Maternal mortality in the C.H.U. of Rennes from the 1st January 1969 to the 1st January 1979 consisted of 8 deaths in 24.911 deliveries and 1.381 Caesarean sections, which gives a mortality of 32 per 100.000 deliveries. There was 1 death due to hyperemesis gravidarum, 1 due to toxaemia of pregnancy, 3 due to haemorrhage, 1 due to puerperal sepsis, 1 due to cerebral haemorrhage and lastly 1 due to cancer of the pancreas. 2 women died during Caesarean section, which works out at 1 death per 690 Caesareans. Of these 8 deaths, 4 were possibly avoidable, and 3 of their children survived. In spite of continual progress since the end of the second world war, maternal mortality should decrease still further and tend down to the figures for Scandinavia or England (10 deaths for 100.000 deliveries).