University of Chichester student Danni Page is a community midwife and INSIGHT-funded MRes student. She talks about the realities of midwifery, the emotional weight of the job, and a passion for improving mental health support for pregnant people.

Danni’s journey into midwifery wasn’t a straight line. “I started out working in a mental health call centre, which was emotionally challenging,” she shares. “It made me realise that I wanted to help people face-to-face, in healthcare. That’s when I turned to midwifery.”

She trained during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has now been practicing for five years. “It’s a privilege,” she says. “You’re with families during a life changing time, going through all the ups and downs of pregnancy. Midwifery is constantly evolving, and that keeps it exciting—even if it’s stressful at times.”

After starting in hospital settings, Danni found her calling in community midwifery. “I do antenatal and postnatal care, and I attend home births too. It’s a mixed bag, but I enjoy the variation.”

Danni is studying part-time while continuing her midwifery role. “It’s been manageable so far,” she says. “My work is flexible, and I haven’t started my taught modules yet, so I’ve been focusing on the project.”

She’s grateful for the support she’s received. “The course leader has been amazing. I was nervous about submitting my first essay—it felt very ‘layperson’—but she was so encouraging.”

Danni’s MRes project focuses on how midwives experience supporting pregnant people with mental health challenges. “Mental health is still stigmatised,” she explains.

“I want to explore how we can better support people during pregnancy, especially when their mental health is poor.”

Her methodology is qualitative, involving interviews and a collaborative group to co-create a resource. “It might be something small—like a flowchart or a set of prompts —but it could grow into something bigger, maybe even a PhD project.”

For anyone thinking about applying to INSIGHT, Danni’s advice is to

“be open to the process. It’s not as daunting as it seems, especially if you’ve been out of uni for a while. And research should be part of all our roles—it opens up new ways to grow in your career.”

To find out if you are eligible apply for INSIGHT funding follow this LINK.

To find out about the MRes Health course at the University of Chichester follow this LINK for contacts.