Preterm birth and Assisted Reproductive Technology/ART: maternal emotional wellbeing and quality of mother-newborn interaction during the first three months of life

Abstract

Objective: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and premature birth are stressful and difficult experiences for women. No research to date has examined the impact of ART on mother-child relationship in instances of preterm delivery. This study explored the psychological status of preterm infants' ART-mothers and the quality of mother-infant dyadic interaction, up to child age of three months (Corrected Age = CA).

Method: Forty-one ART-dyads and 53 Spontaneous Pregnancy (SP) dyads were enrolled. Mother and child were assessed at 5 to 7 days after birth (T1), at child discharge from hospital (T2), at one month after discharge (T3); and at 3 months CA (T4). The following measures were administered to the mothers: the Gordon Personal Profile Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Parenting Stress Index S-F. Mother-child interaction was coded by using the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale.

Results: At childbirth, the control group mothers showed a higher level of anxiety than the ART-mothers did, but at T2, T3, T4, both groups' parenting stress levels were below threshold. Conversely, ART mothers more frequently provided suitable stimulation for their child's socio-emotional and cognitive development than the control group did. No significant between-group differences were observed in the mothers' capacity to respond to their children's distress, nor in sensitivity to child cues. Both infant groups showed equal ability to send clear signals and to respond to parent-provided care.

Conclusions: ART and SP mothers with premature infants showed no differences in degree of emotional burden experienced during the neonatal period. Yet, dyadic interaction was qualitatively better in ART dyads than in SP dyads.