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Career versus pregnancy?

3 replies

ConfusedZed · 17/04/2025 13:16

Apologies if this is on the wrong topic/thread. I’ve recently encountered this group and was quite overhwhelmed by the topics but I’d like some advice so have thought to post.

I currently live in Glasgow with my husband. We’re currently a single income couple as he has recently completed a PhD (Theoretical Physics) and still on a job hunt, to venture into industry and not academia.

My job is pretty stable and am earning “okay”/enough for us to have a decent place at the city centre. But also I’ve been getting increasingly dissastisfied (and stagnating and disinterested) and have been looking for other jobs here in Glasgow for a while. I’ve gotten a few interviews but no offers.

Except recently I did get one - but in London! The role was really interesting and I thought would have been great for me career wise, that’s why I applied. But if I take the offer we have to move. That means moving as a single income couple (and who knows for how long) with an almost similar salary to what I am earning here. Also the contract is only until Mar 2027, with no assurance of extension.

Also I am 33 and I want to have a baby soon. So moving for a less than 2 year contract isn’t ideal AT ALL and I feel like I can’t delay pregnancy until after 2027.

So it does seem like the more reasonable option is to stay here, hold on to my job if only for the salary and the benefits for maternity. Even though the job is becoming less of what I want to do… so then am I “sacrificing” what I want for my career for motherhood? (Sorry please don’t take that in an offensive way)

It’s just also been frustrating to see my husband struggle with his job hunt. We thought moving to London could open up more opportunities for him albeit more competitive market as well. But it doesn’t seem worth the risk at this point?

Anyway, hoping for some inputs here. Thank you for reading up to this point.

OP posts:
Reallneedingdivineinspiration · 17/04/2025 14:39

I lived down south but earlier in my career to double my salary. Truth is you don’t need to move to London to get a good salary. I work remote and have a high salary working for a US company. I liked working down south but mortgages are extortionate! You are lucky to get a 2 bed flat for anything you’d get for a 5 bed house up here. Also I thought I had plenty of time until after 5 years of trying for a baby at 31 me and partner had fertility issues. I would prioritise the family and you are only on mat leave for a short time relative to the rest of your career. I needed to have ivf and had first child at 37. Then I went on to have two more. I wouldn’t say it’s either / or. You’re just pressing pause on the career for a short time. Being a mother is the best thing I ever did even though I doubted I wanted any in my 20s!

ConfusedZed · 17/04/2025 20:32

Reallneedingdivineinspiration · 17/04/2025 14:39

I lived down south but earlier in my career to double my salary. Truth is you don’t need to move to London to get a good salary. I work remote and have a high salary working for a US company. I liked working down south but mortgages are extortionate! You are lucky to get a 2 bed flat for anything you’d get for a 5 bed house up here. Also I thought I had plenty of time until after 5 years of trying for a baby at 31 me and partner had fertility issues. I would prioritise the family and you are only on mat leave for a short time relative to the rest of your career. I needed to have ivf and had first child at 37. Then I went on to have two more. I wouldn’t say it’s either / or. You’re just pressing pause on the career for a short time. Being a mother is the best thing I ever did even though I doubted I wanted any in my 20s!

Thanks for this! “Pressing pause” was such a nice way to put it. May I ask what your job is? Ahaha. I think my husband and I would both love to do fully remote if we can 😆

OP posts:
Reallneedingdivineinspiration · 18/04/2025 13:38

I work in clinical trials.

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