“To our delight, in vitro fertilization worked the first time,” rejoices Florence
42, turning to François , her husband. Sitting on the colorful carpets in the resource room of the fertility center of the Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon hospital group, the couple took part in a discussion group to talk about the start of pregnancy of Florence, who was 7 weeks pregnant. That day, they were the only ones to talk about their medically assisted procreation (PMA) journey in this workshop set up to support couples “after their treatment”, in the context of new therapeutic approaches to infertility. “The result of a pregnancy test, whatever it is, is not easy to manage for couples,
observes Marie-Jang Besançon, midwife. If it is negative, it puts an end to hope. But if it is positive, it is not easy either, because spouses do not always allow themselves to believe it. »Florence and François, them, repeat that they “are lucky” but do not seem very reassured. “I’m over 40, have weight problems, diabetes, I’m very tired… It’s not a pleasant start to pregnancy, confides the future mother. There is a lot of pressure. I have to be careful with everything, especially food, and it’s complicated. » Both talk about their fears for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, parenthood, changes in their relationship and
” the comedy “
that they must play around with those around them so as not to reveal anything, because the risk of miscarriage is high.
Psychological support to reduce stress levels Seated opposite them, Marie-Jang Besançon and Ève Espinasse, the psychologist, answer their questions and help them to project themselves into the pregnancy that is taking hold. The hour and a half session provides thirty minutes of relaxation to help the couple ease their anxiety. A pioneer in the field of assisted reproduction, the Deaconesses fertility center is a pioneer in new treatments for infertility.
“In addition to medical techniques, we offer psychological support to reduce the stress level of patients, because infertility is a disease that generates as much anxiety as heart disease or cancer”, explains Dr. Gwénola Kéromnès, head of the fertility center.In addition to discussion groups, the center offers several art therapy workshops, with modelling, singing and dancing, “activities that liberate the body and mind and improve the well-being of patientsemphasizes Dr. Kéromnès. Studies have shown that singing promotes the production of endorphins, the pleasure hormone, and lowers the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. As for the dance
she adds,
it allows women to reclaim their bodies broken by infertility and bruised by treatments. ART patients feel devalued and feel guilty for not being able to give birth. » Still recent practices in FranceFlorence bears witness to this suffering with injections that she had to give herself and the “Pain from oocyte retrieval for fifteen days” . She also talks about “expired body” and said they ” are not gifted” since they “failed to do so(love)
at the right time or the right frequency” . François is more positive and sees everything that has worked. He even thinks they would have
“continued to try spontaneously, if there hadn’t been the pressure of age to enter the PMA protocol”, limited to 43 years for women.