[Use of diazepam during labor].

The effect of diazepam has been watched and studied by continuing monitoring of the heart rate of the mother, the fetus and the newborn, as well as by studying the acid-base balance of the mother and the fetus and the newborn after doses of 20 mg of diazepam had been given to 40 normal labouring women. A good calming effect was found in 87 p. % of women and the remainder had an acceptable result. Both in the mother and in the fetus tachycardia resulted from injection of diazepam as well as a lessening in the frequency of changes in the heart rate. These two alterations were statistically significant (p less than 0.01) and appeared very soon after the administration of the diazepam. Later, no other effects could be found in the mother, the fetus or the newborn.