The Effect of Massage on the Bilirubin Level in Term Infants Receiving Phototherapy

Background: It has been reported in the current literature that massage has various positive physiological effects on the newborn. Also baby massage; It increases the collection and excretion of waste products such as bilirubin by accelerating the flow of blood, lymph and tissue fluids. Our aim is to investigate the effect of infant massage on hyperbilirubinemia in newborns receiving phototherapy. Method: The population of the study consisted of babies who were hospitalized in Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between October 2021 and January 2022 and needed phototherapy. Transcutaneous bilirubin device and data collection form were used to obtain the data. 61 newborns who met the study criteria were randomly divided into experimental (n=30) and control (n=31) groups. Phototherapy was applied to all babies twice a day. In addition to phototherapy, infant massage was applied to the experimental group for 10 minutes just before the phototherapy. Bilirubin level measurements were made 2 hours after the end of phototherapy for both groups. Diaper changes for both groups were carried out 8 times a day, every 3 hours.

The incubator temperature was adjusted between 28-30 C, and it was administered while the baby was awake and one hour after feeding. Before the massage, the hands were washed and warmed. Just before each phototherapy application, 10-minute baby massage was performed by the researcher.Then phototherapy was applied.

Starting from the baby's face first, then the abdomen and chest, back, upper extremities and finally the lower extremities were massaged with semi-circular movements, respectively.

Inclusion Criteria: Born between 37-42 gestational weeks Birth weight between 2500-4000gr 1st and 5th Apgar score between 7-10 Needing phototherapy treatment Diagnosed with indirect hyperbilirubinemia 24 hours or more after birth Orally fed No health problems other than indirect hyperbilirubinemia Newborns who has stable vital signs Exclusion Criteria: ABO blood incompatibility or Rh incompatibility Diagnosed with direct hyperbilirubinemia Newborns who has skin anomaly Needing fluid replacement Newborns with gastrointestinal disorders

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