Massage your baby’s eczema away

by guest blogger Nadine Hall

With one in five children, including babies, suffering from eczema, and dry skin the most common trigger in an outbreak, finding an easy and cost effective therapy you can implement into your baby’s daily skin care routine will work wonders for you both, and there is nothing better than massage for babies who suffer from eczema.

More and more new mums and dads are experiencing the wonderful pleasures massage can bring, not only in terms of relief, but the total sense of relaxation and look of pure happiness on their baby’s face.

Science Says

Researcher, Dr Tiffany Field, Ph.D., from the Touch Research Institute in Miami, who has spent the past twenty five years researching massage therapy, conducted a study on young children with eczema who received daily massage from their parents, to see whether their symptoms decreased.

For one month, the parents of the first group massaged their children’s prescribed skin treatments into their skin for 20 minutes each day.

The second group applied the skin treatment to their children’s skin with no massage.

The study found that the children from the first group who received the daily massage were less anxious and that the symptoms of redness, scaling, itching, thickening and skin abrasions had decreased significantly.

The parents also reported feeling calmer themselves after giving the massage.

The second group had a decrease in the scaling of the skin but there were no other improvements seen.

Other research has found that baby massage also strengthens the baby’s immune system, helps the baby sleep longer and deeper, develops coordination, relieves wind, colic, reflux and constipation, promotes weight gain in premature babies and can be therapeutic for mums suffering post natal depression.

Massage and your baby

While massage in the study was conducted for 20 minutes, this may be overly stimulating, so watch for cues as to when your baby has had enough. Indications may be crying, pushing your hands away, turning away or facial grimacing.

It’s also important to only massage skin that is not broken and avoid massaging areas that are weeping, bleeding or have open sores.

Only use downward strokes, so from hip to ankle, upper back to lower back and shoulder to wrist as the hair follicles grow in this direction and as baby already has dry, inflamed skin massaging against the hair growth may cause infection and be uncomfortable.

Skin Sense

When massaging your baby, use either natural, organic cold pressed plant oil such as Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel or Sesame Oil, as these oils are rich in vitamins and minerals and may assist with the healing of skin irritations. Another good option is an emollient moisturising cream that has no fragrance or essential oils, and is suitable for sensitive, eczema prone skin.

UK based paediatric research has found that massaging with Sunflower oil has shown significant results in repairing baby’s skin barrier.

With so many products on the market you may need to try a few until you find the product most suitable to your needs.

So take time out each day for baby massage– it’s precious time for you both and will result in a happier, healthier and more content baby.

Nadine Hall is an Aromatherapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor and mother of two.

Visit her website: www.naturewithin.com.au

We have 3 Nature Within Baby Massage and Bath Blend to give away.

Nature Within Baby Massage and Bath Blend

: A rich blend of Apricot Kernel and Safflower Oil combined with the skin softening properties of Calendula, Evening Primrose oil and Vitamin E. This blend will ensure your baby’s next massage is sheer bliss.

To enter: Tell us in 25 words or less why you would like to try the Nature Within Baby Massage and Bath Blend? Email your answer to info@mummahh.com.au

Post-natal care – Naturally!

Over many years of consulting with women and couples in reproductive health and fertility, it has become clear that the post-natal time which can be smooth sailing for some can be fraught with danger health wise for others.  In our so called ‘western civilized cultures’ parents, especially mothers are often isolated and lacking vital support to help them recover from the birth and settle into their new role.

So many women I have consulted with for post-natal issues such as depression, exhaustion, recurrent infection, including mastitis and feeling overwhelmed, under-supported and stressed have been in a situation before or during their pregnancy (or both) in which they have not been feeling as well as they could have and their nutritional status may have been compromised.  Many have also not had the help they need and deserve in their mothering. This is especially the case where there has been nausea and or more severe symptoms of ‘morning sickness’. 

One of the best preventative treatments that I have found for assisting recovery from birth and in the first few months of infancy is effective pre-conception and pregnancy care.  The many couples I have worked with from pre-conception through to post-natal times seem to have had a much better recovery and experience of the post-natal times than those I have seen who have not had access to effective pre-conception and pregnancy care. 

