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Morrison S, Bryanton J, Murray C, Foley V. Lived Experiences of Fatherhood After Infertility. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2024; 53:245-254. [PMID: 38242532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the lived experiences of fathers in the perinatal period after infertility. DESIGN A descriptive, phenomenological study. SETTING Researcher's private office and participants' homes in an Eastern Canadian province. PARTICIPANTS Eight fathers who met the eligibility criteria. METHODS We recruited a purposive sample of eight participants and held one-on-one interviews in person, by telephone, and via virtual platforms. We analyzed the verbatim transcripts of the audiotaped interviews using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. RESULTS We uncovered seven themes that described the lived experiences of participants: The Journey: A Long Winding Road, Roles and Responsibilities: Supporter and Protector, Support: The Often-Forgotten Parent, Challenges and Hurdles: Bumps on the Road, So Many Feelings: The Rollercoaster, Coping: Living on the Road, and Reflection: An Unforgotten Journey. Participants shared their experiences of the perinatal period after infertility as long journeys and described how bumps along the road marked these journeys. The journeys were essential parts of their lives that they continued to remember years later. CONCLUSION The perinatal experience after infertility is an important and remembered time for fathers. It is essential to involve and support them in the perinatal process to facilitate positive experiences and overall family health, especially after infertility. There is an ongoing need to conduct research with fathers and to develop evidence-based programming and resources to assist them in the perinatal period after infertility.
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Warmelink JC, Marissink L, Kroes L, Ranjbar F, Henrichs J. What are antenatal maternity care needs of women who conceived through fertility treatment?: a mixed methods systematic review. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2023; 44:2148099. [PMID: 36508566 DOI: 10.1080/0167482x.2022.2148099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing research indicates that pregnant women who conceived through fertility treatment might experience more stress and anxiety compared to women who conceived spontaneously. Therefore, these women might have additional antenatal care needs. METHODS A search for both quantitative and qualitative studies was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and MEDLINE through May 2021, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. After methodological quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraising Tool, 15 studies were included in the review. RESULTS Analysis of the studies identified behavioral, relational/social, emotional, and cognitive needs and women's preference about maternity care. Women who conceived through fertility treatment reported lower social and physical functioning scores and elevated levels of anxiety and depression compared to women who conceived spontaneously. They reported difficulties adjusting to pregnancy and experienced a care gap between discharge from the fertility clinic and going to local maternity care services for their first consultation, and a care gap postpartum. CONCLUSIONS Women who conceived through fertility treatment have additional antenatal care needs. We recommend to offer these women more frequent check-ins, and to pay attention to the impact of their infertility and treatment on their pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Catja Warmelink
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, Section Midwifery Science AVAG, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Midwifery Science, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Midwifery Academy Amsterdam/Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Marissink
- Midwifery Academy Amsterdam/Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Midwifery Practice Liberis Libenter, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Kroes
- Midwifery Academy Amsterdam/Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Midwifery Practice De vroedschap, Oosterwolde, The Netherlands.,Midwifery Practice De morgen, Dalfsen, The Netherlands
| | - Fahimeh Ranjbar
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jens Henrichs
- Department of Midwifery Science, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Mounce G, Allan HT, Carey N. 'Just have some IVF!': A longitudinal ethnographic study of couples' experiences of seeking fertility treatment. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2022; 44:308-327. [PMID: 35076088 PMCID: PMC9303759 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We present findings from a longitudinal ethnographic study of infertile couples seeking treatment following initial GP referral to specialist fertility services. Repeated observations and interviews were undertaken with the same 14 heterosexual participants over an 18-month period. Heterosexual, non-donor couples comprise the majority of fertility clinic patients; however, research interest in this group has dwindled over time as IVF cycles have increased. In the United Kingdom, IVF is presented as a logical response to involuntary childlessness, and as an entirely predictable, and linear, course of action. The market is well-developed and often patients' first experience of privatised health care in the NHS. Our couples were challenged by this, and while they felt expected to move on to IVF, some wished to explore other options. While IVF is ubiquitous, the discomfort and challenge around fertility treatments remain; experiences are prolonged and characterised by recursive narratives and expressions of disequilibrium, which are rarely acknowledged and reflected in ongoing clinic-patient interactions. Our findings develop understanding of the process of 'mazing' (Image - The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1989, 21, 220), the pursuit of parenthood, by showing that the routine and normative status of IVF, at least in the current health care context, is at odds with the lived experiences of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginny Mounce
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyOxford Brookes University/University of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Helen T Allan
- Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Child HealthMiddlesex UniversityMiddlesexUK
| | - Nicola Carey
- Department of Nursing and MidwiferyUniversity of the Highlands and IslandsInvernessUK
