ABSTRACT
One of the baby's most primitive and fundamental needs is to find a containing caregiver to be held by. The primary function of the skin is to contain. It functions as a boundary. Through the contact with the mother, the baby introjects the experience of being held, which strengthens her psychic and physical skin and her sense of security. In nearly every mammal birth studied, close physical contact has been found to be essential both to the infant's healthy survival and to the mother's nurturing capacities. Loving skin contact and massage benefits the mother as well. Mothers who receive meaningful skin contact during pregnancy and labour tend to have easier labours and are more responsive to their infants. The infant's non-integrated state is related to her as yet undeveloped perception of each part of body as belonging to herself as a unity. Massage, providing playful closeness between parent and baby, can foster the internal reinforcement of good and enjoyable objects.
