"This class is my calm time and the time I get to enjoy rather than 'treat' my baby. It allows me to see him as my baby and it makes such a difference to how connected I feel to him."
~ Emma and Baby Leo ~
You are fundamental to your baby's development and growth, no matter what the circumstance.
|
Having a baby who is born early, who has experienced a difficult birth leading to illness or is born with health problems can be a very traumatic and overwhelming experience for you and your baby. Your baby can sense and feel your touch and recognise your special voice and scent. Getting to know your baby through positive nurturing touch can help to encourage your special connection together, enhance bonding and can give you a greater sense of confidence as a parent.
A dialogue through touchIn our Association Baby Massage is not considered a treatment or therapy, it is a two-way communication; a dialogue through nurturing touch between you and your baby. The most important element to this dialogue, in any circumstance, is that it is cue-based and carried out in synchrony with your baby.
|
Sunflower Family, Shelly, Martin & Baby Willow,
born at 34 weeks |
Take a look at my blog post for further information on 'How to enhance bonding and increase attunement through touch with our babies born early, with illness or health problems'
Enjoy quiet one-to-one time
~ Connect. Bond. Nurture ~
Sunflower Baby Leo with Mummy, Emma |
Sunflower Baby Massage offers relaxed, personal and bespoke courses for those more special situations. This tailored baby massage course can be facilitated from the comfort of your own home and is a lovely way to take time-out, nurture and get to know your beautiful baby, simply as your baby ~ away from diagnosis, treatments, medical notes and all the other throes of life.
This quiet-time you spend watching, communicating and connecting with your baby through nurturing touch will help you to gain a deeper understanding for their unique ways of responding to the world and enhance your bond together. Through their cues, your baby will let you know what kind of touch they are able to receive and what works for them as individuals at that particular time.
|
Personal and bespoke courses start with a home visit
|
This personal and bespoke course is completely led by your baby and therefore tailored and adapted to your baby's individual needs during each class. Upon initial contact a home/hospital visit will be arranged to find out a little more about you, your journey and your baby's unique situation.
As part of this initial visit I go through what is known as the five-step dialogue of positive nurturing touch, which will not only give you the opportunity to get to know your baby and their unique ways of interacting with the world, but will also give you a greater sense of confidence as a parent, as the best expert on your baby.
|
Smiley Sunflower Baby, Harri enjoying a lovely back massage.
|
The wonderful cue-based dialogue that you create with your baby also communicates your love and the respect that you have for them, and helps your baby to build trust and get used to the feeling of your loving touch.
Loving touch
The soft touch of your hands will sooth, calm, reassure and communicate love to your baby. The latest scientific research confirms that your touch is vital to the development and wellness of your baby - easing discomfort, releasing tension and improving sleep, feeding and weight gain.
Your role, your baby's role and my role as a CIMI
|
As the parent of your baby you are the best expert on your baby, and your baby is your best teacher. As an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) it is my role to simply facilitate, guide and support you through this process as you learn the holds and massage strokes that are associated with yours and your baby's unique dialogue.
No matter what the circumstance, you are a fundamental part of your baby's development and growth. Your baby will quickly recognise the incredible love that flows through your hands, as you discover your wonderful dialogue together; a dialogue that will continue to grow as your baby does, encouraging a lifetime of love, trust and intimacy between you both.
|
|
Recommended reading:
Caring for your Baby in the Neonatal Unit
|
By Inga Warren and Cherry Bond
This unique book is for all parents who have, or about to have, preterm or newborn babies in need of neonatal or hospital care. It guides them, step by step, from the early days in intensive care until their baby is ready to go home. It supports parents to play a vital part in their baby's care and development right from the start, no matter how early, small or sick they may be. Many health professionals have also used this book, as it promotes cutting-edge family centred developmental care, including week-by-week developing progression of the preterm baby, infant cues and reflexes to look for, as well as weight conversion charts and quick-look charts. |
|
You can purchase this wonderful book from www.earlybabies.com