SUMMARYExperiences with 300 continuous and 62 single-shot epidural blocks administered during labour are presented. The main indications for continuous epidural analgesia were inco-ordinate uterine action, severe pre-eclampsia and failure of orthodox analgesic drugs to produce satisfactory pain relief. The method can also be used with benefit in selected cases of cardiac and respiratory disease. In hypertonic inco-ordinate uterine action graphical analysis of labour demonstrates an increased rate of cervical dilatation after epidural block in 70 per cent of cases. In pre-eclampsia a satisfactory reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure is produced. Analgesia is virtually complete and the complication rate is acceptably low in experienced hands. Single-shot epidural analgesia is excellent for forceps delivery and blood loss at delivery is reduced. Epidural analgesia has a valuable therapeutic role in obstetrics and is one of the benefits which result from the introduction of a 24-hour resident obstetric anaesthetic service.