Infant Massage workshop in Geraldton - PND/anxiety mothers support group

HANDS ON IN GERALDTON

An article written by Amy Pilliner of the Geraldton Womens Health Centre, and Natalie Garmson, CIMI, WA State Rep. for the International Association of Infant Massage.

Infant massage is popular in many cultures and research indicates many benefits for infant and parent,1 including parent empowerment, increased physical contact and improved attachment.

There is also emerging evidence that infant massage workshops are effective in treating postnatal depression and anxiety. Specifically, mothers who attend an infant massage workshop appear to recover more rapidly, even when controlling for the social interaction aspect of the workshops.2

In January, the Women’s Health Resource Centre in Geraldton obtained a grant from the Department for Communities for a one-off project to support families in nurturing and caring for their children. The grant provided two infant massage workshops on 16 and 17 February.

The morning and afternoon workshops were free and a healthy lunch, parent handouts and baby

massage oil were provided to participants. The workshops were facilitated by Natalie Garmson, a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and Western Australian State Representative with the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM).

The IAIM promotes positive touch and secure attachment between babies and caregivers in over 35 countries. The IAIM trains and certifies instructors to deliver a unique infant massage program focusing on parents’ awareness of, and confidence in responding to, their baby’s individual needs, cues and signals using nurturing touch and other forms of communication.

Six women and their babies attended, with many of the women having experienced perinatal anxiety and depression. The workshops provided a social and bonding experience for mums and babies, teaching mums how to ‘read’ and respond to their babies cues, and how to incorporate relaxation methods in their daily lives.

Feedback from the participants was very positive, with all women saying they enjoyed the workshops. Relaxation, confidence with and enjoyment of touch, and learning massage strokes were recurring themes. Many women also reported how much they enjoyed mixing socially with other mums. Since the workshops, one participant contacted Women’s Health to report that since practicing infant massage on her baby, he is no longer suffering from constipation. This had been a great source of anxiety and stress for her, and she emphasised how beneficial she found the workshops.

Reflecting on the workshops, Natalie says, “I enjoyed facilitating the infant massage workshops with the mums, especially since I suffered from postnatal depression some six years ago myself. I wish I knew back then the benefits (for both mother and baby) of infant massage. Parents learn so much more than how to massage their baby – understanding baby’s body language and behavioural states also form an important part of the workshops. It is a real confidence booster for the mums”.

Amy Pilliner (Women’s Health Resource Centre)

Ph: 9964 2742

Email: nurse_educator@bigpond.com

Natalie Garmson (State Representative, IAIM)

Ph: 0411 615 641

Email: natalie@idibidikids.com.au

Web: www.iaim.com.au

References:

1 Glover, V. et al (2002). Benefits of Infant Massage for

mothers with postnatal depression, Queen Charlotte’s and

Chelsea Hospital. Seminars in Neonatology 7: 495-500

2 Onozawa, K. et al (2001). Infant massage improves mother–

infant interaction for mothers with postnatal depression,

Journal of Affective Disorders, 63(1), pp. 201-207

Toddlerfest at Scitech

Toddlerfest is on at Scitech this year, from 8th to 21st February 2010. Scitech is Perth's not-for-profit 'hands on' science and technology centre. Scitech is a place of discovery for young and old, hosting a range of shows, events and exhibitions throughout the year.

Idibidi Kids is excited to be running a series of free infant and toddler massage sessions during Toddlerfest, on the following days:

9th, 11th, 18th and 20th February, in the Puppet Grove Theatre.

What to expect?

During these 20 minutes sessions, you will learn why massage and positive, healthy touch is recommended on a regular basis for your child, when the best time to massage is and how you can calm your child, from being in the 'over-active' or 'over-stimulated' state to being in a relaxed and calm state.

Natalie will guide your through some of the rhymes and games in her new eBook/book, called "The Idibidi Kids Guide to Children's Massage: for parents & carers of toddlers and young children". Positive touch games to rhymes and songs such as "Pitter Patter", "Autumn" and "Incy Wincy Spider" are a fun and positive way to interact with your child, whilst you stimulate their language, early literacy and development.

NOTE: for the Toddlerfest massage sessions, your child/baby can remain clothed.

