Abstract:Objective: To compare the relative analgesic potencies of ropivacaine and bupivacaine during the first stage of labour. Methods: Patients were randomly asigned into the experiment in a double-blind, upand-down manner. Vital signs were recorded. Result; The MLAC of ropivacaine 0. 1305(95% CI 0. 1198 -0.1421)%w/v was significantly higher than that of bupivacaine, 0. 1058(95% CI 0.0979 -0. 1143)%w/v (P <0.01). Conclusion; The relative effect of ropivacaine is about 80% that of bupivacaine (95% CI 0.65-0.90).