Using Infant Massage to Alleviate Postpartum Depression

Having a baby can be one of the most exhilarating and joyful experiences, but for some women, postpartum depression can make the transition into motherhood very difficult. Postpartum depression can start during pregnancy or after childbirth and typically includes symptoms of extreme sadness, anxiety, insomnia, or changes in appetite and energy levels.

It's estimated that one in seven women experience postpartum depression (Mughal et al., 2022). Depression and anxiety during pregnancy, a family history of depression, stressful events, and limited support have been strongly associated with postpartum depression (Robertson et al., 2004). Untreated postpartum depression not only impacts the mother but can also negatively affect the baby and early attachment.

Treatment options for postpartum depression often include using antidepressants, counseling, hormone therapy, or injections such as Zulresso. Other alternative treatments may include dietary interventions, exercise, yoga and meditation, sun exposure, and increasing social support. In addition, infant massages serve as another complementary approach that may help relieve postpartum depression symptoms and improve mother-infant interactions.

Benefits of Infant Massage

Infant massages consist of soft, rhythmic stroking of a baby’s body that encourages relaxation and connection. It is believed that when mothers give their babies a massage, the hormone oxytocin is released, which can have positive effects on mood. Mothers also learn their baby's cues and see how their babies respond to their touch. Even at an early age, babies can communicate by vocalizing pleasure or displeasure with certain strokes and techniques.

According to the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) health benefits for the baby may include improved self-regulation and sleep, stimulation of body systems (including digestive, hormonal, immune, and circulatory systems), joint mobility, and better coordination and body awareness. Several studies have found that infant massages may improve bonding and help decrease postpartum depression.

In one study, for example, mothers with an elevated score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at four weeks postpartum were randomly assigned to attend a baby massage class or a support group. They completed questionnaires and were filmed interacting with their infants before and after six intervention sessions and at one-year follow-up. Both intervention groups showed reduced depression scores, but mothers in the massage group achieved more of a reduction in EPDS score (87 percent) than the support group (63 percent) over the study period (O’Higgins et al. 2008).

A study in Norway also explored mothers’ experiences of learning infant massages and the role massages played in attachment. Participants were invited to a group intervention for mothers who struggled with the transition to motherhood. The first part of the group taught mothers a course on infant massage based on IAIM principles. The second part provided education and facilitated support and connection between the mothers.

Regarding their experiences with the infant massages, mothers reported feeling attached to their babies and attentive to their baby's cues. They reported how the massages gave them a way of communicating with their baby when they initially didn't know how. Overall, mothers expressed positive experiences with the infant massages and saw this practice as an opportunity for emotional and physical connection with their babies (Midtsund et al. ,2018).

Infant massages may especially benefit babies born preterm and their mothers. Having a baby born preterm or under 37 weeks gestation puts the mother at a higher risk for postpartum depression (de Paula-Eduardo et al., 2019). Researchers found that mothers performing massages on their preterm babies showed greater improvements in mood and the quality of care they provided to their babies (Lotfalipour et al., 2019).

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Massaging your baby doesn’t require lengthy classes or fancy techniques. It can be as simple as stroking your baby's body while singing or humming to them. With practice, you will learn how to recognize and respond to your baby's cues, and your baby will learn to express herself more with you. There are several resources to help teach you different techniques and approaches. In particular, Infant Massage USA or The International Association of Infant Massage can be a good start.

When it comes to postpartum depression, make sure to seek out appropriate medical care for you and your child. Using infant massages may serve as an additional tool to increase bonding and alleviate postpartum depression symptoms, but it shouldn't take the place of other necessary treatments. Massaging your baby can be a joyful and interactive experience for you and your baby and help you get to know each other through shared vocalizations, smiles, and cues.

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