Some things to consider in preventing post-natal challenges are:

• Pre-conception care – encompassing nutrient optimization, maximising health BEFORE pregnancy occurs, preferably leaving at least a 3 month period for pre-conception care.  It is often useful to locate a natural health practitioner experienced in reproductive health to assist you.  There are so many effective herbal and nutritional remedies available it can be confusing for those who do not have training in this area. 
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• Support – ensure BEFORE your baby is born that you have adequate support at home and in the community if you can.  By support I mean physical support, such as friends or relatives bringing food, helping around the home and assisting with support for your babe-caring, as well as social support such as friends and relatives who you can count on to be there for you.  If you can it is even a good idea to employ some housekeeping help for a while. 
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• Doula service – in many parts of the world there are now trained ‘doula’s’ – people who have done special training in order to support parents in pregnancy and post-natally.
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• Exercise – throughout the pregnancy unless there are contraindications this is extremely valuable for maintaining blood circulation, mood, energy, strong muscles.
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• Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Yoga – is a wonderful addition to your well-being regime.  In addition you may well make new friendships there which continue after your baby is born.
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• Pregnancy Care – seek the support of not only your midwife and/or obstetrician but an appropriately qualified herbalist or naturopath or other natural health practitioner.  There are many herbs which are contraindicated in pregnancy and quite a few which are extremely valuable to use in pregnancy.  Each of my expectant mothers has a tailored program of diet, lifestyle, herbs and nutrients to have during the pre-conception, pregnancy and post-natal times.  It is especially beneficial to have some herbs to assist you as soon as the baby is born.  This can greatly aid recovery of energy.
  
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• Communication – with your partner (if you have one!) is very important.  New dads in particular may not know what to expect and it is very easy to loose touch with each other as a couple at these times.  There is much that dads or partners can do to assist with the mother’s recovery and bond with baby.  Confidence is the key for some dads, as it can be rather daunting living with a newborn who look so fragile but can make enough noise to deafen all in earshot. 
  
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• REST, REST, REST – did I say REST?  This is so important.  Some of you may feel extremely tired, depending upon your circumstances.  A little preventative care in the rest department can work wonders in preventing post-natal problems.  The old adage of ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ is still as true today, but unfortunately a lot of people feel that they should be cleaning or other such work at every opportunity.   Try for at least 30-60 minutes a day of putting your feet up and being ‘off duty’.  It can make the difference between managing and feeling completely out of control. 
  
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• Body work – many of my expectant mums come for additional assistance in the form of Bowen therapy, which can greatly relieve aches and pains and relax the individual.  You may also like to consider chiropractic or osteopathic assistance or a good massage.
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• Counselling- Sometimes issues surface during pregnancy or post-natally which need to be addressed. These may be to do with relationship issues with your partner, family, friends, childhood situations, fears about birthing and caring for your baby.  This is an excellent time to have the support of a good counsellor or physchologist.

• Dietary intervention is very important.  You would benefit from having adequate protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fatty acids, such as fish oil.  In addition some nutrients are invaluable post-natally and as well as preconceptually such as zinc, folic acid, multi vitamins and minerals, to name just a few.  I outline an appropriate diet in my Radiant Women book mentioned below. 

• Hormonal havoc – many women I have worked with have said that they felt like ‘their hormones were going EVERYWHERE but where they should be’ post-natally and sometimes in pregnancy.  In my book ‘Radiant Women – simple steps to better menstruation and menopause’ I outline a hormone balancing and energy promoting diet and lifestyle program as well as some simple natural remedies to achieve ‘hormone balance’ and vitality. You can view a short video about this book on our YouTube channel via www.radiant-women.com.  or see the shopping pages (bookshop) on www.radpads.com.au.

Enjoy your baby and your family!!!!!!!!  A little care now can prevent many problems later.

Wendy Dumaresq

Dip Med Herb, Ad Cert NFM, B.Bus

info@naturalwomannetwork.com.au   Website: www.naturalwomannetwork.com.au

A big thankyou to Wendy for her wise words on natural post-natal care!