Returning to the Path. A hermeneutic phenomenological study of parental expectations and the meaning of transition to early parenting in couples with a pregnancy conceived using in-vitro fertilisation.

Background: Increasing numbers of couples are undergoing In vitro fertilisation (IVF) after plans to commence their family is thwarted, a process involving greater psychological and physical demands which may heighten expectations of parenthood. The concept of good parenting is socially constructed and it may be that having actively sought parenthood, parents who have conceived using IVF feel pressure to be ‘good’ at it. This study seeks to understand the lived experiences of transition to early parenthood following IVF. Method: A Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological study using in-depth data analysis. Three couples expecting their first child, a singleton non-donor pregnancy conceived using IVF, were purposively selected and interviewed on three occasions: at 34 weeks pregnant, six weeks following birth and at three months post birth. The study design enabled rich detail and interpretation aided by a unique combination of both time point and longitudinal data analysis. Findings: The contribution of interpretive phenomenology to a small number of couples helped draw deep meaning from their experiences. The key finding ‘Returning to the Path’ was identified as the point at which couples felt they were where they had anticipated being several years earlier, drawing on three over-arching themes: Seeking the Way, Returning to the Path and Journeying On. These were considered using Heideggerian concepts which helped reveal the meaning parents attributed to their experiences. The pregnancy may be experienced as a ‘tentative’ progression, however following birth, parenthood was embraced with an instinctive, baby-led style – a finding not previously identified. Transition to parenthood was aided by social support and reliance on the couple relationship. Consideration of potential siblings was a consideration which arose in early parenthood, as couples recognised ongoing implications of the path they had travelled. Conclusion: Infertility is a deviation from the life path that a couple anticipated; the point of and influences on returning to that path is the key phenomenon identified in this study, which was different for each couple. Findings have implications for healthcare professionals in supporting couples through anxieties in pregnancy, the transition to parenthood and an appreciation of the ongoing implications of infertility.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Institute for Lifecourse Development: Centre for Vulnerable Children and Families

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Gale, Elizabeth

• H Social Sciences (General)

Language dc:language

en