The Life of Matthew

Yesterday, Mummy and Daddy took me to our first post natal class at the clinic. The topic for the day was Baby Massage.

Baby massage is a good idea for your baby because it helps the release of growth hormones, improves food absorption and blood circulation, boosts the immune system, aids sleep and reduces colic. It helps premature babies gain weight and motor development and may even help clear eczema. So I’m glad that we’re going to the class!

When we got to the classroom we found mats and cushions on the floor along with bottles of baby oil. When everybody had arrived there were 10 babies with their parents. I was the cutest!

First of all the midwife asked each family in turn if there were any problems or if anyone had any questions. I think that some of the parents were a bit jealous when Mummy said there were no problems and that I was sleeping and eating well. Don’t forget though, I’d only been home for a couple of nights so there is plenty of time for that to change!

Then the massage lesson started. All of us babies were undressed down to our nappies and put on a cushion in front of our masseur - in my case Mummy.

Mummy had to put the oil on her hands and rub them until it was warm. She then put the palm of one hand on the top of my chest and moved it down to the top of my tummy. She did the same with the other hand and repeated the movements quickly and firmly.

The next massage was to place the three fingers of each hand on my thorax and make a heart-shaped movement up and around my chest. This was repeated a number of times.

The next massage was to run two fingers across my diaphragm, first to the left and then to the right. Repeated a number of times. This helps develop my immature diaphragm (the midwife’s words, not mine) and help prevent hiccups.

The next massage was diagonal movements down across my chest followed by little dotting motions.

The final chest massage was to run the hands down my chest and “shake” the tension away.

Mummy was then shown how to massage my arms by making twisting motions on the muscles and rubbing up each side. She also rubbed my palms and the outside of my hand as well as massaging my fingers. She finished off with rubbing to shake away the tension.

All of this took about 20 minutes. After that I was dressed, weighed (I’ve put on weight which made Mummy and Daddy happy) and we went off to lunch.

Baby massage is very good and I hope I’ve been able to explain some of the techniques. I had to ask Mummy to tell me what she was taught because I was asleep throughout the whole thing!!

Next week the class is how to massage my back and head. I’ll try to stay awake for that.

Until next time, bye bye.