Pregnancy massage reduces prematurity, low birthweight and postpartum depression

Tiffany Field , Miguel Diegoa, Maria Hernandez-Reif , Osvelia Deedsa, Barbara Figueiredod

Abstract
Pregnant women diagnosed with major depression were given 12 weeks of twice per week massage therapy by their significant other or only standard treatment as a control group. Two hundred depressed women were recruited between 16 and 20weeks gestation from two ultrasound clinics (M= 19.2 weeks).

The massage therapy group women versus the control group women not only had reduced
depression by the end of the therapy period, but they also had reduced depression and cortisol levels during the postpartum period. Their newborns were also less likely to be born prematurely and low birth weight, and they had lower cortisol levels and performed
better on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment habituation, orientation and motor scales.

Infant Behavior & Development 32 (2009) 454–460 – abstract

doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.07.001

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Filed under: Postpartum, Pregnancy, Premature