basic to more comprehensive. Generally, such hospital NICU graduate programs provide support for the parents as they navigate life at home in caring for their baby. Occasionally, Gentle Touch & Massage education for parents are included in a program because of the many benefits for baby and family. The evidence shows that benefits include a possible decrease in readmission rates and fewer ER visits which are not uncommon, soon after discharge from NICU. When a parent learns this Gentle Touch, it can also an increase in their confidence in caring for their baby.
The Gentle Touch Class may be for you if
- You are caring for a baby who was born premature or who spent time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit)
- Your baby or child of any age has a unique diagnosis or medical condition