The experience of oocyte donation pregnancy and early motherhood in Greece: a longitudinal, phenomenological study.

Background: It has not been investigated how Greek women who have undergone oocyte donation experience pregnancy and early motherhood.

Aim: To explore the experience of women who have a child without a genetic link during pregnancy and after birth.

Methods: Nine pregnant women aged 32 - 49 (M = 40.8 years) who conceived their child through oocyte donation participated in the study. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted with each woman, one in each trimester and one 5-7 months after birth. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a phenomenological interpretative analysis was undertaken.

Results: Three main themes emerged: 'In the beginning' (experience and difficulties at first trimester); 'The prenatal bond compensates for the absence' (progress of pregnancy and acceptance of non-genetic link); ''It's my, mine but…' (experienced early motherhood after delivery). This qualitative study reveals changes in initial perceptions and beliefs about the importance of a genetic link during pregnancy and after childbirth. The prenatal bond and early parental care seem to have helped to accept the absence of genetic affinity. However, younger women even after giving birth expressed the hope of having a child genetically related to them. Also, some concerns that initially exist reappear after the child is born.

Conclusion: The study's findings have important implications for Assisted Reproduction Centers (ARC) professionals to understand the needs and worries of women who decide to conceive through oocyte donation. In addition, the study offers women considering oocyte donation an insight into the experiences of other women who already have a child.