Читать книгу Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion: Complimentary and traditional care - Lilian Paramor - Страница 66

Baby has been cradled securely in your womb for his entire existence so far. The sudden withdrawal of this warmth and security, coupled with the belief of many parents that too much touching or will lead to spoiling, is a rude shock for some babies. Touch is a basic human need and extremely therapeutic. Research shows that regular massage strengthens the immune system, improves health, and lowers stress levels, and promotes faster growth in premature babies. What seems to be colic but might just be a cry from the heart (is this what is meant by ‘gut feelings’?). The solution too might be simple: have skin-to-skin contact with your small baby.

On the other hand, too much touching by strangers is not a good idea. Remember that babies who are passed from one interested visitor to the next often become very restless when this attention is withdrawn and you are quite literally left holding the niggly baby. Discourage too much handling accompanied by all the strange voices in the early weeks, well-intentioned as this is. Baby already has enough to adjust to in this strange new world.

Try these tips:

•Massage Baby with firm but gentle strokes all over before bathtime every day – just how you do it is not that important, just evolve your own style and do it regularly.

•Before Baby goes to sleep, massage her temples with gentle, circular movements, using your index fingers.

•When Baby seems uncomfortable, massage his abdomen in a clockwise direction using a little almond or grapeseed oil.

•If Baby has pain when passing a stool, hold upright and massage the lower back.

•Use a baby pouch frequently.

•Consider having Baby in bed with you or in a camp cot adjusted to the level of your mattress – this is a quite natural, human thing to do.