Career profile: Mary Ross-Davie, Edinburgh

Why did you become a midwife?
I had a strong feeling that I wanted to do something practical. I did a degree in European studies and German, but I wanted to do something where people would say to me ‘I’ll leave this in your capable hands.’ I was inspired by a book by the French obstetrician Le Boyer about birth and how to make it more peaceful for women and their babies if it is approached in the right way. The way women are treated when they give birth is such an important aspect of society and has an impact on how they care for their children in the long-term.