Mosman Infant Massage

Throughout much of human history, women typically gave birth and raised children within groups of other women—often their relatives, many of whom were post-menopausal.  Human babies are helpless, and the mother and infant dyad are vulnerable, for such a prolonged period that the presence of allomaternal assistance ensures survival. 

The loss of the village and increasing dislocation and isolation in society today means many  new parents have no support. A 2006 study indicated that 30% of new mothers in Australia report anxiety and stress, and research in 2012 found up to 80% of new parents felt unprepared and anxious.   Being taught infant massage has been shown to increase maternal confidence and decrease stress and anxiety, and as maternal confidence is an indicator of parent child relationships, improving confidence benefits parent-infant attachment. Additional research indicates that reduced parent anxiety decreases infant anxiety  and improves interactions, improves sleep and less cry time which in turn improves parent’s quality of life and bonding. A positive reinforcing cycle.

I could not think of anything better to do in my post-menopause life than to help new parents get on that positive cycle and thereby to help infants to develop deep bonds and secure attachment to their primary carers.