Here is a (silent) video demonstrating the 'permission sequence' and the direction to use when massaging your child's abdomen (always in a clockwise direction). I raise my hands where my son can see them and ask "Would you like a massage"? Notice how he pats his chest as he knows that my hand signals indicates that massage is going to occur. He also smiles, another positive sign that he is happy for massage. Note- a couple of times he attempts to get up from the massage, however does not seem upset. This is simply because there were other distractions in the room at the time of filming, bearing this in mind, the massage demonstrated is 1 minute in length.

Kids massage (clothed, peer massage) at your school or child care centre.

Do you work in a child care setting, a primary school or run a vacation care program for kids aged 4 to 12 years? Did you know there is a fantastic program called the Massage in Schools program that Idibidi Kids is qualified to implement at your centre or school in the Perth metropolitan area?

The Massage in Schools program, or MISP as it is known, is a fun interactive and educational program that children aged between 4 years and 12 years can participate in. This program is beneficial in so many ways. Kids find that the program helps to calm them down, is relaxing, feels good and a time when they can rest their body. Teachers and staff have noticed that the kids become more focussed and motivated to do their work; other positive outcomes included greater empathy amongst the children, respect and a better understanding of each others feelings.

Teaching kids massage is a way to help them relax and reduce stress. This is important, as young children do feel the effects of stress.

Five reasons why kids experience stress:

1. Trauma

2. Bullying

3. Loss of a pet/family member/friend

4. An unexpected event

5. Moving to a new school

The MISP includes a set of 15 massage strokes. Each stroke has a fun name associated with it, such as 'baker', 'butterflies' and 'eye glasses'. When the program is implemented in your school or centre, you will receive 15 cartoon drawings associated with each stroke, to help remind the children the order of the strokes. The drawings and stroke names encourage the children to use their imagination, something that kids are very much good at!

It is important to note that this is a PEER, CLOTHED MASSAGE PROGRAM, and that kids massage each other. Idibidi Kids instructor, Natalie, is qualified to implement the program.

Idibidi Kids can implement the program two ways:

1. As a 1 hour workshop - usually includes the Weather Massage and an introduction to the MISP 15 strokes. Other positive touch games may be included.

2. As a 4 session program, best suited for primary schools, as an incursion.

Contact Idibidi Kids at www.idibidikids.com.au to book the MISP program at your school or centre today (including school holidays).

6PR radio interview with Howard Sattler

In early December, I had the privilege of being interviewed on 6PR by Howard Sattler, along with Julie Richardson from Harlequin Consultants. Harlequin runs the N.E.I.S. program (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme), a government funded small business course, which I participated in. The N.E.I.S. course ran over one month, and in that time, I learnt everything about how to start a business! It makes perfect sense. Starting a business requires a business plan, this is a must! So by the end of the 4 week course, the N.E.I.S. program taught me everything from marketing, financials, insurance to legal.

Here is the audio of the interview with Howard on 6PR:

6PR interview.wma

Colic And Massage For Your Baby

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Colic And Massage For Your Baby Pdf

View more documents from Natalie Garmson.

Infant Massage Positive Touch Presentation

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Idibidi Kids Infant Massage Positive Touch Promotional Presentation

View more presentations from Natalie Garmson.

Sanctuary Markets come to the City of Joondalup

Idibidi Kids together with the WAHM network are excited to announce the Sanctuary Markets!

Sanctuary Markets "Where the heart of small business and spirit of the community meet" are an eco-conscious community market, proposed to be held on a quarterly basis at the Arena Joondalup.

Sanctuary Markets bring together a quality mix of innovative and unique collection of products and services whose diversity includes local artisans, designers, gourmet producers, arts and crafts, organic eco-friendly products and small web-based businesses.

Currently seeking expressions of interest:

Are you a small business in Perth looking for another avenue to display your product or service? We would love to hear from you! Your business will receive fantastic exposure at Arena Joondalup. The City of Joondalup and the City of Wanneroo are two of the fastest growing areas in the Perth metro. area, with over 260,000 people residing.

Please contact Natalie on 0411615641 or natalie@idibidikids.com.au for an information pack to be sent to you.

We are also seeking corporate sponsorship!

Proposed Christmas Markets:

sunday 13th December 2009

2010 dates:

21st February

23 May

...more dates to follow...