I don't know where you are based but my MA was in History of Design at the RCA/V&A and could be a good option for you to explore design from historical and theoretical angles! Also the Bard Graduate school in NY offers this programme

Thanks Gibson girl for your clear supportive advice!

Hi phdat30
I'm funded through a RCUK and the maternity package was mentioned in their terms and conditions.

Thanks all of you for your thoughtful comments.

I agree with GibsonGirl that I don't need to chose either being a mum or having an academic career. I worked for three years as a curator between my BA and phd and still do some freelance work in museums, and also try to treat my phd as a job (though it doesn't always work). I believe that I will probably return to a career in that world, rather than be a full time academic, but I am also keeping my options open at this stage.

Regarding childcare, yes that is a serious issue I had not thought about. We live near both of our parents, so there is help around but I'm not sure how much they would be willing to do. I know my partner wants to do a lot of childcare himself though (or at least he says so now!) but we do need to have a serious discussion about it too, so he knows how much I will still need to do (i.e. on my phd) once the baby arrives.

GibsonGirl - how much of your phd was done when the baby arrived? Did you make an effort to get lots of work done before giving birth? Did you speak to anyone about this - did the uni support you at all in planning?

What about working on your phd during pregnancy? How easy did you find it to manage? I'm a history student so most of my work involves long hours at the library or sitting at the computer writing.

The other thing to bear in mind is that I am offered a six-month full time maternity pay package with my funding. When talking to friends in other jobs, they say this is quite a good deal. When I think how long it might take me to find a secure job after phd, it does seem like the best time to do it.....

If, for example, we started trying for a baby next summer, with a view to getting pregnant by xmas, the baby would arrive around the time I am meant to submit....(just thinking out loud here :)....

When you think how lots of people compare phds to babies it does sort of sound a bit mad - but I have to admit I am swayed by maternity package - and of course the ticking of my clock!

Will have to have a think. Thanks again all :)

Depends what you are searching for but archive.org and google books have a lot of things I need
Also the gutenberg project

Thanks marasp I think your comment is right about Fear and it is really important to keep that in mind (but use it as a motivator, not as something to be scared of!!). I need to boost my confidence and take risks with my writing, exploring issues in depth, and loving research for what it is.....remember when you liked learning for the sake of it? At the moment I keep skirting around all of my topics/sources instead of diving in, because I have a lack of faith that they are the right sources for me/the project/this chapter.....and thus its taking me a long time to write.btw does anyone know a tomato timer where you can alter the time its set to? thx

I watched a free workshop here the other day and found it really inspirational, it may help others too.
Since then I have considered getting a coach to help me focus on my project, make a project structure, someone to motivate me and be accountable to. I know this should be my supervisor but I find it hard to talk to her about some of these things i.e. procrastination and self-criticism. I have had some mental health issues in the past (receieved counselling) and think coaching may be a way to help me focus and finish the phd.
Does anyone have any experience of coaching during their Phd? Or just generally?

Hi GM thanks for sharing and Im sorry to hear about this. I have also had problems with my partner's drinking and know how this feels, the waiting fro them to come in, wondering what's happened to them and if they're ok.

My advice to you is to get yourself some counselling. This really helped me to see I was a separate person from him and was empowering. Don't fall into the trap of being the mother or his counsellor. That takes up your whole time.

In terms of my Phd we lived together for the first 5 months (we had lived together previously for 5 years) then I got my own place but we are still together and I stay with him a lot. I did not leave solely because of his relationship with drink - mainly because of space issues - but this was part of it because, as you probably know, drinkers have cyclical patterns and it was that which was getting in the way with my phd work.

In terms of leaving him that is a very personal decision, and I'm not sure how long or serious your relationship is. But I would say that any relationship shift is bound to affect you and thus your phd. I'm not saying stay if it is really bad, you must get out if so and a counsellor would definitely support you with that. All I am saying is to be clear to yourself about your reasons for leaving him. Personally I often put relationship problems first, as much more important and pressing than doing my phd, which distracts me and gives me a seemingly legitimate reason to 'not work' that day. Sometimes they are, of course.

Good luck and look at Mind the charity - I had 'pay what you can' counselling through them which was only £5 a session, your uni might offer free counselling too.

Hi all there are some topics on this but they are quite out of date so I'm starting a new thread.
I'm going to be 30 in a few months and me and my partner (together 6 years) have been thinking about starting a family soon....he's in his 40s. I'm just about to enter the second year of my funded full time phd and thinking when would be the best time to start trying to get pregnant? Has anyone got experience of this and when did they begin trying? I've thought next academic year would be the best time to try and when the baby comes take one year off for maternity then go back part time to finish it.....do people actually finish their phds with a small baby? I'd just like to hear from others who have done their phd and had a baby and what their experiences were like. Thanks!!