title: Ante- and perinatal factors and child characteristics predicting parenting experience among formerly infertile couples during the child's first year: a controlled study.
abstract: In this prospective controlled study, the authors examined (a) parenting experiences among couples with successful assisted reproduction treatment (ART; n = 367) and fertile spontaneously conceiving controls (n = 371) and (b) the impact of ante- and perinatal factors and child characteristics on parenting experiences. The results show that positive mothering experiences increased more during the 1st year of parenting and were generally higher among ART mothers than control mothers. No differences were found between ART fathers and controls in their fathering experience. Unpleasant birth experiences, low birth weight, and difficulty soothing the child were associated with high levels of parental stress in the control group, but this was not so among the ART parents. Psychosocial interventions in maternal care should take into account the various meanings that couples give to the history of infertility and conception and ante- and perinatal experiences.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repokari
authors.forename: Raija-Leena
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Punamäki
authors.forename: Piia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poikkeus
authors.forename: Aila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiitinen
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vilska
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unkila-Kallio
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sinkkonen
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulppala
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013694:Temperament