[Experience of pregnancy and delivery after ART]

Differences in the experience of pregnancy and birth after ART compared to spontaneous conception are of interest for the developmental pyschologist. Studies performed to date have compared mainly the psychological aspects of experiencing the singleton pregnancy and the single birth. Couples after ART are at higher anxiety levels compared to those who have conceived naturally in the early stages of pregnancy. Individual experiences with infertility in those affected have often led to states of anxiety, low self-esteem and low confidence, but this does not seem to persist in pregnancy. Higher anxiety symptoms occur primarily. Increased symptoms of anxiety are found in pregnant women and their partners who have undergone the high stress of infertility. Pregnant women after ART are less concerned about the physical changes during pregnancy. Couples with previous ART mediated more harmony on the first impression, however, on the other hand being less communicative. A long duration of infertility (7 years or more) was associated with the expression of a large birth anxiety. Postpartum disorders such as depression are influenced by the interaction of several risk factors, particularly prematurity, multiple births and caesarean sections reinforce the emotional problems. Studies have confirmed an emotional well-being and a happy pregnancy with a satisfying mother-child relationship. However, where fears about the foetal surival are higher, postpartum difficulties are greater and self-esteem is lower after ART. Fears about the foetal survival and postnatal educational difficulties were greater after the application of assisted reproduction and the self-esteem lower. Pregnancy and parenthood after assisted reproduction may be idealised and is associated with a difficult transition to parenthood.