Hello,

I've followed PGF throughout my PhD but never posted, so decided I've give it a try. Hope someone can help!

My husband and I have been trying for a baby for about a year now. From a financial perspective, we'd hoped to have been pregnant by now as I would have been eligible for maternity pay under Research Council (as a PhD student). I've nearly finished my PhD so, even if we were to get pregnant now, I would have already come to the end of my studentship before the baby was born - so obviously no maternity pay!

My question is about the minefield of maternity pay as a post-doc. I want to continue doing research - I love working in science - but we also desperately want to start a family. We're both a bit older, so aware that biology will be against us if we wait too much longer. I want to be able to spend the first few months of our newborn's life at home, but we cannot live solely on my husband's income. Once the little-one is a little older, I'd hope to return to work with a view to working from home some of the time (hubby works shifts so can share child-care).

Does anyone know how it works - do postdocs get maternity pay? If we were to get pregnant any time soon, as far as I understand, I wouldn't be eligible for statutory maternity pay as a postdoc. I know it's complicated as benefits will vary depending on funding, but my supervisors have suggested putting me on one of their grants (not sure who with yet), so wondering how this would work. My expectation is that any maternity leave I took would be unpaid.

I don't want to talk to anyone in the dept because if they get wind that we're trying, I might jepordise my chances of getting a postdoc. Whilst we both really want a family, until we actually conceive, it would be foolish to close the doors on any postdoc opp. I feel really stuck as to how to find out what the options are, so I'd be really appreciative of any advice. Like I say, I appreciate there's not one answer, but to know of other people who've been in this situation would be a great start.

Thanks,

BB