Pregnant during grad school?

[nehs]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you

I'm in the middle of my M.S program - just completed one semester- and 2 more to go. So hopefully I gradaute in Fall 2012. I'm doing the program full-time, 12 credits.

My Husband and me had always thought that 2012 would be the year for us to have a baby.And 2012 is here!I'm excited for sure because this is something we planned way back in 2009 and I never knew I'd be in this program then.

So that's a little back ground.

Coming to my question - anyone here have any thoughts on being pregnant during the program( and when actively taking courses)?

I could definitely post pone this plan and wait until I graduate but then that's going to be harder on me I feel - job search when pregnant is almost a wasted cause - so I figured I might as well get this done in School. I'm only worried that any form of sickness might keep me from attending classes or going for exams.

Your thoughts/feelings? any one who experienced this? I'm excited to hear anything.

[Rachel B]

I've actually know two people who have gone through/considered this!

A friend of mine found out she was pregnant her last year of her PhD program and she kept attending classes. But after she was hit hard with morning sickness and then complications in her second and third trimester, she had to postpone school since the stress of her dissertation could have potentially made things worse. She still hasn't returned to the PhD program though and after the complications and postpartum depression, I'm not sure if she is ever going to.

My cousin also considered pregnancy during graduate school but decided to hold off until completing her MBA. I think it was a good choice for her because the school let her participate in the job development/placement program even two years after graduating. She found a really great job too and I think the transition was easier for her.

Overall, I think pregnancy can be very unpredictable. If I were in your shoes I would finish one commitment before beginning another. And maybe after you graduate you could just take a break for your family plans, and knowing graduate school is behind you could relieve a lot of stress. Plus, it would give you time to adjust to the new baby and spend quality time together before finding a job.

Just my 2 cents I hope whatever you choose that everything goes well!

[non humilis mulier]

I can't speak to pregnancy in graduate school, but I can as an undergraduate. Last year I was a full time undergraduate student, writing an honors thesis, pregnant. It was doable, but very difficult. My pregnancy was for the most part, complication free. I was very tired, and my husband was EXTREMELY supportive, covering meals, grocery shopping, budgeting, etc., so that I could rest and do my homework. I also had a very supportive thesis advisor, who had three children while she was in graduate school. She extended lots of grace to me and offered lots of support, which also got me through. It was tough, but I would do it again. If I hadn't have had such a wonderful husband and advisors, I don't think I could have managed it. And of course, a graduate program would be more rigorous than undergraduate courses, I'd imagine. I wish you blessings and health in whatever you and your husband decide. Babies are so wonderful! I wouldn't have it any other way. My LO is my study buddy. : )

[long_time_lurker]

I'm an expectant father (due early June) so I can't tell you what it feels like to be pregnant but I can relay what my wife has felt like as well as former co-workers, and how grad school plays in:

1. My wife's morning sickness was 24/7 the whole first trimester. She's a trooper though and didn't miss a day of work, and in her job she's on her feet. She is often very tired, though.

2. A co-worker and I did our Masters at the same time, full-time job and full-time Masters. She had two kids already to boot. She did it, but she was definitely more exhausted than I was.

3. My wife is very tired, so I would think with commuting and class it might be a challenge to have the energy for reading and assignments. Also, our doctor said strictly no caffeine.

So it's certainly doable. People work 40 hours (or more) and do it so no difference here.

4. We got married in '08 and knew we wanted to conceive this past fall. Since I used to teach full-time the idea was to have the baby in the early summer so I would be here to support my wife the first couple months, and it worked out. I'd imagine you'd want to do the same thing, so you don't miss any classes.

5. I don't know what your husband does and your career situation now or when you get out, but I'm going to make a lot more in a few years but at our ages (33 and 31) we did not want to wait any longer. We had the same issue where a little more than a year ago I didn't think I would be in a program (and mine is 4 years minimum if I'm disciplined and the dissertation goes well). We decided not to let material issues get in the way of what we really wanted (a family). So I would say, don't wait - except perhaps till the late summer to conceive rather than now - because really family comes first and the rest will be figured out one way or another.

6. This is more for after the birth, and maybe you're different but I know I can't study with noise, so I already moved my study (that's where baby's room will be) besides getting the baby's room ready before class begins. So do as much as possible now before you're pregnant e.g. IKEA runs, painting, etc. or make sure your husband can take vacation (I've spent my break on this and one last paper.) Your husband is going to have to realize he's going to have to care for the baby when he/she's loud and that you need your own quiet time/space.

