Bringing Life to Aberdeen: A History of Maternity and Neonatal Services

How did Aberdeen revolutionise modern midwifery and mother and baby care?

Whether you were born in – or gave birth in – Aberdeen or elsewhere, you will probably have benefitted from the  pioneering work of some of the people mentioned in this book.

Bringing life to Aberdeen highlights many of the individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of midwifery and neonatal services, and describes their influence and impact. Foremost amongst these are the lasting and defining accomplishments of Professor Sir Dugald Baird and Lady May Baird who give their name to a new hospital dedicated to the care of women and their babies in North East Scotland, known as the Baird Family Hospital.

From Margaret Bane, an Aberdeenshire ‘howdie’ (midwife) accused of witchcraft in 1597 and put to death, to Margaret Myles, born in Aberdeen in 1892 and responsible for Myles Textbook for Midwives which – now in its 17th edition – remains the definitive resource on practical midwifery, through to the present day, the story of the 

people who have brought life to Aberdeen is truly remarkable.