First Childbirth and Motherhood at Post Natural Fertile Age: A Persistent and Intergenerational Experience of Personal and Social Anomaly?

Abstract

This study was aimed at understanding long-term psychosocial implications of first childbirth at post natural fertile age following assisted reproductive treatment. Twenty women, whose average age at childbirth was 45, participated. Findings show that the sense of anomaly experienced prior to pregnancy and childbirth related to infertility and advanced age continued during treatment, pregnancy, and motherhood. Participants associated their advanced age as cause for what they perceived as a similar sense of anomaly experienced by their children. The issue of a continuing and intergenerational sense of anomaly should be addressed when counseling women considering fertility treatment at advanced age.

KEYWORDS:

• advanced maternal age
• fertility treatment
• psychosocial implications