ART and Postpartum Depression
Posted on February 29, 2008
One day you find out that you or your husband is infertile. You process the information and search for information about why or how to treat your infertile medical condition. Test, after test, leads you to pursue Assisted Reproductive Technologies, such as IUI or IVF. Whether successful the first or third time you are excited to be pregnant, finally!
You spend the next 9 months relishing in being pregnant and patiently wait for your new bundle to arrive. But then what happens if you become sad after the birth of your baby? What’s wrong with you? Nothing! Research is proving that women who undergo ART are more likely to experience postpartum depression. The article on Canada.com provides a few good reasons as to why this might be the case.
Below are two excerpts from the article:
“While the researchers say further investigation is necessary to probe the various factors that may contribute to a higher incidence of postpartum depression among women who conceive through ART, they speculate that women who have a history of fertility problems may be ill-prepared to deal with the realities of parenthood.”
“‘Women with fertility difficulties may idealize parenthood, including the notion of an instant family created through multiple birth, but underestimate the hazards and difficulties. It may also be that women who have conceived through ART have a lowered sense of entitlement to complain or seek help because these are highly desired babies. Together these factors may lead women to be insufficiently prepared for the social isolation, loss of autonomy, and potentially difficult work of infant care,’ the researchers write.”
While I don’t think women who undergo ART are ill-prepared to deal with parenting, as the article suggests, I do agree that the emotional strain of infertility plays a part in postpartum depression. The trauma associated with multiple birth, especially after infertility, can easily overwhelm even the strongest woman.
Do you know the signs of postpartum depression?
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4 Responses to “ART and Postpartum Depression”
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I had a child who we almost lost due to a rare complication. He was born 9 weeks early, in the NICU for 6 weeks. The night he was born, we found out that my FIL had a massive heart attack. On my birthday, when he was one week old, my MIL passed away. When you are faced with skating by through the skin of your teeth, you also feel like you cannot complain no matter what. It’s odd though, it didn’t hit me until much later. I did make it through, but it was rough for a while.
[...] and Postpartum Depression Posted in February 29th, 2008 by in free medical consent forms Kelly wrote an post worth reading today.Here’s a quick excerpt:“While the researchers say further [...]
[...] Kelly always has something good to say. I like this one posted earlier today. Follow the link for the whole thing.You process the information and search for information about why or how to treat your infertile medical condition. Test, after test, leads you to pursue Assisted Reproductive Technologies, such as IUI or IVF. … [...]
Excellent, thanks!