7. Since you're in NY: If you don't have health benefits, the eligibility is a lot more forgiving for pregnant women, as you get counted as 2 people. Once you have the baby, a family can get Child Health Plus if the household income is under about 75K. So if you didn't think you would be eligible, you might be.

[nehs]

I'm going to try and reply to each of you

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've actually know two people who have gone through/considered this!

A friend of mine found out she was pregnant her last year of her PhD program and she kept attending classes. But after she was hit hard with morning sickness and then complications in her second and third trimester, she had to postpone school since the stress of her dissertation could have potentially made things worse. She still hasn't returned to the PhD program though and after the complications and postpartum depression, I'm not sure if she is ever going to.

My cousin also considered pregnancy during graduate school but decided to hold off until completing her MBA. I think it was a good choice for her because the school let her participate in the job development/placement program even two years after graduating. She found a really great job too and I think the transition was easier for her.

Overall, I think pregnancy can be very unpredictable. If I were in your shoes I would finish one commitment before beginning another. And maybe after you graduate you could just take a break for your family plans, and knowing graduate school is behind you could relieve a lot of stress. Plus, it would give you time to adjust to the new baby and spend quality time together before finding a job.

Just my 2 cents I hope whatever you choose that everything goes well!

I totally agree that pregnancy can be unpredicatable, and that's my only fear. Especially, I've seen most women have a hard time in the first trimester.

[nehs]

I can't speak to pregnancy in graduate school, but I can as an undergraduate. Last year I was a full time undergraduate student, writing an honors thesis, pregnant. It was doable, but very difficult. My pregnancy was for the most part, complication free. I was very tired, and my husband was EXTREMELY supportive, covering meals, grocery shopping, budgeting, etc., so that I could rest and do my homework. I also had a very supportive thesis advisor, who had three children while she was in graduate school. She extended lots of grace to me and offered lots of support, which also got me through. It was tough, but I would do it again. If I hadn't have had such a wonderful husband and advisors, I don't think I could have managed it. And of course, a graduate program would be more rigorous than undergraduate courses, I'd imagine. I wish you blessings and health in whatever you and your husband decide. Babies are so wonderful! I wouldn't have it any other way. My LO is my study buddy. : )

Yes , even I feel that babies are so wonderful and also a family is more important than many things.

I would definitely need a solid plan in place wrt husband's help,grad advisors etc. Otherwise, there is going to be a lot of stress.

[nehs]

Thanks for your perspective as an expectant father, that is also an important thing. And I'm happy to read your post.

I'm an expectant father (due early June) so I can't tell you what it feels like to be pregnant but I can relay what my wife has felt like as well as former co-workers, and how grad school plays in:

1. My wife's morning sickness was 24/7 the whole first trimester. She's a trooper though and didn't miss a day of work, and in her job she's on her feet. She is often very tired, though.Yep, this is what i'm worried too but I'm not planning to work at all. So only the full-time program.

2. A co-worker and I did our Masters at the same time, full-time job and full-time Masters. She had two kids already to boot. She did it, but she was definitely more exhausted than I was.

3. My wife is very tired, so I would think with commuting and class it might be a challenge to have the energy for reading and assignments. Also, our doctor said strictly no caffeine.

So it's certainly doable. People work 40 hours (or more) and do it so no difference here.

4. We got married in '08 and knew we wanted to conceive this past fall. Since I used to teach full-time the idea was to have the baby in the early summer so I would be here to support my wife the first couple months, and it worked out. I'd imagine you'd want to do the same thing, so you don't miss any classes.I'm not sure if I can plan it exactly for the summer but I know i'm going to be in a mess if its not the summer necause it would mean missing classes.

5. I don't know what your husband does and your career situation now or when you get out, but I'm going to make a lot more in a few years but at our ages (33 and 31) we did not want to wait any longer. We had the same issue where a little more than a year ago I didn't think I would be in a program (and mine is 4 years minimum if I'm disciplined and the dissertation goes well). We decided not to let material issues get in the way of what we really wanted (a family). So I would say, don't wait - except perhaps till the late summer to conceive rather than now - because really family comes first and the rest will be figured out one way or another.

6. This is more for after the birth, and maybe you're different but I know I can't study with noise, so I already moved my study (that's where baby's room will be) besides getting the baby's room ready before class begins. So do as much as possible now before you're pregnant e.g. IKEA runs, painting, etc. or make sure your husband can take vacation (I've spent my break on this and one last paper.) Your husband is going to have to realize he's going to have to care for the baby when he/she's loud and that you need your own quiet time/space.

