Paracetamol (1 g orally) was given to each of 10 healthy pregnant women undergoing normal vaginal delivery at the onset of second stage of labour. Following delivery, there was no significant difference in the serum concentration of paracetamol in the mother and the foetus (p less than 0.1), the mean value being 5.925 +/- 2.15 mg/ml and 7.875 +/- 2.22 mg/ml respectively. Paracetamol may be recommended as a safe analgesic-antipyretic during pregnancy and labour.