Abstract
Summary: The effect of continuous lumbar epidural analgesia on fetal acid‐base status in the second stage of labour was investigated. It was found that during the conventionally managed second stage of labour the mother and fetus became progressively acidotic. Although the administration of an epidural block with suppression of the bearing‐down reflex prevented the progressive maternal metabolic acidosis, a cumulative fetal metabolic acidosis was still observed. The possible causes of these findings are briefly discussed.

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