I think if I was a newborn preemie and had a choice between a massage from a stranger and my mom simply laying her hands on me I would prefer the latter. I wonder if that is encouraged. When I was a newborn nursery nurse in the 70's we had a baby born very prematurely in the 3 pound range. She lived for a couple of weeks and one night we let the mother put her hands into the isolette and just touch her baby. Baby died the next day (we couldn't speed up development of lungs in those days as well as we do now)but we always felt so glad mom and babe touched. 

Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD
Postpartum Care Services
Portland, Oregon
http://mypeoplepc.com/members/vmyork/
www.ikarma.com/user/vmyork

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