The role of the Midwife and ART
Infertility treatments may require significant physical, psychological and financial investment from the woman and her partner.
The journey to become pregnant through ARTs can be difficult and prolonged for the couple.
In addition, women who become pregnant following IVF may be more anxious because of their heightened fear of losing the pregnancy and the increased risks associated with an IVF pregnancy (Morgan, 2004).
Pregnancy and birth may be seen as less of a continuum and more of a series of events, for example ‘completing the first trimester’ and ‘going to full term’, with each event having to be overcome before the parents can look forward to the birth (Toscano& Montgomery, 2009).
A woman’s anxiety may be exacerbated if she is in the care of a maternity carer who does not appear to fully understand the uncertainties and difficulties they have experienced having conceived through ARTs.
In New Zealand primary antenatal care is provided by a Lead Maternity Carer, this is most commonly a midwife for low risk women.
Women who become pregnant after ART may also contact a midwife for primary maternity care.
At this time the midwife over the course of the pregnancy, will become familiar with the family and may be able to better assist them to negotiate the pregnancy with reduced anxiety.
In this situation, the midwife needs to maintain a balance between: acknowledging the emotional investment that a woman and her partner place in the pregnancy along with their anxiety and concerns, with the goal of keeping the pregnancy as normal as possible and building the woman’s confidence and self-esteem.
Physical pregnancy care for these women