This article covers the complications of childbirth (parturition, labour, delivery,) not those of pregnancy or the postpartum period. Even with modern obstetrics and pain control, childbirth is still an ordeal for many women. During delivery, or immediately afterwards, dramatic complications are occasionally seen - delirium, stupor, rage, acts of desperation or neonaticide. These complications will be briefly reviewed in turn. With the great improvement in obstetric care, most of them have become rare. There is, however, a great contrast between Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and some other countries with advanced medical care, and the rest of the world. The wealthiest nations produce only 10 million children each year, from a total of 135 million. They have a maternal mortality r