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

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Title: The experience of oocyte donation pregnancy and early motherhood in Greece: a longitudinal, phenomenological study.
Authors: Chatziioannidou, E. G. (AUTHOR), Bellali, T. Ch. (AUTHOR), Papaligoura, Z. G. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1020-1039. 20p.
Subjects: Statistical sampling, Interviewing, Research evaluation, Puerperium, Psychology of women, Attitudes of mothers, Emotions, Judgment sampling, Anxiety, Ovum donation, Longitudinal method, Human reproductive technology, Sound recordings, Character, Research methodology, Prenatal bonding, Motherhood, Phenomenology, Health facilities, Genetics, Thought & thinking, Self-disclosure
Geographic Terms: Greece
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The experience of oocyte donation pregnancy and early motherhood in Greece: a longitudinal, phenomenological study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chatziioannidou%2C+E%2E+G%2E%22">Chatziioannidou, E. G.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bellali%2C+T%2E+Ch%2E%22">Bellali, T. Ch.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Papaligoura%2C+Z%2E+G%2E%22">Papaligoura, Z. G.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Reproductive+%26+Infant+Psychology%22">Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1020-1039. 20p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+sampling%22">Statistical sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+evaluation%22">Research evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Puerperium%22">Puerperium</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+women%22">Psychology of women</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+of+mothers%22">Attitudes of mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ovum+donation%22">Ovum donation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+reproductive+technology%22">Human reproductive technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sound+recordings%22">Sound recordings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Character%22">Character</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prenatal+bonding%22">Prenatal bonding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motherhood%22">Motherhood</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+facilities%22">Health facilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genetics%22">Genetics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thought+%26+thinking%22">Thought & thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-disclosure%22">Self-disclosure</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Greece%22">Greece</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194783083
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02646838.2025.2489548
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 1020
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Puerperium
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of women
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes of mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ovum donation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human reproductive technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Character
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prenatal bonding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motherhood
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
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      – SubjectFull: Health facilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thought & thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-disclosure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Greece
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The experience of oocyte donation pregnancy and early motherhood in Greece: a longitudinal, phenomenological study.
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              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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