Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative study was to clarify key emotional processes experienced by women who achieved pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology.
Subjects and methods
The participants in this study were eight primiparas who achieved pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology. One to six months after delivery, data was obtained using semi-structured interviews and, after obtaining participant consent, was qualitatively analyzed via a phenomenological approach.
Results
Over the course of the pregnancies, the following nine major themes were identified: Feelings of Mission and Pressure by Becoming Pregnant, Attention to the Avoidance of Jealousy, Wisdom in Overcoming Anxiety, Maternal Self-consciousness, Release from Feelings of Loneliness, Recovery of Self Confidence, Positive Acceptance of Infertility and the Treatment Experience, Confirming One's Awareness of Growth, and Feeling Authentic Joy from Pregnancy.
Following knowledge of conception, the informants reported feeling pleasure from the experience, accompanied by thoughts of a sense of mission and of pressure. At the same time, they also experienced feelings of oppression from the blessing of pregnancy. They paid special attention to avoiding jealousy of others when having pregnancy check-ups, and underwent a stage of maternal self-consciousness from the early stages of the pregnancy that was accompanied by a consciousness of their fetus. They managed their feelings of anxiety by using wisdom to overcome, and through the process, underwent a passage of release from feelings of loneliness. Informants by their fifth month of pregnancy spoke of a recovery of their self confidence, a positive acceptance of their earlier infertility and the treatment experience, as well as a confirmation of own personal growth. They all underwent days of considerable joy from the beginning to the conclusion of the pregnancy.
Conclusion
It was concluded that the emotional process among women who achieved pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology could be understood qualitatively along these nine major themes. They experienced peculiar feelings until the fourth month of pregnancy. Their fifth month of pregnancy became a turning point, and their feelings did not differ significantly from those of women during a typical pregnancy.
