ABSTRACT
In the past, the concept of ‘trial of labour ‘was very important. It was applied to cases where the woman was considered less likely than most to achieve a vaginal delivery. In such cases, labour was to be rigorously supervised. Different authors had differing views on exactly how this was to be done, but the general principles were: • labour in hospital, not at home; • some degree of medical involvement, not a midwifery case; • a low threshold for caesarean section. There was disagreement over other features, such as whether or not trial labours could be induced, when to rupture the membranes and whether or not syntocinon augmentation is acceptable.
