Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

4 questions · 4 findings · 1 reviews · Pregnancy and Childbirth

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 0 · 0%Very low 1 · 25%Low 1 · 25%Moderate 2 · 50%High 0 · 0%

3rd or 4th degree tears · pregnant women expecting a vaginal birth, singleton vertex presentation at term, with no medical complications

Warm compresses probably leads to lower 3rd or 4th degree tears compared with control (hands off or no warm compress) (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.46 [0.27, 0.79]
4 studies · 1799 participants
Moderate

3rd or 4th degree tears · pregnant women expecting a vaginal birth, singleton vertex presentation at term, with no medical complications

Massage probably leads to lower 3rd or 4th degree tears compared with control (hands off or care (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.49 [0.25, 0.94]
5 studies · 2477 participants
Moderate

3rd or 4th degree tears · pregnant women expecting a vaginal birth, singleton vertex presentation at term, with no medical complications

Ritgen's manoeuvre showed no clear difference in 3rd or 4th degree tears compared with standard care (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 1.24 [0.78, 1.96]
1 study · 1423 participants
Low

3rd or 4th degree tears · pregnant women expecting a vaginal birth, singleton vertex presentation at term, with no medical complications

It is very uncertain whether hands off (or poised) changes 3rd or 4th degree tears compared with hands on (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.68 [0.21, 2.26]
5 studies · 7317 participants
Very low