I was recently surprised by yet another benefit of baby massage that I had to share immediately. A friend of mine, who recently became a father, was beside himself concerned for his newborn who had jaundice.
What is Jaundice?
Jaundice is a condition where your skin, the whites of your eyes and mucous membranes turn yellow. It is caused by a build up of a pigment called bilirubin in baby’s blood and the liver is not mature enough to get rid of it. Jaundice is extremely common where some 6 in 10 babies develop it in the first days after birth. It can be resolved in a week or so. Typically, treatments include phototherapy or, in extreme cases, exchange transfusions.
My friend, who was a first time father, was distraught and they were doing their best to try everything they could at home. When I looked to see how I could help, I came to learn that baby massage can help with jaundice, according to an NIH study and by this site on infant massage.
My friend had already learned about baby massage and was ready to administer as baby was older. Neither of us knew it would be useful even sooner than expected. So, he took his learning and applied it to his baby. It didn’t take long to see the improvement. Baby’s bowel movements had improved due to the tummy massage routine. Her immunity improved as the white blood cell count increased. And the massage helped regulate her nervous system, supporting good sleep, brain growth and more.
Family Experience
I had heard about jaundice but didn’t experience it with my girls. I did, however, remember my mother-in-law recounting the stress and anxiety when all three of her children had jaundice. Her first born had the highest bilirubin levels, which can be life threatening. Baby was given a total exchange transfusion by a doctor in the middle of the night at just three days old. My mother-in-law was allowed to stay in the hospital to nurse and support her baby. Her second child had lower levels but was given a shot. She was instructed to expose him to sunlight, which she did religiously. My husband too had jaundice and was given the phototherapy treatment but my mother-in-law was not allowed to stay in the hospital. It was an awful experience for a new mother. If only they had shared with her about the efficacy of baby massage!
So, what are all the benefits?
Reduced bilirubin levels: When combined with massage, it results in reduced serum and transcutaneous bilirubin levels.
Increased defecation: Massage stimulates bowel movements, which helps body eliminate bilirubin through the stool.
Shorter phototherapy: For babies undergoing phototherapy (blue/green light), massage can reduce duration of the treatment.
Safe alternatives: As usual, there are no side effects to massaging a baby with jaundice!
Baby massage also supports the nervous system, healthy growth, release of oxytocin, and bonding between mom and baby, which are all beneficial to alleviating jaundice.
How does it help?
The methodical practice of massage increases blood circulation and stimulates more frequent bowel movements, which allows for the excretion of excess bilirubin.
The timing, technique, duration of the massage matters, which is why I teach the art and science of baby massage. If your baby has jaundice, schedule a call with me so we can help you address it right away!