7. Since you're in NY: If you don't have health benefits, the eligibility is a lot more forgiving for pregnant women, as you get counted as 2 people. Once you have the baby, a family can get Child Health Plus if the household income is under about 75K. So if you didn't think you would be eligible, you might be.I have a good insurance plan, so I'm ok there but still after-birth expenses will have to be managed well.

[Hillary Emick]

I had a baby a month before I graduated with my undergrad. I didn't find school and being pregnant to be difficult. I did find school and a newborn to be extremely difficult. I took off a few years between undergrad and graduate school to finish having babies so I wouldn't have to juggle that latter part again. If you aren't due until after the semester is over, I don't think it's that difficult to be pregnant and a student.

In a job, you take a few weeks off and you go back and things are where they left off more or less. If you miss a few weeks of school, it goes on without you and you have to make all of that up. That was the hard part. I was back in class with a one week old baby and a pillow for those awful plastic chairs. I pulled it off but it was one the most difficult things I've ever done.

[CarlieE]

I'm aiming for getting pregnant during my last year of PhD coursework and then having the baby right before I head out for field work. The country I'm doing my fieldwork in is also where my parents and extended family are so the plan is to enlist my mom's assistance (will be the 1st grandchild!) while I head out and do my fieldwork. The boyf (whom I will assume will be fathering said baby) is planning on doing research in a neighboring nation and so, with some coordination, this might just work out well.

After a year of fieldwork, the idea is to return to the US and write. I'm expecting that THIS will be the tough part - running around after a toddler while trying to get writing done.

We'll see....

[RosamundReage]

This is a really interesting topic and something I have been thinking about. Many people have told me that grad school is actually a fairly good time to have a baby (post-coursework and post-comps) since you do a lot of work from home during this period in most PHD programs. Since the OP is finishing her masters it may or may not be a good time depending on coursework/thesis demands.

I had a question about mat leave and grad school. In Canada employers have to give you a year of maternity or paternity leave, do universities have to follow this rule?

[CarlieE]

I had a question about mat leave and grad school. In Canada employers have to give you a year of maternity or paternity leave, do universities have to follow this rule?

Hmmm I'm also interested in this too.. If anyone has an answer I'd also love to know.

[UnlikelyGrad]

I had my oldest son as an undergrad. It was doable, but there were issues: I had to postpone some of my labs (organic solvents + pregnancy = nono), and I kept falling asleep in any lecture where the professor darkened the room to use an overhead projector.

I agree with what long_term_lurker said about preparing as much as possible before you actually get pregnant, but I'd add one thing to his list: get in shape. Because the better shape you are in, the better your pregnancy and delivery will be. Start eating well before the pregnancy, too.

If I were in your shoes I would definitely have a baby in grad school. (In my case, not until I was writing my dissertation though--because my research is done at sea, and being at sea while pregnant sounds like a disaster to me.)

[bfat]

Thanks for posting this--I've been looking for an outlet to talk about this topic.

So right now, I'm working full time, taking 2 grad classes, and 20 weeks pregnant. I finished last semester (also 2 classes and working 40 hrs/week) while in the beginning of my first trimester--I would NOT recommend this if you can avoid it. Feeling like I wanted to barf all the time while trying to finish two 30-page papers and study for exams was not the most fun thing ever. But this semester has been much better. I'm doing fine with my classes, I feel good, and while it's stressful and I'm tired occasionally, I don't feel totally overwhelmed. I'm due in August and I'm hoping the baby will come ~2 weeks before fall classes start up again. We planned it this way, and we were really lucky that it worked out--generally trying to "time" a pregnancy is pretty difficult, but what can you do? There is never a "perfect" time to have baby, so I wouldn't wait.

However, there is no way in hell I will be able to work 40 hours/week, take care of a newborn, prepare my PhD applications, and go to class next fall. I'm thinking of not working at all next semester, but unfortunately FMLA guarantees only unpaid maternity leave and the university where I work doesn't offer any more than that. I didn't realize how totally F'd the maternity care system is in this country until I got pregnant. I'm a little worried about the financial aspect, but I'm actually kind of psyched to stop working. I'm pretty sick of this crappy job anyway.

Anyway, If you have a support system (especially a financial one), I'd say go for it.

