I thought I would share with you a little more about myself; my interests, my background, my qualifications. Firstly, I am a certified infant massage instructor (C.I.M.I) through I.M.I.S (Infant Massage Information Service); a professional member of the organisation, fully insured and hold a working with children check. I am internationally qualified to teach the Massage In Schools Program to children aged 4 years to 12 years (peer massage. Refer to Massage In Schools for further information).

I am qualified in aromatherapy (Cert I Aromatherapy) and I am a Senior First Aider (Royal Life Saving Society Australia). I have also attended workshops in aromatherapy and regenerative skin care and have completed a course in Baby and Child First Aid.

Other qualifications and certifications I have attained include Cert IV Food Technology, Associate Diploma of Science and have previously held an Occupational Health & Safety position. My background is predominantly in science, having held various positions, specialising in the environmental, pharmaceutical and food industries. I have also worked in research and development.

Why did I choose to specialise in infant and children's massage instruction?
I have always had a keen interest in and have used complimentary therapies since I can remember, in particular massage and aromatherapy. Since I was pregnant with my first son in 1999, I have been receiving an aromatherapy massage on a regular basis. I have found that massage helped me to relax throughout my two pregnancies, to relieve any stress and tension (particularly in the lower back area due to the weight of being pregnant) and also being beneficial in maintaining my general health and wellbeing. I featured in the West Australian Newspaper in October 2000 in an article discussing massage and the use of essential oils during pregnancy and birth. (ref: The West Australian U! Section, Wednesday October 11th 2000, page 3. “Scents of relaxation” article by Tamara Hunter).

I was blessed to have two wonderful natural labours, both relatively short (Ethan was 7 hours, Darcy was just over 4 hours). I did not use any drugs for pain relief; instead I had an 'active' birth for both, using water, aromatherapy (essential oils in the vapouriser and in the bath), music and various yoga positions. Throughout both pregnancies I drank the herbal tea 'raspberry leaf' tea, dabbled in pregnancy yoga, walked to maintain my fitness and read alot of books about the birthing process (refer to the Idibidi Kids BLOG for a list of these titles from the Idibidi Kids Bookshelf). I truly believe that being 'in labour' with your unborn child is about the power of your mind (mental/emotional) as well as the physical aspect. I remember with my first birth, I had my eyes closed for the most part; this was my way of remaining centred, calm and focussed and in tune with my body and my baby.

Studying to become an infant massage instructor felt like a natural progression; having two children and massaging both of them since they were born is what really inspired me and intrigued me on how and why nurturing touch through massage has so many benefits for both parent and baby! I had done a lot of research (there's the "research/science" background coming out in me!) into the benefits of massaging babies and children and was amazed to find out that there are so many benefits (like I say, infant massage is so much more than relaxation for your baby!). I have always dreamt of running my own business; I guess the flexibility and freedom, together with the challenges of having to make my own decisions (I'm the boss!) really appealed to me. I knew it was not going to be easy! BUT I am passionate about infant massage and the importance of positive, nurturing touch for babies and knowing that I can share this with parents and carers and to be able to help them; it's a wonderful feeling. My two boys continue to receive massage on a regular basis; having given birth to my second son in September 2007, massaging him since he was born has confirmed to me how much babies really do love to be massaged, nurtured and shown healthy touch!
Photo: baby Darcy, September 2007

My experience with COLIC.... from a mother's perspective:
As much as I experienced a wonderful birth with my first son, it soon turned into a bit of a nightmare. Ethan was showing signs of colic from around 6 weeks of age. I know for a fact there are a lot of parents who have experienced a colicky baby - my heart goes out to you all! Colic - I call this the 'dreaded C word'! There are a lot of products (and services) aimed at relieving and assisting babies who suffer from colic, BUT... did you know.... doctors, medical professionals and researchers do not exactly know what causes colic?
Signs to look out for:
Your baby cries around the same time each day...
Crying that may last for hours at any one time...
Seems inconsolable...
Irritable...
Uncomfortable...
Draws his/her legs up towards the abdomen...

A definition of colic:
Painful, abdominal wind or intestinal spasms (that your baby may take months to recover from... for me it felt like forever! The doctor told us that babies usually get through the worst of it by around 3 months of age but obviously each child is unique and different. 3 months!!! I remember thinking at the time, that feels like forever!).
The colic massage routine ...
At the time Ethan was experiencing colic, I remember my husband and I had tried every colic relief medicine/herbal medication in the local pharmacy! We also drove around the neighbourhood often at night as this seemed to be the only way he would sleep! Crazy! Trying to keep your sanity whilst your baby is crying out in pain is hard work, not to mention you feel so helpless as a parent. I wish, at the time, somebody told me that a particular massage sequence, or massage routine, known as the colic massage sequence, could provide my baby with a natural form of pain relief, AND that this would help overcome the feeling of helplessness I was experiencing as it was something I was capable of doing! This simple, but effective routine only takes a few minutes and will help relieve the trapped wind and assist in calming your baby. You will also feel empowered, being able to help your baby. You learn the colic massage sequence in the Idibidi Kids 4 session course. Once you have the understanding of the stroke sequence, number of strokes and specific techniques to use, this is a specific routine you can use whenever your baby is showing distress (as mentioned above in "signs to look out for").

...and finally...
What does my eldest son say about massage?
My first ever testimonial was from my eldest son, Ethan (at 8 years of age). When I asked him what he liked about being massaged, he replied:
“I like the weather story on my back. It relaxes me and it feels nice. Massage also helps me sleep better”.
I have found that as he grows older, massage is much more than helping him to relax; it’s also a time when he is most likely to feel comfortable to talk to me about any fears or anxieties he may have, especially now that he is attending school.

On that note , I look forward to meeting you and your child and introducing you to the wonderful world of infant massage!