I think this is the only worry which I really have: when I have a child will it be completly change my centre of live to the extend that I ask myself that I could as well work as a bar person (no offence meant) (earn the same money) and take everything less serious?

sassy, if you are unfunded you get £130/week social benefits as far as I am aware. I read it somewhere on the page with all the child benefits. perhaps that helps.
It was a really intresting discussion, I agree - do we have to stop? It is the most liveliest part of the forum at the moment it seems

Apart from the fact that I think somebody under 18 (absolut minimum) should not get pregnant in the first place - whether they are in education or not (I know accidents happen)

On the other hand the funding bodies will not refuse further funding because if you go over the four years because of matenity leave, illness etc the time does not count, it basically does not pass by ( I am going to be living in a timeless whole - do my wrinkles stop coming as well? )
I do understand you juno but I think not everybody is in teh position to wait three years and not everyone wants to. I don't think it has major impact on other people but perhaps you should try not to opt for a project where every day counts but then even if you not plan it can happen or you get ill, or you cannot get the results for. Live is not as planable as it would be nice to be but thats live And I still think I would not tell my supervisor in the interview: Hey and by the way I won't babies. It would make a strange impression and would be out of place and you draw attention to something they should know can happen anyway.
ok was this the longest post ever?

In a job I have worked before my boss got pregnant (planned) right in the middle of a huge project with needed to be finished to a deadline. She went off work 4 weeks before her due date and came back 6 month after - I had finished the project by then. To be honest this had more impact on everyone around then me doing my stupid PhD with is of no intrest to anyone but myself. Yes, I am part of a bigger project but in all honesty nobody will really be bothered whether they get the work in time or not as they won't deliver in time as they never do.

Shani, I am completly with you on that. I think a PhD is work but in the UK it seems to be treated more as education - so I think it is a back ground thing. However, after getting used to the idea that I am having a baby I actually think the PhD is the best time ever. As long as you are not planning to work with radioactives etc you can still work - you can work ahead while you have your good times and nobody really cares if you are in 30min lates as you could not get up in the morning (by the way I am always the first in the office and the next ones to come are the other mothers the guys and single girls usually arrive at 11 still not awake).

Sorry for changing the topic but as we were feeding the thread a while ago I was wondering whether it could start smoking - I really could do with a fag and I am not allowed so perhaps if I could have a virtual fag break?
Does anyone want to meet for virtual fag breaks at ten and half three?

... continued
and on the other hand I will only take 6-8 weeks off, then the baby goes into day care. These weeks will be my holiday for the three weeks as I get no money what so ever for being on maternity leave. Looking around what a lot of PhD students do the whole day (me included at the moment) these weeks are "wasted" by surfing the internet, having a hang over, chatting, playing games etc... I on the other ahnd and I think I speek for a lot of parents I know need to be extra fast as everybody otherwise complains. So my PhD will not be longer than normal, I don't get money anyway and I was simply the best candidate for the job so why should I not do it?
Don't want to offend anyone but I am really angry as everyone apart from my supervisors tells me to quit as I won't be able to cope and it is not good to be a mother and not be with the child 24/7

I think the problem for one is age and it is easy in a way if you have been through the English system where you can have your BSc with 22 and then with 25 you are done with your PhD. Apart from that we did not plan for the baby because I know it is going to be difficult, I did not finish my degree till I was 27 and I went the quickest way possible + 1 year because I had to work to finace my studies from starting school to finishing for my subject. Until I have finished my PhD I will be ober 30 and then you get 1 year Postdoc contracts where you really should not get pregnant and then I am getting a bit old.

Try to drink loads of fluid, best herbal teas (sage is really good) with honey (disinfects and makes it easier to swallow) and hot lemon with honey. Try to get down from some medication as it probably makes you really tiered and just take Paracetamol, drink loads, have a hot bath at night and go straight to bed and sweat the cold out. And try to eat fresh fruit as well as carbohydrates (my Granny always says you have to feed a cold )
Hope you are better soon

You are right, beta undigged it somehow. But just to reply to you shani, I think it is possible to work with a baby. I know loads of women in my department who have kids and I think there is on the on ehand never a "right" time if you try to plan it but on the other you cannot wait forever nor see the kid as stopping you from everything - something I learned in the last weeks.

and the 8 free ones

you are not alone if that helps

it cut some text off...
But in general I think it is possible if you think that you are 1)highly organised
2) have tripple the self-dicipline (I don't)
3) and you are happy about it
but it surely gives a good balance to science to change nappies

Hi, I started my PhD in December and by complete accident I got pregnant. The morning sickness was really bad as I just could not make it to work and my brain was complete mash. It is getting slightly better now but I am still not sure how I am going to survive not having a nap every two hours on my keyboard
I think in general it is possible but I would not tell your supervisor that it was planned. Start your PhD, get your experiments up and running and after the lab work (which you might not be allowed to do when you are pregnant). As your supervisor obviously likes your work he should not have to many problems with you taking some time off but find out how you finance it as I won't get anything and we are not sure how to survive my maternity leave.