Preterm Infants, Part 1 of 4

45. 
Journal: Pediatric Nursing, 13, 385-387.

Title:  Massage of preterm newborns to improve growth and development.

Authors: Field, T., Scafidi, F., and Schanberg, S. (1987).

Conclusions: Preterm newborns who received massage therapy persisted for six months in maintaining more weight gain and better performance on development tests than those preterms not massaged.
46.
Journal: Pediatrics, 77, 654-658.

Title: Tactile/kinesthetic stimulation effects on preterm neonates.

Authors: Field, T., Schanberg, S., Scafidi, F., Bauer, C., Vega-Lahr, N., Garcia, R., Nystrom, J., & Kuhn, C. (1986).  
Conclusions: 20 preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1,280 grams who had spent a mean time of 20 days in NeoNatal Intensive Care Units (NCIU) were given massage and kinesthetic stimulation for three 15 minute periods per day for 10 days. For 5 minutes they were massaged with moderate pressure, for five minutes their limbs were moved, and for five minutes they were massaged again with moderate pressure. Compared to a control group the infants who were massaged gained an average of 47% more weight per day, were more alert and active, and on the Brazelton scale showed more mature habituation, motor, orientation and range of state behavior than those neonates not massaged. Their hospital stays averaged six days less at a savings of about $3,000 per child.
47. 
Journal: Advances in Touch. Skillman, N. J.

Title: Massage alters growth and catecholamine production in preterm newborns. *

Authors: Field, T. & Schanberg, S. M. (1990).

Conclusions: This study appears in the book, Advances in Touch, and documents the progress of 40 preterm infants who received three 15 minute sessions of massage, kinetic exercise, and massage for three consecutive hours for ten days. Compared to a control group receiving the same caloric intake, these infants gained an average of 21% more weight during the ten days. Also, they spent less time sleeping, grimacing, mouthing/yawning, and clenching their fists. This study was repeated by Scafidi, F.A., Field, T.M., Schanberg, S.M., Bauer, C.R., Tucci, K., Roberts, J., Morrow, C., & Kuhn, C.M. (1990) –  “Massage stimulates growth in preterm infants: A replication.” Infant Behavior and Development, 13, 167-188. Their results confirmed the earlier findings. Also, those infants massaged were discharged from the hospital 5 days earlier than those in the control group.
* Web-link is unavailable.