title: The experience of pregnancy resulting from Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment: A qualitative Brazilian study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancies achieved through medical treatments following a period of infertility may demand extra emotional and practical investment from women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims at understanding the experience of pregnancy after Assisted Reproductive Technology, and exploring whether this experience is affected by previous failed infertility treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper uses a qualitative approach. Participants were nineteen expectant first-time mothers from Brazil who conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment. During the third trimester of gestation, a semi-structured interview was administered to assess perceptions of and feelings about treatment and pregnancy. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, and the sample was divided into two groups according to whether it was the participant's first treatment or not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes identified include: tolerance of the demands of treatment and pregnancy, consideration of the mechanics of treatment and pregnancy, and emotionally painful aspects of treatment and pregnancy. Pregnancy itself was regarded as a reward or compensation for the difficulties undergone. Perspectives differed according to whether pregnancy followed the first Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment; those who had undergone previously unsuccessful treatments focused less on the mechanical aspects of the process but were more concerned about possible physical problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similarities and differences found according to number of treatments attempted should be taken into consideration when providing psychological support for expectant Assisted Reproductive Technology mothers.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Infância e Família, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: liamaradornelles@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L M N
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dornelles
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: MacCallum
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: R C S
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Passos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
keywords: Assisted Reproductive Technology; Infertility treatment; Motherhood; Parenting; Post-infertility pregnancy