Parents' experiencees of life after medicalised conception: A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis

Background: Medicalised Conception (MAC) assists many couples to achieve pregnancy worldwide. As the impact of MAC has been linked to increased pregnancy-specific anxiety and parenting difficulties, this review aimed to explore parental experiences of pregnancy and early parenting following MAC, identifying their psychological, social and health needs. Method: Five databases were searched systematically. Identified articles were screened for eligibility. Twenty qualitative studies met inclusion criteria and results were analysed using thematic synthesis. The Critical Appraisal Skills checklist was employed to appraise methodological quality. Results: : The findings were synthesised into three main themes: 1) The vulnerable parent: fear, doubt, uncertainty, 2) the stark realisation of the parental dream, 3) psychosocial needs and support. Parents lacked a sense of safety during pregnancy and acted protectively, both antenatally and postnatally . Identity transition was complex and non-linear, influenced by sociocultural context. Conclusions: : Considerable unmet psychosocial needs were identified with a need for consistent, holistic care, integrating psychological services.