Paternal Involvement via Infant Massage - Improved Health Outcomes for Mothers and Infants

Paternal involvement as it relates to pregnancy and birth outcomes is an emerging topic of interest across the United States. In fact, the first ever meeting to consider the roles of partners in mother and infant health outcomes from preconception to the first year of life was held in the fall of 2013 and sponsored by National Institutes for Health and the US Department of Health and Human Services, and was attended by one of the authors.

Infant massage has been shown to have numerous benefits for preterm infants especially, including increased growth, reduced stress behaviors, improved sleep and improved parent/infant interaction or bonding. In addition to the benefits in early infant survival, infant massage promotes bonding and positive interaction between caregivers and infants. Fathers and partners are eager to help, and often feeding is the only approach that is seen; if this energy were focused on provision of infant massage, this would be a breastfeeding supportive, healthy and immediate way to become involved. The research-based rationale for this effort will be presented, with discussion as to how fathers and partners would benefit from reduced stress and increased bonding as well as the infant benefits noted above.  We will also explore whether this increased secure bonding in partners may lead to more support for the mother, contributing to her success in her breastfeeding goals. Suggestions for future research topics and ideas for program implementation will be included for discussion.