Application of Field's massage therapy in an extremely premature infant: Case report

Field's massage therapy is a simple, practical, and cost-effective intervention for weight gain in premature infants. It has demonstrated significant benefits in increasing gastric motility, improving nutrient absorption, and reducing hospital stays. The present case report aimed to describe the nursing care plan for a premature infant who received Field's massage therapy for weight gain over five days, using standardized nursing language and nursing disciplinary conceptual-theoretical support.

An extremely premature female infant, born at 25.2 weeks of gestational age with low birth weight and multiple comorbidities, underwent Field's massage therapy as the primary intervention for weight gain. The nursing diagnosis identified was Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements [00002], related to prematurity. The nursing intervention on which the application of Field's massage therapy was based was Massage [1480], and the outcome evaluated was Weight: Body mass [1006]. After five days of the intervention, the patient exhibited a 9.6% increase in weight compared to baseline, with an average daily weight gain of 17.5 g/kg/day.

Field's massage therapy proved to be an effective nursing intervention to promote weight gain in a premature infant hospitalized in an intensive care unit. The therapy contributed to positive clinical outcomes through an approach of humanization and patient-centered care.