Basing on a study of 205 "matched pairs", it is shown to what extent peridural anesthesia (PA) influences the course of parturition, the type of termination of birth, and the intrapartal and post-partal condition of the child. The method of PA application is accurately described in the section "Material and Methods". The first stage of labor, or period of dilatation (PD) is not in any way effected by PA. However, PA will almost double the expulsion period (EP). Hence, elective termination of birth via technically simple, complication-free outlet forceps is usually propagated and employed significantly more often. Emergency sections or delivery by forceps due to mandatory indication, are not more frequent under PA than otherwise. The intrapartal condition of the child, measured with the cardiotocogram employing in the score according to Hammacher et al. (6) before and after application of PA, as well as during the last 30 minutes of birth (final score), is influenced only irrelevantly. The Apgar scores one minute and five minutes post partum, as well as the arterial umbilical cord pH values, do not differ significantly between the peridural and the control groups. The authors agree with the widespread opinion that, at the present moment, PA is the best obstetric analgesic method with simultaneous maximum possible safety for the fetus.