First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Foetal reduction—removal of one or more foetuses to reduce the number of foetuses in multiple conceptions—is a procedure used for improving pregnancy outcomes following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. While there is a recognition of the importance of understandi...

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Autores principales:	Mei-Zen Huang, Yi-Chin Sun, Meei-Ling Gau, Shuby Puthussery, Chien-Huei Kao
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Maternal health Foetal reduction Assisted reproductive technology Taiwan Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases RC620-627 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/937c397500314d60bcb6a19c3503a7c7
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:937c397500314d60bcb6a19c3503a7c72021-11-07T12:12:10ZFirst-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study10.1186/s41043-021-00270-x2072-1315https://doaj.org/article/937c397500314d60bcb6a19c3503a7c72021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-021-00270-xhttps://doaj.org/toc/2072-1315Abstract Background Foetal reduction—removal of one or more foetuses to reduce the number of foetuses in multiple conceptions—is a procedure used for improving pregnancy outcomes following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. While there is a recognition of the importance of understanding the experiences of women who undergo foetal reduction to offer appropriate help and support, studies that provide relevant insights are sparse. Our aim was to gain an in-depth understanding about first-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction following ART treatment in Taiwan. Methods We adopted a qualitative design based on a phenomenological approach for this study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven first-time mothers who underwent foetal reduction following ART treatment at a fertility centre in Taipei, Taiwan. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using the Colaizzi strategy. Results The views and experiences relating to foetal reduction reflected five key themes: hesitation, ambivalence and distress; the guilt of knowingly terminating a life; rituals and ceremonies to ease the sense of guilt; persuading oneself to consider the ‘big picture’; and wishing for a reunion in next pregnancy. Mothers often regretted that they took clinical advice to implant multiple embryos and then having had to resort to foetal reduction. There was a sense of hesitation, ambivalence and distress reflected in the views from all participants. They believed that they ended the fetuses’ lives knowingly and expressed strong feelings of guilt. Mothers often tried to persuade themselves to look at foetal reduction within the ‘big picture’ of the overall pregnancy outcome. Losing their unborn babies was as an unforgettable incident for most mothers, and they wished for a reunion with the lost baby in the next pregnancy. Conclusion Findings indicate the need for ART providers to undertake a more sensitive approach that involves detailed discussions with women and their families to tailor the embryo transfer processes to suit individual needs. Women who undergo foetal reduction should be provided with tailored interventions towards enhancing their coping strategies before and after foetal reduction taking into account the cultural and religious context.Mei-Zen HuangYi-Chin SunMeei-Ling GauShuby PuthusseryChien-Huei KaoBMCarticleMaternal healthFoetal reductionAssisted reproductive technologyTaiwanNutritional diseases. Deficiency diseasesRC620-627Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol 40, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Maternal health Foetal reduction Assisted reproductive technology Taiwan Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases RC620-627 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Maternal health Foetal reduction Assisted reproductive technology Taiwan Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases RC620-627 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Mei-Zen Huang Yi-Chin Sun Meei-Ling Gau Shuby Puthussery Chien-Huei Kao First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
description	Abstract Background Foetal reduction—removal of one or more foetuses to reduce the number of foetuses in multiple conceptions—is a procedure used for improving pregnancy outcomes following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. While there is a recognition of the importance of understanding the experiences of women who undergo foetal reduction to offer appropriate help and support, studies that provide relevant insights are sparse. Our aim was to gain an in-depth understanding about first-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction following ART treatment in Taiwan. Methods We adopted a qualitative design based on a phenomenological approach for this study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven first-time mothers who underwent foetal reduction following ART treatment at a fertility centre in Taipei, Taiwan. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using the Colaizzi strategy. Results The views and experiences relating to foetal reduction reflected five key themes: hesitation, ambivalence and distress; the guilt of knowingly terminating a life; rituals and ceremonies to ease the sense of guilt; persuading oneself to consider the ‘big picture’; and wishing for a reunion in next pregnancy. Mothers often regretted that they took clinical advice to implant multiple embryos and then having had to resort to foetal reduction. There was a sense of hesitation, ambivalence and distress reflected in the views from all participants. They believed that they ended the fetuses’ lives knowingly and expressed strong feelings of guilt. Mothers often tried to persuade themselves to look at foetal reduction within the ‘big picture’ of the overall pregnancy outcome. Losing their unborn babies was as an unforgettable incident for most mothers, and they wished for a reunion with the lost baby in the next pregnancy. Conclusion Findings indicate the need for ART providers to undertake a more sensitive approach that involves detailed discussions with women and their families to tailor the embryo transfer processes to suit individual needs. Women who undergo foetal reduction should be provided with tailored interventions towards enhancing their coping strategies before and after foetal reduction taking into account the cultural and religious context.
format	article
author	Mei-Zen Huang Yi-Chin Sun Meei-Ling Gau Shuby Puthussery Chien-Huei Kao
author_facet	Mei-Zen Huang Yi-Chin Sun Meei-Ling Gau Shuby Puthussery Chien-Huei Kao
author_sort	Mei-Zen Huang
title	First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
title_short	First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
title_full	First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
title_fullStr	First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed	First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study
title_sort	first-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in taiwan: a qualitative study
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/937c397500314d60bcb6a19c3503a7c7
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First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study

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