[Computer programming for delivery. Evaluation of 5 years of activity and 1,752 inductions of labor]

3,300 women were delivered between January 1986 and July 1990 inclusive. 1,267 of them had no pathology and 341 were induced for a pathological reason. Our attitude is to suggest systematically to every pregnant woman that her labour can be programmed to the time that she reaches the middle of the 39th week of amenorrhea providing she is sure of her dates and that the cervix is favourable. Labour is induced by using the electric pump to administer Syntocinon and by rupturing the membranes early. If an epidural anaesthetic is anticipated this is carried out during the first hour after induction. This policy does not bring about premature labours (the mean duration of amenorrhoea was 39.73 weeks) and it does not involve long labours (the mean total duration of labour was 5.68 hours and 7 hours for primipara) 1 UI Oxytocin was delivered per hour. In the group where labours were induced the Caesarean section rate at 6.35% was lower than those who went into labour spontaneously. There were fewer Cesareans for acute fetal distress. Five children had to be transferred to the Paediatric unit and one died after major fetal distress at 9 cms, 48 hours after delivery. The series shows that it is possible to have a policy for programming labour and increasing the comfort of the parturient and controlling her labour. Furthermore, the work of the staff in the labour ward and its staff are helped.