SummaryIn a retrospective study of 13656 single births 663 patients had antepartum haemorrhage (4·8 per cent). The incidences of accidental haemorrhage, placenta praevia and “other antepartum haemorrhage” were 2·05, 0·43 and 2·34 per cent respectively. In cases complicated by antepartum haemorrhage there were 66 perinatal deaths; accidental haemorrhage accounted for 65·2 per cent, placenta praevia only 7·6 per cent and “other antepartum haemorrhage” 27·2 per cent.The high perinatal loss in cases of “other antepartum haemorrhage” is particularly associated with prematurity. These findings indicate that patients with painless bleeding in late pregnancy should not be discharged early from hospital simply because the placenta is found to be normally situated. It is suggested that in such patients, rest and observation in hospital should be continued for not less than two weeks after the bleeding has ceased.