Good luck!

[reachystik]

I'm not pregnant, but just recently worked with two individuals on a group project for one our classes. Both were pregnant (one was 17weeks, and the other was 37weeks).

Often our group meetings to discuss and work on our project quickly veered off topic to pregnant things (not that I cared, our project topic was boring).

I had classes with the woman who was 37weeks before in the previous term. I had NO idea she was pregnant then! This woman was always very active in class, and always kept the discussion going. When we started our project I was looking forward to working with her because she's had some very unique and interesting experience in the field we were looking at for our project. However, she was quite on edge due to her final weeks of pregnancy, especially it being a high risk one (she was 42 and had a number of pre-existing health issues). I felt that the stress of school and the fears of her baby's safety really got to her and it was reflected in her work, focus, and motivation.

I feel she should have taken the time off toward the end of her pregnancy, for her own health and safety.

I hate group work as it is and I know myself and the other woman (the one who was 17wks) went above and beyond to pick up her slack so we could put that extra effort in to get a good mark. So that entire experience was stressful and frustrating. We were all worried the entire time for this poor woman who was stressed to the limit and scared to do anything that may risk her safety/baby's safety.

I would say, make sure you have family/pre-natal/maternal care set up. This woman was saying that at the beginning of her pregnancy she fought tooth and nail to get proper health care, and was terrified when the process was taking forever. Definitely look at what is available in that kind of care so you have that peace of mind throughout your entire pregnancy.

Also check with your school's policy on part-time studies (assuming you're in full-time studies... I completely forget the first post already..haha, ohhh short term memory, how you fail me). Look at all of your options/possibilities. See if there is a Parent & Grad student social/support group at your university!

Right now I am providing care to both of my parents via longdistance/flying back and forth. Not really similar to being pregnant/caring for a baby, but still is a type of care.... a stress... something to balance with studies...

[Gneiss1]

Perhaps just some advice to those considering the whole pregnancy during grad school deal. I had my son during undergrad, he was born over winter break (on new years). I took lighter classes during the fall semester preceding his birth, but really I probably didn't have to. At 8 months pregnant I was out raking our 3 acre lawn with no problem. Never had morning sickness, back pain was minimal and definitely worth the shelf I gain (aka my stomach) to use for folding laundry and holding things. Pregnancy was great and easy!

...For any of you with different experiences you may know what I am about to say next. The second child...

So our first one was EASY and I didn't wish to be 60 with kids graduating high school. We wanted a semi-big family (4) so get started early. So for child number two we got pregnant way earlier than expected (my son was only 4 months old) I still had a year of school left and mistakenly thought it would be the same as before. No. I was very, very wrong. My pregnancy with my daughter had such horrendous morning sickness for all 9 months is was frequently hospitalized for dehydration and had to where a zofran pump to deliver anti-nausea medication. I also had a complication with a cyst from the pregnancy that led to me having surgery while 6 months pregnant and being on bed rest pretty much the entire time. I have a beautiful, healthy 3 year old daughter today but that pregnancy definitely taught me that every child and pregnancy is not the same and you never know what you are going to get. I ended up losing a year and a half of school from all the complications. I realize this pregnancy is not the "norm" but I have seen enough friends go through complications of their own to know it is a gamble that isn't worth taking when you have so much to take on with grad school. You just don't know and can't know how your body will respond. I would wait and start trying right after graduation if you want to have a child soon or get established in your job for a while and then start trying.

[kindalost]

I don't know the answer but I can share that a friend of mine was pregnant twice during Medical School (University of Michigan), and now she is a successful Doctor.

Good luck =)

[TakeruK]

I had a question about mat leave and grad school. In Canada employers have to give you a year of maternity or paternity leave, do universities have to follow this rule?

They don't HAVE to follow this rule. However, many Universities do have some official policy to allow for pregnant graduate students. My current University, Queen's (in Kingston, ON) just a few years ago created such a policy, but only for PhD students

The standard policy is you can take up to 1 year off without affecting your scholarship or student status. You won't pay tuition during this year off, and all of your awards are deferred by one year without penalty. Also, the year off does not count as one of your years of guaranteed funding (if any exist) and your PhD committee would not count this year as a year you worked on your PhD. So, in effect, it's literally like putting the pause button on your school, and returning where you left off a year ago, in terms of paperwork!

