Research themes and projects at the Centre for Womens Health, Gender and Society
Project title
The experience of pregnancy, childbirth and mothering after assisted conception
Major research theme
Other themes
Investigators
- A/Prof Jane Fisher, CWHGS, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne
- Prof Gordon Baker, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women?s Hospital
- Ms Jenny Blood, The Royal Women?s Hospital Reproductive Services
- Dr Karin Hammarberg, CWHGS, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne
Funding
- Bertarelli Foundation, 2002-2005, $90,900
- Melbourne IVF 2000, $7,500
- Fertility Society of Australia, 2004-2005, 17,000
- Australian Postgraduate Research Award, 2003-2006, $ 57,000
Summary
In a prospective longitudinal study 183 consecutively recruited women who had conceived with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) completed questionnaires in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy and three, eight and 18 months after the birth. The study found that in pregnancy women who had conceived with ART were feeling exceptionally well and had a more intense emotional attachment to the fetus than other childbearing women. However, they were more likely to be disappointed with the experience of the birth, had lower maternal confidence, and were less likely to breastfeed at three months and more likely to be admitted to a residential early parenting service than other mothers.
Publications
- Fisher JRF, Hammarberg K, Baker HWG. Assisted conception: a risk factor for perinatal mood disturbance and early parenting difficulties?, Fertility and Sterility. 2005;84:2, 426-430
- Hammarberg K.2006. The experience of birth and early mothering after assisted conception. Melbourne School of Population Health, Centre for Womens Health, Gender and Society. Melbourne University, Melbourne. http://eprints.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/archive/00002870/
- Fisher J.R.W., Hammarberg K., Baker H.W.G., Antenatal mood and foetal attachment after assisted conception. Fertil Steril. 2008 May;89(5):1103-12.
- Hammarberg K., Fisher J., Wynter K. Psychological and social aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and the first postpartum year after assisted conception: A systematic review, Human Reproduction Update. 2008; Sep-Oct;14(5):395-414.
- Hammarberg K., Fisher J., Rowe H. Women?s experiences of childbirth and postnatal health care after assisted conception. Human Reproduction. 2008;Jul;23(7):1567-73.
- Hammarberg K., Fisher J., Rowe H. The experience of mothering a newborn after assisted conception, Human Reproduction, Under review.