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one nursing and of psychoprophylaxis (Freeman et al. 1986; Davidson 1962). When these techniques are practised along with a guarantee that labour will not last longer than 12 h and active management of labour, in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, epidural rates of 12% in primigravidas and 3.4% in multigravidas are obtained (Stronge 1989). Such techniques may play a considerable role in reducing analgesic needs in labour. D. J. Cahill Clinical Research Fellow Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Bristol Maternity Hospital Southwell Street BS2 8EG