PhD holders/candidates - can you help?

[chubbasmummy]

Hi. I'm a part-time PhD student and am just through the first year so not so far yet. I have a 21 month old and I work part time too. I just manage to get enough research done. Just found out we are pregnant again and due ne t August. If I don't get sick like my last pregnancy I'll be able to keep studying until then but thinking studying with a newborn and a 2.5 year old wild man might be impossible. I probably can't defer because can't expect my supervisor to wait a few years! I'm wondering if I should drop out now and start again in a few years, or try to keep it up and hope I can somehow manage it. I don't have family around either who can help out. Has anyone been in a similar position? I'd love to hear your experiences.

[sunnyd]

Hi there,

I havent been in your situation as I don't have children so here is a little bump for you.

In the meantime I think the first point of call would be to talk with your supervisors about it and see if they have any suggestions. Doing a phd with limited support would definitely be quite challenging, but I know people who have done it and done is successfully.

I am not inclined to tell you to drop it if it can be worked around (taking enough time off for example, reducing the hours if at all possible) as I know how much work it takes to get there in the first place and my worry would be that you wouldn't go back to it?

Seeing as you have already started your research, it would be a shame to drop it now. I know for me personally my supervisors would be livid if I dropped out (I know I would burn my bridges there, they are old fashioned and stuck in their ways, much to my disappointment) but yours may be a little more forgiving (I hope!) and take you back in when you are ready to come back (if that is a possibility).

Only you know what you can handle and what is best for your family. Your kids are also so important, so take time thinking about your decision and talk with people, supervisors, others in your position, other academics and staff members, uni counsellors? Find out if there are any support networks around you can utilise.

Depending on what you are doing I don't think you could defer but I suppose you can always ask!

Good luck with it, and congrats on the new pregnancy