Margi Deneau-Saxton's passion is helping mothers bond with their babies.
"I grew up in the 1950s," she said. "I just see a whole change in our society. For me, this is a mission to get (families) back connected."
Deneau-Saxton started MotherNurture in 2005 with her daughter, massage therapist Leslie Saxton, and lactation consultant Teresa McCullen.
MotherNurture began teaching infant massage at Lula Bloom maternity boutique in Aiken. When owner Susan Lacy moved the boutique to North Augusta in February, MotherNurture followed.
"We're not just infant massage," Deneau-Saxton said of the company
MotherNurture provides postpartum doula services, in which the mother is nurtured while helping her and her family adjust to a new baby.
MotherNurture also offers lactation support and mommy massage.
Each member of the company is certified through the International Association of Infant Massage.
Deneau-Saxton said MotherNurture was born out of her desire to help mothers bond with their babies.
In 1995, after rearing six children, she went to work in the prenatal clinic at Jefferson Hospital in Lousiville, Ga., as part of the MCG World Health Outreach Program.
During the same period, Leslie was working at a massage school and began using the techniques on her own infant daughter. Deneau-Saxton also began studying infant massage and incorporated it into her work at Jefferson Hospital.
"The families seemed to change somehow," Deneau-Saxton said.
She said she noticed many families, especially those with multiple children, were very busy. When a mother performed infant massage on her newborn, it forced her to focus only on the baby, creating a bond.
Mothers seemed to focus that same attention on other members of the household, she said.
Family members seemed to communicate better, which translated into a calmer atmosphere in the home over time.
Fathers can bond with their babies by performing infant massage, as well.
She said a father who is connected to his children is not competing with his children for the mother's attention.
For this reason, fathers are also encouraged to attend the class.
Deneau-Saxton said the benefits of massage to the baby include reduced stress, better absorption of food, better sensory awareness and improved self esteem of the child as he or she grows.
Attendees of the class will learn proper massage stroke techniques. Deneau-Saxton and Saxton will also demonstrate how those strokes will change as the child grows.
The class is a four-week session, each class lasting one hour. The Saxtons allow for an extra hour if needed to allow for feeding and diapering or questions.
Classes cost $60 for the four-week session or $15 per class.
For more information about the company and the benefits of massage, visit MotherNurture's Web site at www.mothernurture.net.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.
MOTHERNURTURE
Address : Classes are held at Lula Bloom, 228 West Ave.
Phone: 1-800-637-3066
Web site : www.mothernurture.net
Hours : 11 a.m. to noon, Tuesday
