Dietary restriction for the prevention of disproportion and obstructed labour among the Pedis of yester-year.

The practice of Pedi midwives of yester-year of restricting the food intake of expectant mothers to prevent difficult labour due to large babies producing disproportion, is described. This practice is currently being investigated scientifically. Although teaching in the UK 4 decades ago recognized increase of weight in pregnant women as one of the easily detectable indications of pre-eclampic toxaemia, restriction of diet to prevent 'disproportion' in labour was not considered important.