pregnant on the market

[Dahl]

So I'm just looking for some thoughts or advice.

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant but have fertility issues. I have told him we need to stop trying now because I need to go on the market next year. It is my thinking that I cannot be due between October and March of next year so that I can travel for interviews. He doesn't agree with me. He thinks if a dept wants me they will figure out a way to make it happen. I think he just doesn't understand how this all works.

The problem is that we are older, and we have fertility problems, and time is not on our side. He is worried about putting it off for 8 months or so.

But I'm right aren't I? If I want to go on the market next year, I really can't be due between October through March? I'm not worried about being pregnant while interviewing - if that would stop them from hiring me, then I don't want that job. But I do have to physically be able to go on an interview. And doesn't October to March seem like the right window? You can't travel by plane after like 35 weeks pg, and I probably can't take off for an interview for at least 4 weeks after giving birth...

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or any experience here.

[anonomouse]

unless you are going onto the market with like 5+ publications, it's doubtful you will be having interviews before december/january based on this year's market, so you can probably safely keep trying a few more months. I've also heard of pregnant women who can't travel doing video interviews over skype or a larger videoconference setup. So it's possible to do that too.

My and my husband stopped TTC for similar reasons (on the market this year, don't want to be giving birth right when starting new job).

[anon44]

You are right that you can't fly after 35 weeks. Of course, depending where you are located and how far the place you would be interviewing there is always the train or you can drive (I drove to a conference 15 hours away once 38 weeks pregnant...). As far as interviewing after you give birth. You'll just want to make sure the baby can be bottle fed while you are gone. And if you breast feed, you can always bring your breast pump along with you to the interview (again I did that for one interview). Basically, there are ways to have both a baby and go on interviews. If the departments you are interviewing have a family friendly policy, they will totally understand. But, there are a few old coots out there that still subscribe to the philosophy that working women shouldn't have families. But I think your husband has a point..if time isn't on your side as you say it is, it is possible to do both. I have!

[anon19]

Keep in mind that the market can be a multi-year process, even for very good candidates. Even in the very best case scenario where you get lots of interviews, you still may not end up with a job, because of departmental politics, bad luck, hiring lines getting pulled... Or you may end up with a 1 or 2 year postdoc, and in the same position the next year. Or adjuncting and in the same position the next year... Conversely, if you give departments no information at all about being pregnant, and they do call you to interview, I would think that they would be culturally and probably legally bound to accommodate you to the best of their ability. After all, discrimination law suits are not unknown in academia - in fact, some of the top people in sociology now got tenure that way (and with good cause IMO). I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but in economic times like these I'd be careful sacrificing anything for a job market run.

[anonprof]

you should not, under any circumstances, delay your fertility for the job market. if you really can't travel, a dept. will understand and make accommodations.

that said, it will be hard to travel right after you have had a baby. Counting the 5ish weeks before the birth, you are going to have another 6 weeks after the birth when it would really be difficult to go. But after that, I think you can probably do it.

but I have participated in two different video interviews because of this very issue (and one of the women was hired).

[mamaprof]

I agree with the previous post... don't delay TTC (which could still take a while) based on the possibility that you *might* have interviews in a job market that hasn't even materialized yet. The departments will just have to figure it out. And wouldn't it completely suck if you DID delay and DIDN'T get a single interview? In this job market, that is a big possibility even for people with OUTSTANDING records.

I have interviewed for a job pregnant in the past (and got it); and as a member of a search committee, had to help accommodate pregnant and pumping mama's various (totally reasonable) requests. You can use these kinds of interactions with a dept on these issues to assess how truly "family friendly" they are. Also, if you delayed and, say, were due to give birth in the summer or fall after getting a job offer, you couldn't necessarily be guaranteed family leave at your new job in the fall (need to be on the job a year, typically, before receiving maternity benefits, though you might be able to negotiate something with your offer if you were pregnant at the time you got an offer). So, having the kid earlier would be better for your ability to start a job "on time" while also having some quality time with your baby in the early months.

Anyway, I say go for the baby. The job will work itself out.

[Dahl]

Wow, well I'm glad I asked! This was really not the response I thought I would get. We have to stop for a little while for other reasons, but I guess I will more seriously consider trying again in a few months.

Any other thoughts are appreciated, even if you disagree with everyone else!

[Great Question]

I had my daughter in grad school in part because my adviser convinced me that you can't put your life or your family on hold because of jobs. You just have to go for it if that is what is important to you. I am graduating this summer, on time--so I'm really glad I followed her advice because I can't imagine my life without my daughter. My husband and I had decided to have another baby next year while I was on the market, because honestly, yes it will be difficult to arrange things, but certainly not impossible and we both realize how much easier it would be to have to work around a few interviews than having a full time job--plus there are no guarantees--who knows if we'll jobs. Furthermore, if you are pregnant or have a new baby it will more important than ever to find a supportive department. Honestly, if they don't hire you because you're pregnant/have an infant you probably will be unhappy trying to work there and balance your other responsibilities.

[anonymice]

Feb 10, 2010 22:11:15 GMT -5 @Great Question said:

-who knows if we'll have jobs

These seem like odd circumstances under which to have another child!

[not yet bitter]

I was on a different academic market when my first child was an infant. She was born in January, and my interviews were in February-May. For the earlier ones, I quietly brought my husband with me, and he cared for her while I interviewed. When she was a little older, I had interviews in towns where I knew people (close friend, my grandparents), and they watched her for me. One school helped me set up childcare for during the interview (I didn't get that job, but I wasn't really qualified for it either). I was offered every other job I interviewed for. I agree with the poster who said just do it. THere is NEVER a good time to have a baby. You will never have enough time, money, space, or patience for things to be "perfect," so if you want a baby, go ahead and have one. And please breastfeed if at all possible--a lot of my research centers on this topic, and it really is worth your while, for your own sake as well as you child's (e.g. huge reduction in chances of pre-menopausal breast cancer). I had to hand pump into a sink during one of my interviews, but it was all worth it in the long run!