Dr Anne E. May

1999-2002 - President

I think I may have been destined to be an obstetric anaesthetist. Today I would have been gently delivered into the world by Caesarean section or vaginal instrumental delivery with regional anaesthesia, not delivered urgently by Keillands forceps after my mother endured a 48 hour labour and was given a general anaesthetic.

During my childhood my mother told me stories of her time as a midwife in Leeds when she looked after many sick women each night with, for example, eclamptic fits and she saw the distress of childbirth without good analgesia and anaesthesia. I qualified in medicine from Newcastle in 1970 despite my medical parents trying to dissuade me to do medicine. I decided to become an anaesthetist while a medical student and had the idea of working part time in a quiet DGH giving myself plenty of time for my hobbies and family but that was not to be.

I was encouraged in Newcastle to take my fellowship and progress up the career ladder to become a senior registrar in Leicester. During my time in Newcastle I was inspired by the early work of the consultants developing the epidural service at the Princess Mary Maternity hospital and even sampled their care when I had my first child Helen.

Once in Leicester I realised that I had an interest in obstetric anaesthesia and the newly appointed obstetric anaesthetist to the Leicester Royal Infirmary Maternity hospital encouraged me to develop my career as an obstetric anaesthetist. I was facilitated to do a year out of service to do research, a year that taught me a great deal especially as I was mentored by Selwyn Crawford. I spent eight years as a part time senior registrar and went around the rotations more times than I care to think. At last I got my CCST and a consultant post with obstetric anaesthetic sessions at the Leicester Royal Infirmary a post that has allowed me to develop the service and become a part of the national and international group of enthusiastic obstetric anaesthetists.

I joined the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association around 1976 when membership cost £1 and was encouraged to attend their meetings. As the obstetric anaesthetic service grew in Leicester we hosted an OAA meeting in 1994 and this allowed me to meet the many eminent obstetric anaesthetists at that time. I became involved with the OAA and obstetric anaesthetic guidelines and began to do research and write including a book Epidurals for Childbirth. Writing has never come easily especially to someone who failed their English language at O level.

When my father who was a consultant psychiatrist died I realised he had written nothing despite being an eminent teacher so that made me resolve to write, and hence the book Epidurals for Childbirth. The psychological intensity of psychiatry led me away from clinics towards anaesthesia but as I developed an interest in women with concurrent medical disease I realised that working in a clinic was essential. I also recognised the problems that arise when we as obstetric anaesthetists do not get it right and the need for debriefing and follow up and this awareness in part may be due to my involvement with psychiatry as a child.

During the last ten years I have been privileged in having been given the opportunity to lecture and teach in many parts of the world and this has enabled me to promote obstetric anaesthesia and allowed me to make many good friends. In 1999 I became President of the OAA and saw the OAA membership grow to 2000 and the status of the Association achieve national and international recognition. I was voted onto the Council of the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2002 where I can continue to promote the teaching and training of high standards in the care of mother and baby during childbirth.

Despite the hectic lifestyle I enjoy time with my family and hobbies. Holidays have always been important and time spent in our house in the South of France is ideal for relaxation. AEM