Infertility and the Emotional Aspects of Having a Child Through Donor Eggs

By Laurel T. Kline, Psy.D.

There is typically a painful emotional transition infertile couples go through in order to make the decision to use donor eggs. The journey is somewhat different for each person due to varying individual, family and cultural values, however, there's a basic pattern that this transition process seems to follow.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Can Effectively Treat Postpartum Depression

A study assessing how therapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication skills affects postpartum depressed mothers finds that women receiving the therapy experienced a significant reduction in symptom level.

Where Did I Come From? What do I say to my kids about donor-assisted reproduction?

By Sharon Schwartz, Ph.D.

The late 1970’s saw the birth of the first “test-tube” baby. That baby has since grown up and become a mother herself. Children do best when they know where they come from; that refers to both a genetic history as well as a relationship history. Feelings of betrayal are stimulated when secrets are kept and then inevitably found out. So the first step in considering what, how, when and even if to talk your children is to examine your own feelings.

Research Exploring Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Prevent Depression in Pregnant/Lactating Women

Given the limited number of completely effective treatments for depressed pregnant or lactating women, new research efforts, with a focus on CBT, are underway to prevent maternal depression before it becomes disabling.

Infertility

By Sally Frances, MA, LCSW

Confronting and coping with infertility can introduce a painful set of new feelings into a marital relationship. Suddenly, there can be feelings of shame, helplessness, and rage directed at oneself, one's partner, extended family and friends.

Pre-Birth Bonding

By Terry M. Levy, Ph.D. and Michael Orlans, M.A.

Research and observation have demonstrated the significance of the in utero experience. This is truly the dawn of attachment, the stage in which the baby-to-be and the parents begin the process of connecting.

Smoking During Pregnancy--What are the Risks?

The decreased birth weights seen in infants of mothers who smoke reflect a dose–dependent relationship—the more the woman smokes during pregnancy, the greater the reduction of infant birth weight. These newborns also display signs of stress and drug withdrawal consistent with what has been reported in infants exposed to other drugs.

Stopping Antidepressant Use While Pregnant May Pose Risks

Women in a recent study who stopped taking antidepressants while pregnant were five times more likely than those who continued use of these medications to experience episodes of depression during their pregnancy.

Smoking Hurts Odds of Successful In-Vitro Fertilization

Smoking seems to fast-forward a woman's reproductive clock and can dim her odds of becoming pregnant via in-vitro fertilization.

Bundling HIV Prevention with Prenatal Care Reduces Risky Sex Behaviors Among At-risk Mothers

An HIV-p prevention program targeted at women receiving prenatal care may effectively reduce risks for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned future pregnancies. Bundling such interventions into existing health care models, like prenatal care, also may be more accessible to those who may not have the time, interest, or resources to attend a stand-alone HIV prevention program.

Smoking and Pregnancy: What Are the Risks?

The adverse effects of smoking may occur in every trimester of pregnancy; they range from spontaneous abortions in the first trimester to increased premature delivery rates and decreased birth weights in the final trimester. The decreased birth weights seen in infants of mothers who smoke reflects a dose-dependent relationship: the more the woman smokes during pregnancy, the greater the reduction of infant birth weight.

Smoking During Pregnancy Causes Genetic Damage

Smoking during pregnancy can damage the chromosomes of the developing fetus, putting the child at increased risk of certain cancers and other problems.

New Research Finds Depression During Pregnancy is Common

A common assumption has been that pregnancy is predominantly a time of emotional well-being and that women are protected from depression during those months--but this newest study indicates that over 10% of women suffer from depression (a very treatable condition) during pregnancy, the same as at any point in their lives.