Opportunities for moms in the neighborhood to meet other moms and love on their baby. Benefits of Infant Massage: - Improved sleep patterns, falling asleep more easily and staying asleep longer. - Reduced stress behaviors and lower cortisol levels after receiving massage (for both mom and baby). Cortisol is a major hormone produced when we experience stress and causes inflammation throughout the body. - Improve motor development, especially in premature infants - Infants in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) who received massage showed 21% more weight gain and were discharged an average of 5 days earlier than those who did not receive massage. - Improved interaction, attachment and bonding between the family members. Babies greet the parents with more eye contact, smiling, vocalizing and reaching responses, and are more expressive - Decreased symptoms of postpartum depression and ease of attachment after stressful pregnancy/delivery (PTSD) Sign-up at www.pittherapy.com/sign-up *Flier attached* -- Stephanie Sandherr, OTR/L, C/NDT, CIMI Occupational Therapist Pittsburgh Integrated Therapy www.pittherapy.com 5655 Bryant Street, Pittsburgh PA 15206 412-552-9759 *"I didn't ask for what was easiest, I asked for what was possible!"*