The effects of maternal bupivacaine paracervical block on neonatal neurobehavioural responses were studied at the ages of 3 h, 1 day, 2 days and 4-5 days. Subjects were healthy, term neonates born vaginally to 10 mothers with paracervical block and to 12 mothers without analgesia. No statistically significant differences were found in the responses between the groups. It is concluded that paracervical block with a small dose of bupivacaine, applied by experienced obstetricians to non-risk parturients with healthy foetuses, has no detrimental effects on newborn behaviour or neurological recovery.