Recommendations concerning antenatal care and the management of labour were worked out in order to straighten basic standards of care in pregnancies near term. Problems with recognition of labour, indications for hospitalization and necessary procedures as well as principles of fetal monitoring during labour were discussed. In addition basic principles of induction and preinduction of labour, amniotomy and stimulation of uterine contractions and the management of different stages of labour were presented. The diagnostic criteria of prolonged, obstructed labour and intrauterine infection were shown. The necessity of adequate documentation of labour was emphasized.