This is for your student status. There may be other employment related benefits for your work as a TA, TF, or RA. If you are unionized, you may get additional benefits (for example, at Queen's, you are entitled to take maternity leave in the middle of a TA contract and still get paid the rest of your contract, although this will count as one your terms of guaranteed TAships).

By the way, my wife and I are planning to start a family while I'm doing my PhD (in the US). The nominal plan is to start trying in year 3 (after coursework is done and I am well into my project). Like a poster above, I only recently realised that the US standards are much lower (I don't think students get leave at all, and the standard in California is only 12 weeks !!). We will figure something out though. Fortunately other student parents at the school have told me they all had good experiences with the faculty etc. Good luck also!!

[edenseye]

Hi All,

 

So I've been thinking about getting pregnant during graduate school as well. 

Hopefully I will be starting my PhD program next year, and since my husband's best friend and my best friend (two different people) are pregnant, we would like to follow suit so all our kids can be friends too.

 

The issue is that I will have 2-3 years of coursework to do, and I am nervous about (a) handling pregnancy during an academic year (no coffee?!), and ( having a baby for another 1-2 years of coursework and comps before the research even starts. 

 

Can a baby and graduate coursework work?

 

Any good tips?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[misskira]

I think this is something that really depends on your personality, organization, support system, and parenting style.

I had my first my 3rd year of teaching. I was able to take 4 months off with him, then he went daycare. It was hard for me, but as a teacher my breaks allowed me lots of days home with him to look forward to. Also, it was important to me for health and budget reasons to breast feed, so I had to keep a pumping schedule. It was doable. But I can't imagine how I would have been able to work at home. He was a lot of work and I didn't have much time to focus on any one task for long before I was needed or interrupted. I had my 2nd 2.5 years later. Oh my was he a busy baby. At 22 months he still is. I was able to stay home with my guys this time, and I can't imagine being in school for the last 2 years. Not with dr. appts, preschool runs, sickness, and the daily care. Plus the irregular sleep at nights. But they are at an age now that it really feels doable. My oldest will be starting kindy in the fall and the 2yo is SO ready for something more than mommy.

So for me personally, I know I could have made it work, but it would have taken really careful scheduling and maximizing my time at school. I know I wouldn't have been able to count on homework happening until after kid bedtime at 8, and that assumes the kids cooperate. You also need to have trustworthy and most importantly dependable childcare. At my job I had 10 personal and 2 family sick days. That's not the case at school.

As far as physical pregnancy itself, I worked as an elementary special education teacher. 6 kindergartners with severe autism does not equal a sit down job, lol. Women work full time pregnant in all kinds of jobs. Severe morning sickness and serious fatigue are the hardest things to combat if you have it, but otherwise being pregnant isn't to hard. Towards the end you have a higher chance of needing beadrest or having more severe pain or complications. I had to stop work 2 weeks early with my second due to complications, but my work was prepared for that. As long as you have a standard birth or csection without complications, you can be back to class quickly. The problem with pregnancy and birth is you obviously don't know ahead of time what will happen.

So that was a pretty long winded way of saying, it's up to the person and up to chance how it will work, lol. I certainly would do it if I wanted children. 5-7 years is a long time to put it off, and then you'll be heading towards career mode after that, so there's never a perfect time for kids. If you wait for the perfect time, it just may never happen.

Edited February 4, 2013 by misskira

[PhD4metoo]

It also depends a lot upon the University. Some grad schools have gone very far to accomodating pregancy and even adoption, for female and male students, particularly PHD students.

-A few leading "Ivy type" US private schools, and some schools in Canada & Europe or Australia, offer PHD students several weeks -months paid time off from teaching or research for childbearing or adoption; registation status, stipend and health care coverage are maintained, so it's not a true "personal leave" where you are technically separated from the University (which can be problematic for intl students & loan repayment).

-some offer subsidized family health care coverage;

-some provide students access to subsidized backup care or other "worklife" type service.

-A very few have small child care assistance grants, usually need based

-some bigger usually state schools offer child care for students on-campus at lower cost but still high quality.

 

For example, see the many family-friendly resources for grad students at Yale here: http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/studentLife/family.html

 

If your school does not offer certain programs or supports for grad students with children, why not lobby your administration or student government for improvements! At most schools, I think that these recent changes have come about because grad students & student govts advocated for them with forward-thinking administrators...Good luck!

[selecttext]

I don't know about funding in the USA, but in Canada, NSERC post-graduate scholars can claim 6 months of paid maternity leave that is separate from the scholarship.

