Infertility, medically assisted reproduction, preterm birth

Abstract

The paper describes the links between the experience of couples faced with a diagnosis of sterility or infertility, the medically assisted journey, and the possible preterm birth outcome as a result of the latter, resulting in the hospitalization of the newborn at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This thread is analyzed from female identity suffering perspective, as experienced by the woman before conception and then by the mother of the hospitalized newborn. The work highlights the role that a psychotherapist with specific on field experience can perform in a special space for prevention and treatment of such identity wounds, and the ways in which such parental support psychological function becomes more effective when coupled with the work of an integrated treatment team of doctors and medical staff, trained to carry out an empathic and competent dialogue in the context of the relationship with the couple before and after conception. A clinical case study is set forth.infertilità, procreazione medicalmente assistita, prematurità, ferita identitaria