“…Maternal and fetal blood concentrations rise rapidly after 90 s [3]. Pethidine administered to the mother may produce neonatal respiratory depression, evidenced by delay in sustained breathing, decreased Apgar scores [4], lower oxygen saturation [5], decreased minute ventilation [6], respiratory acidosis [7] and abnormal neurobehaviour after birth [8]. Fetal exposure to pethidine is at maximum 2–3 h after maternal i.m.…”