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Indeed, the existing literature on the well-being of such children (those resulting from infertility treatment), would bear that testimony out. If anything, there is the possibility of infertile parents being overprotective, and of their children becoming "over precious."
A 1997, an Australian study of IVF parents concluded that their adjustment to parenthood in the first year of their first baby's life was similar to families who had conceived naturally. However, the study went on to note "minor IVF differences that reflect heightened child-focused concern and less confidence in parenting for mothers, less satisfaction with the marriage for the fathers, and vulnerable self-esteem for both parents."
One year later, a U.S. study assessed attitudes of parents toward their children conceived through ART. These researchers concluded that in addition to parents' fears about miscarriage, the parents "believed that their children were more appreciated, that their children were not emotionally different, that ART did not create ongoing medical or emotional problems, and they were not overprotective as parents."
More studies have been done which all basically conclude with upbeat statements regarding adjustment to parenting and parental attitudes toward children who result from infertility treatment.
It should be noted that no studies have been done which would specifically ferret out statistics on these children being abused or neglected in their homes. Hopefully, what we know now is the whole truth. It's common for individuals' own tales of abuse to be carefully guarded until later in their lives; perhaps time will tell us more about the current lives of the children of infertility. After all, Louise Brown is the oldest of all "test tube babies," and she's barely into her twenties.
© Tracy Morris
