AYE, THERE'S THE RUB

Christopher Phillips, 5 weeks old, was massaged by his mother, Jeanne Phillips of Scott City.

Grace Lysell, eight weeks, received a scalp massage from her mother, Jane Lysell.

Eight-week-old Grace Lysell smiled and cooed as her mother, Jane, stroked Grace's face, rubbed her arms and made circles on her belly.

The baby seemed to enjoy the massage techniques her mother was learning in the first newborn massage class offered by Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The class, which will be offered the fourth Thursday of each month at the hospital, teaches mothers like Lysell massage techniques developed for babies.

"Massage helps babies relax," said Andra Fahlberg, a nationally certified and licensed massage therapist who teaches the class. "It helps them eat better, digest their food better, eliminate better, sleep better and they are more alert when they are awake."

And when parents know how to massage their infants, it helps in the bonding process, which is good for both parent and infant, Fahlberg said.

First-time mom Jeanne Phillips of Scott City said the class gave her one more thing she can do with her 5-week-old son, Christopher.

"I'm not always sure what I can do with Christopher," Phillips said. "This gives me something I can do that's good for him, and he really seemed to like it."

Christopher quieted when his mother rubbed his legs and arms. Grace smiled when her mother lightly made clockwise circles on her belly, a technique that Fahlberg said can get the digestive system working and reduce gas.

Fahlberg also showed the mothers how to massage a baby's back, scalp and face.

"Massage helps build muscle tone, coordination and enhances the brain from the special attention," Fahlberg said. "Circulation is improved, which can speed healing. Massage enhances the immune system. And it can calm babies."

Massage can help infants heal from the birthing process, especially bruises from forceps, needle sticks, circumcision and around the umbilical cord, Fahlberg said.

"It also helps them adjust from the physical stress of birth," she said.

Fahlberg noted, however, that mothers should get some training before beginning to massage their infants because those benefits come only if the correct techniques are used.

For instance, stroking from head to toe produces a calming effect. Stroking from toe to head can be stimulating.

Also, with infants, the strokes have to be gentle and with little pressure, she said.

Fahlberg said the class at Southeast is now being offered once per month, but more classes could be added if there is interest.

Massage should only be performed on babies that weigh at least 3 pounds and are medically stable. It should not be performed on infants with a fever over 100 or on areas with a fracture or directly on an incision or injury (though massaging around an incision or injury can promote healing). If the infant has medical problems, parents should check with their baby's doctor before performing massage.

"You need to be sure you are doing it the right way," Fahlberg said.

For more information about infant massage or to register for the class, call the Generations Center at 651-5825.