The authors present their knowledge on ST waveform analysis during human labour. A unipolar scalp lead with the maternal thigh as reference makes it possible to identify the T wave and at the same time decrease signal noise. The development of an ECG analyser (STAN) has enabled 201 ECG recordings to be collected during labour on which ST analysis could be undertaken. The data indicate that waveform analysis of the fetal ECG improves fetal surveillance during labour.