Predictors of Parentg Strs Lbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents Durg Early Parenthood - PMC

Many lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr (trans), queer, and other sexual and genr mory (LGBTQ+) people sire to nceive children. Yet, LGBTQ+ peopl’ experienc are snt reproductive health lerature, particularly around pregnancy loss—a stigmatized and distrsg pregnancy oute. Informed by mory strs theory, this qualative study aimed to explore the experienc of multi-level stigma and rilience among LGBTQ+ people the ntext of nceptn, pregnancy, and loss. Seventeen semi-stctured dividual terviews (25–70 mut) were nducted (2019) wh a purposive sample of LGBTQ+ people the Uned Stat (U.S.) who had experienced pregnancy loss (n = 14) or an timate partnership which a pregnancy was lost (n = 3) the last two years. Transcribed terviews were analyzed thematilly. Participants scribed the profound sadns of pregnancy loss due to unique challeng of LGBTQ+ nceptn. Multiple typ of stigma manifted at trapersonal (e.g., anticipated sexual stigma upon disclosure), terpersonal (e.g., unsoliced advice about nceptn cisns), and stctural levels (e.g., differential requirements to accs nceptn pared to heterosexual/cisgenr upl). Rilience was also seen dividually (e.g., purposeful disclosure of nceptn, pregnancy, and loss), relatnally (e.g., nnectg wh other LGBTQ+ muny members), and llectively (e.g., creatg/engagg LGBTQ+-specific nceptn, pregnancy, and loss onle spac). LGBTQ+ people experience mory strsors of multi-level stigmatizatn throughout the pregnancy procs, which lims their accs to social support after experiencg pregnancy loss. However, dividual, relatnal, and llective rilience strategi abound rponse. Th, mory strs theory n also be applied to regnize strengths-based and affirmg approach to reproductive healthre for LGBTQ+ people.