Let’s talk facts, honey!!
Yes, Black babees in the U.S. are facing some serious challenges when it comes to infant health and maternal health disparities. Did you know they’re twice as likely as white babees to die before their first birthday? It’s heartbreaking—and the reasons are deeply, tied to things like preterm birth, low birth weight, and the stress that comes with systemic inequities.
But here’s the thing: there’s hope.
One simple, ancient practice in India, China and Africa—infant massage—can make a big difference for Black families. And it’s not just about rubbing a little babee oil on your newborn; this is science-backed care.
So, Why Infant Massage?
Infant massage is like a secret but simple weapon for your babee’s health. Here’s how it helps:
Helps with weight gain: Premature babees especially benefit. Massage activates the vagus nerve, which improves digestion and helps babees pack on the pounds.
Digestion is promoted which means tummies empty. And empty tummies mean hungrier babees that will latch more frequently thus draining the breast of milk and increasing milk supply.
Strengthens the bond: Black moms often deal with high stress (thanks to racism, bias in healthcare, and more). Infant massage not only calms the babee but also helps parents feel closer and more confident giving back the autonomy that has been lost systemically in the healthcare system.
Relieves stress: Both babees and caregivers can unfortunately experience birth trauma or even injury which increases stress hormones such as cortisol which can be lowered with regular massage sessions.
And so much more!!
The Bigger Picture
While we know infant massage works, the problem is access. A lot of Black families don’t have the same resources or support systems to learn about these kinds of practices. That’s where I am coming in. I used infant massage on my second son after encouragement from my late sister. I was inundated and indoctrinated to use all of the "container" support that Western culture encourages. Western culture will have you thinking picking up your babee is hazardous to their health because you clearly don't know what you are doing, honey? US society teaches adultification of newborns right away beginning in the hospital with the swaddling, bassinet sleeping and even wheeling you out with the babee in the car seat instead of in your arms. We are told to make our babees more self independent or to self soothe, so they don't need us as much. Fucking ridiculous right?! Babees DO NEED YOU. It's all they know after being in the womb and their infant health matters too.
I struggled to parent my first newborn with the aforementioned. But when my second arrived, I wanted something different, sleep mostly but I did all the attachment and bonding advice my sister gave me such as baby wearing, bed sharing and infant massage which all have the same things in common--closeness which increases oxytocin, the love hormone. It all felt right. It made me feel like I was the only one that could care and soothe my babee. I saw a huge difference in my second son's temperament, feeding and sleeping too. I slept very well too. I immediately began using infant massage on them both and began to surrender to the process which made my postpartum recovery sustainable.
No way something as simple as routine and consistent infant massage was helping me to transition into my postpartum with two babees under two. Could it really be that simple?
Yes, honey it was that simple.
Why had none of my providers recommended these simple techniques to me? Because they can't make money off of you bonding with your babee. They make money off of you feeling inadequate as a parent and fearful of your parenting, This why we need more programs and doulas teaching this in our communities. It's me honey! I am the doula for you.
Let’s Take Action
This isn’t just about giving babees a good start—it’s about fighting for health equity and changing the generational health of Black communities. That is the real generation wealth, living a healthy quality of life. And it starts with you, honey. We all deserve access to tools that help our families thrive. Infant massage is not nearly recommended to NICU babees as much as it should be either, yet another health inequity, With Black babees having the highest rates of NICU admissions you would think it would be at the top of the list on the care plan especially after discharge.
Infant massage might seem small, but when paired with bigger changes in healthcare access and support, it can be a powerful tool for closing the gap. If you are interested in learning more infant massage and adding this routine to your parent toolkit--> Join one of my sessions to get started today.
What do you think—ready to add this to your family care toolkit? Let’s talk about it.
Sources:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Infant Mortality and African Americans.” Retrieved from cdc.gov.
2. March of Dimes. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Birth Outcomes.”
3. Field, T. (2019). “Infant Massage Therapy Research Review.” Infant Behavior and Development.
4. Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). “The Role of Neonatal Touch in Infant Outcomes.”
5.American Academy of Pediatrics. "The Needs and Experiences of Black Families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit."
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