As a part of Saint Mary’s inpatient services, premature infants are provided with free neonatal massages during their stay in the NICU. Massage benefits for these babies are numerous, as studies suggest that premature infants who are massaged regularly gain 47% more weight, engage in restful sleep more often, exhibit increased performance on the Brazelton Scale and spend less time in the hospital.

In addition to the massages, new mothers may enlist the assistance of our holistic therapists for lessons in communication and bonding with their newborns through touch. Throughout their hospitalization, mothers may also request videos that effectively demonstrate neonatal massage.

Inpatients interested in scheduling infant massage sessions, videos or additional literature explaining the benefits of this nurturing technique, should request them through their nurse or attending physician.