This year is about to
finish and I can’t be more grateful for all the things, projects and activities
that I was involved in. From becoming a mother for the second time, to starting
a new business venture and doing collaboration with top brands; 2017 has been
amazing!
One of the most exiting
projects that I was involved with this year was the Baby Massage Class with The JOHNSON'S Baby Healthy Skin Project.
In May of this year,
JOHNSON´S Baby invited me to go to the launch of its Healthy Skin Project that was
held in Melrose Arch. It was a very inspiring morning where Johnsons told us
about their strategic partnership with Unjani Clinics and their goal of
improving the health of 3 million babies by 2020.
Unjani is an initiative
that aims to strengthen health systems in low income communities throughout
South Africa by empowering community nurses to own and operate their very own
clinic within their nearest community. This is an innovative delivery service
model, whereby through a “container health care centre”, Unjani provides
wellness services, chronic disease management, vision screen and primary
healthcare.
During this event, JOHNSON´S Baby showed videos about the reality that lots of babies are facing in
South Africa and all the diseases they suffer because their mothers don’t know
how to care of their skin.
After that morning, I
went home feeling very touched, with so many thoughts and wanting to be
actively part of this project. My baby was 3 months old at the time and seeing
her made me think of all those babies that I saw in the video and their moms
who really need to be educated about the importance of taking good care of
baby’s skin and other things that probably they don’t know.
That night, during the
bath routine of my baby, while I was giving her a massage, I got this idea: I
can teach these moms how to do a baby massage and this will help their babies
to grow up healthier.
So I sent a proposal to
Johnsons about this desire as this is very related with their Healthy Skin
Project and they accepted!
3 years ago, when I had
my son, I did a Post Natal Course at Sandton Clinic and learned how to do a baby
massage. After this class (which was part of the program), I went home and did lots
of research about this, I was really surprised about all the benefits that baby
massage has on babies. Since that, this
was a very important part of my everyday routine with my son and now it is with
my baby daughter. I am not a certified
massage therapist but I am a mom with lots of experience willing to share with
other moms all that I have learned during this journey.
My first class was at the
celebration of Woman’s Day at Unjani Kagiso in the West Rand.
It was a lovely morning
along with other guests who talked and motivated moms about the importance of
giving their best to their babies.
The second outing was in
Unjani Hilbrow. In all my outings, I first explained how to do the massage in
the baby dummy that I brought along and then we all did it on the babies
together. I see how they do it and also
give them extra tips.
The third class was at
Unjani Olievenhoutbosch.
And the last class of the
year was at Unjani Orlando, Soweto.
I always asked questions
about who does the baby massage at home. Only a few of them do it but those few
don’t know the benefits of a baby massage. Overall most of them haven’t done a
baby massage in their life.
WHAT I TEACH IN MY CLASS
Baby massage is about
learning to communicate your love for your baby through touch.
A
study conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine, suggests
that the loving, gentle touch of massage “stimulates nerves in the brain that
facilitates food absorption and lowers stress hormones, resulting in improved
immune system functioning.”
This study highlights that infant massage can help a baby gain weight, especially preterm infants. When babies are underweight, they can also suffer a weaker body defense, as well as “delays in the emotional and mental development.” It points out that the sensory receptors, especially pressure receptors, are activated during massage, increasing gastric motility and lowering cortisol levels. This leads to greater weight gain and stronger immune system functioning for the child.
Other
benefits of baby massage:
· Soothes baby and reduces crying.
· Aids digestion and helps relieve colic, wind and constipation.
· Helps babies to sleep more deeply and for longer.
· Relieves nasal congestion and teething discomfort.
· Helps develop good muscle tone, co-ordination and suppleness.
· Enhances body awareness.
· Boosts the immune system.
· Improves skin texture.
· Helps the baby to develop self confidence and the ability to relate to others.
· Helps calm and relax both parent and baby.
· Boosts parents’ confidence in handling their baby.
· Helps with Post-Natal Depression, as it is a beautiful way to connect with the baby.
What I love the most
about these classes is the interaction and connection I have with the moms and
babies and how the moms feel so happy and motivated to learn something that
they will do at home.
I really wish they do their homework which is practicing what they practiced at the class but I am sure they will do it as after each session they come to talk to me and express their gratitude for what they learned. By doing a massage they wont only have a bonding time with their babies but will help them with their good development.
So far it has been a
beautiful and fulfilling experience, my little students (babies) are the cutest
creatures in the world, they laugh, giggle, they look at the other babies, they
cry, they want to crawl, they roll from one side to the other, they smile and
all these little gestures melt my heart…these classes are so much fun!
Many thanks JOHNSON'S Baby for
having me on board with this project. Can’t wait for next year to carry on with
the baby massage classes and other exciting projects that I have in mind related
with Healthy Skin Project.
