How do you decide between whether to have a career or babies?

I'm just starting in a science career in research and the two seem pretty much mutually exclusive. I don't know any female P.I.s (principal investigators- they run their own lab) with children. They are quiet rare in themselves anyway.

I would like to know people's opinions on this.

Did you choose children over your career? Or did you chose your career and didn't have children because you didn't want them or found yourself too old by the time you reached a point where you were considering them?

Is there somebody who has had both?

I am really interested to hear people's opinions, experiences and any advice! I've got a while before I have to decide but I like to plan ahead.

Thanks! :p

I definitely chose children over a career. I had a career as a RN, in December I had a baby boy, at which point I planned on going back to work, until I saw how much fun it was being home with him. I still work, just 2 days a month, to get out of the house. I would not want it any other way.

I do both... I graduated college while pregnant with my second and immediately got my dream job. Its tiring but so worth it. I work at night from 6p until 2 am and then get up with the kiddos around 8am and spend the entire day with them. I love every minute of it.