Navigating pregnancy and short post-doc contracts (and PhD viva)...

[BatildaBII]

I am (only just) pregnant, after a year of trying and a couple of chemical pregnancies. So I'm trying to keep my hopes fairly low key for now, but also am putting in applications for funding that make me very aware of the dates... I assume others have navigated these waters, so am hoping to hear what others have done, or any advice on when to tell who. Sorry this is convoluted, but this is my situation:

I am currently on a one-year post-doc contract that finishes in the Autumn, 2-3 months before my potential due date. I have two possible options for one year post-doc contracts at the end of this, one at the same university assisting with someone else's project, one changing university and working on my own project. I am also working on a grant which would begin the year after and be for 2-3 years, which would be a collaborative project, but which I would be the main full time person for. Obviously, I may not get any of these. But it feels strange putting the work into the applications, and having help and support from other people who I would love to work with, when if all goes well then I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, and might be creating complications for them.

The first project can happen fine without me, although I am named on the application. The person whose project it is really putting me on the application to help me out between contracts I think, and I would be fairly straightforward to replace! (And she knows that I'm applying for the other one too).

The second project would be entirely driven by me, and in terms of the research there would be no problem delaying the start or even pausing after 1-3 months. I really want to do this, and would have serious regrets if I was offered it but couldn't take it up!

But.. if the third grant comes in then several people and institutions would be involved and expecting it to start Autumn 2025. I think you can apply to change the named main researcher, but it would possibly be quite difficult to recruit for as it requires quite a niche mix of qualifications, interests and possible location. Maybe it would be possible to delay the start of the project, but that would hold other things up that other people are working on. It might be something that I could reduce my role and do it part time.

I'm just not sure what my options are. All of them can mostly be done WFH. My partner works evenings, so theoretically I could take just a little time off, and still breastfeed, and just delay some start dates a little.. But I've already skirted a bit close to burn out in the past couple of years, and the thought of WFH after 6 weeks maternity makes me want to cry. But maybe after 3 months? Or 6 months?

If I was being completely selfish, and all 3 were offered, I would take the second, either delay starting or take maternity leave after a couple of months, and try and be as helpful as possible to sorting out an alternative way for the grant project to happen on schedule. That one is ESCR funded, I can't work out if I would actually qualify for maternity pay if I did that - it seems as if I shouldn't, but looks as if I might? If I don't then we'll be pretty broke, and will probably have to spend finite savings to an extent that we wouldn't be able to buy a house in the foreseeable future (already a bit difficult to make happen).

That's all assuming that having my PhD viva at 11 weeks pregnant doesn't lead to me vomiting all over the examiners, getting major corrections, and none of this being an option anyway!

Hi,

it was hard to keep track of your options, but I think you've got
Option A - 1 year postdoc at the same uni, easy to pause
Option B - 1 year postdoc/fellowship at a different uni - great project, could also be paused
Option C - ESRC grant which would start when baby is ? 9 months?

So really you are just choosing between Options A and B. The only advantage of A seems to be if you get better maternity pay when you stay at the same university v moving mid-pregnancy. Otherwise, if you get the funding for B then go for it. And C could still come along later.

Or have I misunderstood?

Is it your first baby? If you can somehow afford it, I'd say take as long as you possibly can to a year and enjoy your baby. They are right. The time never comes back. I went back early for finances and regretted it. Of course you can do things while they sleep - you can write, you can do some research - but there is nothing worse than facing a deadline or arguing with administrators while your baby needs you. I know it's hard to not worry that you can't make it up, but you got another 30 years to apply for grants you may or may not get. This will look different if you're burnt out and develop chronic issues.

If you get a grant that you're leading with the ESRC, they should be able to wait for a year as per law. Can appreciate the difficulties with finances. You will buy a house too but it's very stressful as well while having a tiny one at home. Good luck. Enjoy your pregnancy if you're not too tired/ill!

Sorry yes the options were confusing, bit of a train-of-thought anxious splurge there. I guess it's that I'm not sure what the maternity pay situation is with any of them, but the safer looking option is not the one that I want to do. And the larger project would become impossible for me to do if I take maternity leave followed by doing the post doc that I most want to do.

Thanks for the advice about taking time off. I do want to take lots of time off and spend proper time with the baby. It would be first one, and probably only one.

I guess I just need to push ahead with the multiple applications, to have as many options as possible, and if all goes well then try and work out what the best route through it all is, and work out what my priorities really are. Depleting our finances and mildly inconveniencing other people probably are at the bottom of the list, in comparison to spending time with a baby and having rewarding work to return to.

one more thought if it helps - I found it impossible to write papers/grants when on maternity leave because I was too tired to think straight. but it was much easier to do the social bits of science - going to conferences (baby in sling at poster sessions) and meeting collaborators to chat etc. That may not work for everyone but if you want to plan some work-related things in the first year of baby's life, it might help.

This is very helpful, thank you! I am an over-planner, so being able to envision what I can and can't realistically do to keep things ticking along while also taking a proper maternity leave is reassuring. I'm a late bloomer both in my career and starting a family, so feeling like I need to think quite hard about how to do them both without ending up in poverty or super stressed with a young child, but writing this thread has actually made me realise that it's not a bad thing that there it feels like there are an overwhelming number of different options for me to consider.