Taking Stress 101
Stress is the culprit behind most of the illnesses and issues that
baby massage helps to alleviate and prevent. At the risk of getting
a little technical, we thought you’d like to understand why that’s
the case.
The autonomic nervous system
The stress response is regulated by the autonomic nervous system
(ANS), which consists of two separate systems:
-
The sympathetic nervous system: When we experience a
threat, the sympathetic nervous system is engaged by the
release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol
(which we explain in the next section). Our heart rate and
blood pressure increase, our muscles become contracted,
and we are on alert. The sympathetic nervous system is con-
cerned with activities that expend energy stored in the body.
-
The parasympathetic nervous system: The parasympathetic
nervous system kicks in when the threat is gone. The job of
this system is to conserve energy to allow for relaxation. Our
heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and our muscles
begin to relax. Through relaxation, this system increases the
energy stored in the body.
Stress hormones
There are two major stress hormones: adrenaline, which puts you
on alert for danger, and cortisol, which provides you with energy to
take on the threat.
During stress, adrenaline is secreted through the adrenal gland and
is responsible for increasing our heart beat and blood pressure,
among other things. The release of adrenaline activates the famous
fight or flight response, and we are on the lookout to either stand
our ground or run away from danger.Encouraging weight gain
When gauging a newborn baby’s health, one of the first signs doc-
tors look for is weight gain. If you want to impress your doctor
with how fast your little one can gain weight, incorporate a 5- to
15-minute massage into your daily routine. Massage relaxes your
baby and aids in digestion (which we discuss next), so food is
better absorbed. Better absorption gives your baby a better than
average chance of gaining weight.
In addition, massage stimulates growth-enhancing hormones. Have
you ever wondered why animals lick their young just after birth?
Touch is nature’s way of stimulating growth. Remember this every
time your dog starts to lick you and won’t stop: Your pet is just
responding to his intuition. (Maybe he thinks you could stand to
gain a few pounds!)
Helping with digestion
Massage stimulates the digestive system. When anyone (including
a baby) is under stress, the sympathetic nervous system shunts
blood away from the belly to the larger muscles. The lack of blood
and oxygen in that area shuts down the digestive system in order
to provide energy elsewhere in the body.
The increased circulation that massage provides in the abdomen
brings blood and oxygen to the intestines, which improves your
baby’s ability to digest and eliminate food.
Your digestive system works like a muscle. The smooth muscles
contract to push food down through the esophagus to the stomach
and out of the body through elimination. Massage encourages
peristalsis — the pushing out of food stuffs in an orderly way
through smooth muscle contractions.Encouraging weight gain
When gauging a newborn baby’s health, one of the first signs doc-
tors look for is weight gain. If you want to impress your doctor
with how fast your little one can gain weight, incorporate a 5- to
15-minute massage into your daily routine. Massage relaxes your
baby and aids in digestion (which we discuss next), so food is
better absorbed. Better absorption gives your baby a better than
average chance of gaining weight.
In addition, massage stimulates growth-enhancing hormones. Have
you ever wondered why animals lick their young just after birth?
Touch is nature’s way of stimulating growth. Remember this every
time your dog starts to lick you and won’t stop: Your pet is just
responding to his intuition. (Maybe he thinks you could stand to
gain a few pounds!)
Helping with digestion
Massage stimulates the digestive system. When anyone (including
a baby) is under stress, the sympathetic nervous system shunts
blood away from the belly to the larger muscles. The lack of blood
and oxygen in that area shuts down the digestive system in order
to provide energy elsewhere in the body.
The increased circulation that massage provides in the abdomen
brings blood and oxygen to the intestines, which improves your
baby’s ability to digest and eliminate food.
Your digestive system works like a muscle. The smooth muscles
contract to push food down through the esophagus to the stomach
and out of the body through elimination. Massage encourages
peristalsis — the pushing out of food stuffs in an orderly way
through smooth muscle contractions.