Hope experiences in pregnant women after artificial reproduction technology: Becoming a mother.

Abstract

Hope is a common phenomenon in human life. The process of infertile women being treated with assisted reproductive technology is difficult. The concept of hope can be applied in the nursing practice to help patients have a positive treatment experience, reduce feelings of despair, and find significance in difficult treatments. This study used phenomenological approach to understand the essential structure of the hope experiences of infertile women after successful artificial reproduction. A total of 10 infertile women who were successfully pregnant for more than 8 weeks and less than 24 weeks participated in this study. The essence of the hope experiences of infertile women after successful artificial reproduction was the process of "becoming a mother" which included four themes: (1) try hard to get pregnant; (2) outline a blueprint for the future of motherhood; (3) protect the fetus; and (4) integrate the fetus into the family. This study enabled medical teams to play the role of caregivers, intervened in hope care, and strengthened evidence-based practice to improve the quality of care by focusing on feelings of hope.