I'm very much a man's man. If you were going to pick a man who you thought would become a midwife, I'd probably be the last person you'd think of. I like to go to the pub with my mates, go to the football, play golf. I'm certainly not a new man. I'm useless around the house. I can deliver children, but I've never cooked a thing in my life.

I've been married to Norma for 26 years and she's never been jealous of all the women. When she was younger she wanted to be a midwife herself, and now she's a bank manager. I always wanted to work in a bank, but now I'm the midwife. She's always supported me throughout my career. She knows how I treat the girls and she's got no qualms about that at all. She knows me and it's not a problem. I can switch off what takes place at work when I'm at home.

I've had a few women ask how I can understand what the women are going through if I've never given birth myself. But any midwife who has not had a child is in the same position. I also run breastfeeding classes and I've never had a problem at all. There's nothing I do any differently to a female midwife.

When I first started I felt I was missing out because I'd come from a very male environment. I'd go out and talk to the porters and doctors about football. Now the women I work with join in the football conversations as well and we have a laugh. It's not all girly, girly stuff. I don't feel I'm losing out and I don't miss being surrounded by men. I've got my mates who I can talk about football with down the pub.

I've been qualified for 14 years and I've delivered hundreds and hundreds of babies.

I left school when I was 16 and became a miner at the Polkemmet Colliery in West Lothian where I worked for four years. I used to compete in the colliery first aid team and won individual Scottish championships for men. And because people knew me as a first-aider, the reaction when I left the mine to go into nursing wasn't what you'd expect.

As part of my nurse training I went to a maternity ward in Glasgow for four months; after a month there I knew it was for me. One of the things that attracted me was that you're dealing with healthy people.

I'm sure when the partners first meet me they're a bit surprised, but once they get to know me it's fine. I'm quite informal. I make people feel at ease. Sometimes the partner can be quite nervous and having another man there calms them. Many of them feel more comfortable asking questions to another man too.

I've had a couple of women who've not wanted a male midwife, but that's OK. It's nothing personal. Sometimes there may be a cultural difference. You'd perhaps get an Asian woman who would prefer to have a woman look after her, for example. If I sense that they're uncomfortable I'll ask them if they'd prefer a female, but the majority don't mind. I've got quite a few Asian girls at the moment and at the very start I've asked whether they're comfortable because I don't want them to be too shy to tell me.

Men were only allowed to become midwives 20 to 25 years ago. I think there are only about five or six male midwives in Scotland. I expected more men to come into midwifery, but it's not really changed. It's still seen as a predominantly female profession and I don't think it's ever going to change.

I think I've built up a reputation in the area. I'll have girls come in who say, 'I've been told about you', and I do get asked for. Most of the girls I've looked after in the past will come back. I also know people whose sister or friend will come in because I've been recommended. I think it's down to the way I carry out my duties, I really care about what happens to the girls I look after. Some people might see that as corny because it's a man saying it, but I really mean it.

I've had a couple of children named after me over the years. It usually happens when it's a home birth. I've also been invited to a baby's christening: the mother asked me to come along. I'd looked after her throughout her pregnancy and during labour and I got on very well with her partner too. My wife and I went to the christening, and the extended family were all there. They couldn't have made us feel more welcome.

I think the attitude to pregnancy has changed over the last 10 to 15 years because men get more involved now. In the past men were unlikely to attend the birth. Today they're actively encouraged to be present and to go along to parent-craft classes. I think it's in the best interests of the women because they've got someone who can look out for them and it makes it a bit less stressful.

· David Cunningham, 44, lives in Shotts, Lanarkshire