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Paterlini M, Andrei F, Neri E, Trombini E, Santi S, Villani MT, Aguzzoli L, Agostini F. Maternal and Paternal Representations in Assisted Reproductive Technology and Spontaneous Conceiving Parents: A Longitudinal Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:635630. [PMID: 33815221 PMCID: PMC8010127 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim of this study was to investigate whether parental mental representations during pregnancy and after delivery differed between parents who conceived after Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) and spontaneous conceiving (SC) parents. Effects of specific ART variables (previous ART attempts, treatment type and cause of infertility) were also taken into account. Seventeen ART couples and 25 SC couples were recruited at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital (Reggio Emilia, Italy). At both 32 weeks of gestation (T1) and 3 months postpartum (T2) participants completed the Semantic Differential of the IRMAG, a self-report tool which measures specific domains of mental representations pertaining either individual (Child, Self-as-woman/man, and Partner) or parental (Self-as-parent, Own parent) characteristics. Results showed that ART parents had significantly more positive representations of the child compared to SC parents, while the scores at Partner dimension improved from T1 to T2 for SC parents only. With regards to ART history, scores at the Self-as-woman/man dimension were significantly less positive for ICSI than IVF parents and improved substantially from T1 to T2 only in case of mothers with previous ART attempts and of fathers at the first ART cycle. The representation of own parents increased from T1 to T2 in case of infertility diagnosis due to male factors, while a decrease emerged when infertility was due to female factors. Findings suggest the need to investigate parental mental representations after ART, in order to improve the understanding on the transition to parenthood of infertile couples and to target more specific intervention for parenting support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Paterlini
- Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, AUSL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Federica Andrei
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Erica Neri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Trombini
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sara Santi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility Center, AUSL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Villani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility Center, AUSL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Aguzzoli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility Center, AUSL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Agostini F, Andrei F, Neri E, Trombini E, Nuccini F, Villani MT, Aguzzoli L, Paterlini M. Characteristics of Early Mother-Infant and Father-Infant Interactions: A Comparison between Assisted Reproductive Technology and Spontaneous Conceiving Parents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17218215. [PMID: 33172139 PMCID: PMC7664381 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to describe parents’ and infant’s interactive styles after assisted reproduction treatments (ART), to compare them with parent–infant interactions after spontaneous conception (SC), and to assess the effect of specific ART variables (cause of infertility, treatment type, and previous ART attempts) on interaction quality. The sample included 25 ART conceiving couples and 31 SC couples with their 3-months-old babies. Free parent–infant interactions (3–5 min) were coded using the CARE-Index, a video-based assessment scale that gives both dimensional (e.g., sensitivity, control, passivity) and categorical scores (sensitive, inept, at-risk) for parents and infants. Results showed a global similarity between groups in CARE-Index dimensions. Nevertheless, differences emerged in categorical scores, as the interactive patterns of ART parents were more frequently classified as “inept” and “at-risk” compared to SC parents. With regards to ART dyads only, infants conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection scored significantly lower to the dimension compulsivity and higher to passivity, compared to infants conceived through in vitro fertilization. Yet, infants conceived at the first ART cycle had significantly lower levels of difficulty than infants conceived after one ART attempt. These results speak about the existence of important parent–infant interactive differences related to conception modality and ART technique and suggest the need to implement support programs to promote more sensitive parenting styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Agostini
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (E.N.); (E.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Federica Andrei
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (E.N.); (E.T.)
| | - Erica Neri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (E.N.); (E.T.)
| | - Elena Trombini
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (E.N.); (E.T.)
| | - Francesca Nuccini
- Department of Neonatology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy;
| | - Maria Teresa Villani
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy; (M.T.V.); (L.A.)
| | - Lorenzo Aguzzoli
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy; (M.T.V.); (L.A.)
| | - Marcella Paterlini
- Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy;
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Allan H, Mounce G, Culley L, van den Akker O, Hudson R. Transition to parenthood after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation: The effects of infertility and in vitro fertilisation on previously infertile couples' experiences of early parenthood. Health (London) 2019; 25:434-453. [PMID: 31793806 DOI: 10.1177/1363459319891215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent social science research in the field of parenting following assisted conception has focused on the experiences of donor-assisted conception and surrogacy. This article draws from a study which explored the experiences of the transition to early parenthood in 16 heterosexual non-donor couples and includes a specific consideration of the experiences of men as they navigate this journey. We argue that these couples' transition to early parenthood can be as complex and provisional as in other newer forms of family making as they struggle with an emerging identity as a parent after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation following their experiences of infertility. Their family making is contingent upon their ability to work at integrating their experiences of infertility and in vitro fertilisation into their emerging identity as a parent. This struggle is prominent when they contemplate a further pregnancy. Considering a sibling causes them further uncertainty and anxiety because it reminds them of their infertile identify and the possibility of further in vitro fertilisation. We report novel findings about the experiences of this transition to parenthood: how couples' identity as parents is shaped by the losses and grief of infertility and the anxiety of in vitro fertilisation. We argue that their struggle with an emerging parenthood identity challenges the normative, naturalised view of non-donor heterosexual in vitro fertilisation parenthood. Our work contributes to the work on identity in parenthood after in vitro fertilisation in an ongoing effort to understand how assisted technologies shape infertile parents' lives. This article reports a small study with a relatively homogeneous sample recruited from one fertility clinic. Nevertheless as an exploratory study of an under researched topic, we discuss useful insights and ideas for further research with larger and more diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ruth Hudson
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
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