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Balancing parenthood with professional demands is a challenge for many sea-going oceanographers. For early-career women considering or navigating motherhood, this challenge can be particularly pronounced by the physical demands and separation required to conduct research at sea. As sea-going scientists in the United States who have recently navigated pregnancy, postpartum, and oceanographic fieldwork, we shed light on these challenges, especially the lack of clear medical and institutional guidance for making informed decisions. We also highlight recent improvements, including the development of vessel-specific guidelines for cruise participation, efforts by institutions to provide childcare funding to researchers while at sea, and recommendations for staying connected to young children while offshore. While this piece refers to "mothers" and "motherhood", the included recommendations and insights are for all individuals who experience pregnancy and postpartum. We hope this article both raises awareness and offers reassurance to other ocean-going mothers that they are not alone, and that a supportive, evolving community of parent researchers exists. Research expeditions are often a crucial component of oceanographic careers and are frequently the primary method of collecting vital data. While the decision to participate in research at sea, like the decision to start a family, is a deeply personal one, we hope to spark a conversation within the community about how to make this decision more informed and inclusive for current (and future) generations.