[biotechie]

I don't know about funding in the USA, but in Canada, NSERC post-graduate scholars can claim 6 months of paid maternity leave that is separate from the scholarship.

 

I think it depends on the university here in the USA; the grad students who have had babies at my current school have either just been gone about 6 weeks or have taken an entire (unpaid) semester off. Definitely check with your programs.

 

Also, in the sciences, where we need to be in the lab 40-60, even 80 hours per week... and many programs have a cutoff for funding after 6 or 7 years. I would imagine it would be very difficult to have and care for a baby in this situation. Even after exams and proposal defense, you still spend this time in the lab doing experiments, and if you're in a lab like mine, you work (safely) with things that can be extremely toxic that you wouldn't want to be around. They do have ways that pregnant women can work safely, but sometimes the result is just not doing the experiment, something that most cannot afford to do because they need the data. Just a thought...

Edited February 17, 2013 by biotechie

[TakeruK]

At my last school, in Canada, PhD students are allowed to take 1 entire year off for paternity leave without any penalty (i.e. no loss of status, extra time added to deadlines for exams etc.). It's unpaid (but as selecttext said, people with fellowships can have access to other benefits) but the year off does NOT count against a year of guaranteed funding. It's basically like hitting the pause button on your grad school life and when you come back, everything should be exactly the same. In addition, you can do this twice during your grad school career. 

 

In general, Canadian laws require employers to allow their employees to have 1 entire year of protected paternity leave (i.e. you can return to exactly the job you had before you took leave) so it's natural for schools to extend this to students. Employment Insurance is often used to supplement income during leave. This also means unless your supervisor can show that you being missing for a year will completely undermine the project, they really should allow you to take the year off and pick it up later.

[Stormchasegrl]

I've actually know two people who have gone through/considered this!

A friend of mine found out she was pregnant her last year of her PhD program and she kept attending classes. But after she was hit hard with morning sickness and then complications in her second and third trimester, she had to postpone school since the stress of her dissertation could have potentially made things worse. She still hasn't returned to the PhD program though and after the complications and postpartum depression, I'm not sure if she is ever going to.

My cousin also considered pregnancy during graduate school but decided to hold off until completing her MBA. I think it was a good choice for her because the school let her participate in the job development/placement program even two years after graduating. She found a really great job too and I think the transition was easier for her.

Overall, I think pregnancy can be very unpredictable. If I were in your shoes I would finish one commitment before beginning another. And maybe after you graduate you could just take a break for your family plans, and knowing graduate school is behind you could relieve a lot of stress. Plus, it would give you time to adjust to the new baby and spend quality time together before finding a job.

Just my 2 cents I hope whatever you choose that everything goes well!

 

While I completely see where you're coming from here, this is not a one-size-fits-all situation.  I specifically chose to get pregnant in grad school from the sheer flexibility of the situation. 1) Aside from about 6-8 hours a week, I can be with my child without paying the outrageous day care costs in my area 2) I prefer to work from home anyway 3) I have breaks.

 

Of course you can't plan everything but I imagine I'd be far worse off if complications arose and I could not work at all and we were banking on that income.  While I do work as a research assistant, it's a far more flexible, lax working situation than any "real world" job I've ever had, one I can do from home.  Because I get paid, yet still have all this flexibility, I'm far better off having kids now rather than when I need to pay for full time day care.  That still allows me plenty of quality time with my baby on the way. 

 

Just an alternative viewpoint. :-)

[Stormchasegrl]

At my last school, in Canada, PhD students are allowed to take 1 entire year off for paternity leave without any penalty (i.e. no loss of status, extra time added to deadlines for exams etc.). It's unpaid (but as selecttext said, people with fellowships can have access to other benefits) but the year off does NOT count against a year of guaranteed funding. It's basically like hitting the pause button on your grad school life and when you come back, everything should be exactly the same. In addition, you can do this twice during your grad school career. 

 

In general, Canadian laws require employers to allow their employees to have 1 entire year of protected paternity leave (i.e. you can return to exactly the job you had before you took leave) so it's natural for schools to extend this to students. Employment Insurance is often used to supplement income during leave. This also means unless your supervisor can show that you being missing for a year will completely undermine the project, they really should allow you to take the year off and pick it up later.

 

I've always been very jealous of Canadian maternity/paternity leave :-)  Here, you're treated like you're irresponsible or made a mistake, creating a problem for others, rather than being supported.  That's not always the case, but it's the vast, vast majority.