How come we haven't explored the effects of childbearing on a man ;-

Just a thought

sorry for the typo, hehe.

Hey, you could aply for a job on this forum Piglet

You all that 2p worth! PinkNeuron I'm sure you were only joking. That's quite an achievement there and I am sure lots of women out there can learn and be encouraged by what you've just shared. With regards to what you mentioned, i would definately want to have my family while i'm young and not when i start growing grey hair enmasse.

I think, sometimes having a baby changes the parent's perspective in life. I'm sure you've heard of people quitting smoking, drugs etc when they had a baby, the same applies here as well. It would depend on what your goal in life is. If a woman thinks a PhD would still be important after having a child, then that's great but after childbearing, feels that she can't go through all of that but would rather do something else and look after her child, then that is understandable and even honourable.

Just follow your heart.

Pregnancy should be joyous ocassion in ones life, regardless of when it happens. The life a woman brings into the world, i think, i worth more than anything. When the baby comes out (forgive my word use) i think all the stress (from child-birth and a PhD) and troubles would seem insignificant.

sorry for my typo there.

Oh, we don't have to stop

It never ends, does it juno? I don't understand why everything needs to go through such (most times) unncessarry chain. Sometimes i wonder if other countries go through this same hasle we go through

Is there anyone from other countries who couls give an insight of their own department?

That was hilarious juno. LOL, especially this part:

'The 312 particles are held together by a force that involves the continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons'

What field are you in juno?

Does everything walk at a snail's pace over here?.
I coordinate research funding for my Department and i resposible for bringing ideas, writing proposals and in short, get money for the Department. But the thing is, there is so much protocol to go through. Each idea i turn in to a proposal has to be reviewed by my supervisor who now has to decide if we could go ahead with it(some have been approved by a visinting Prof. already) but he sure takes his time!! While he is doing this, application deadlines are looming!
If i had to bypass all of this, things would move a heck of a lot easily.

I am sure the snails are way ahead now.

Well flex, it is possible to do one's PhD in a different environment to academia but i do not really see what the problem is. I think it is would be good for you to do it in your home country where you are acustomed to but doing it in another country would open your eyes to new things, cultures etc that you may not have come across. When i do start mine, i won't be in the University at all but in industry and would only visit when the need arises.

I hope this sheds a little light.

Well, i don't fancy waiting 3-6 months to know but the idea of not having a viva sounds attractive

Haha

All the opinions mentioned are all reasonable (i think i see an agreement lurking in the shadows) I also believe a woman does not become incapable of doing her job, be it a PhD or not when she becomes pregnant as sassy pointed out. Nevertherless, i still maintain it does put a degree of strain (whether you admit it or not) on whatever your endeavours are (like in oz's instance) If you are funded in the UK, my understanding is that you do get some time off and you funding still carries on. This might not be the case in some other countries, hence the debate about considering other candidtes if a woman intends to get pregnant during her PhD.
Having said all this, i believe that it is possible to bring up a family during this period (though it won't be easy) and would not dicourage any woman that would want to do this if theu have got the means covered e.g finances etc