What do systematic reviews say?

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 38 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

It is very uncertain whether oral magnesium changes composite outcome: symptoms of leg cramps (intensity and frequency)… compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3 [0.68, 13.2]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Very low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium showed no clear difference in side effects ‐ nausea compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.83 [0.75, 4.51]
  1 study · 86 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium showed no clear difference in side effects ‐ diarrhoea compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 6 [0.75, 47.76]
  1 study · 86 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium showed no clear difference in side effects ‐ any compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.96 [0.36, 2.52]
  1 study · 45 participants
  Low

Oral calcium vs no treatment

It is very uncertain whether oral calcium changes frequency of leg cramps after treatment: never compared with no treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 8.59 [1.19, 62.07]
  1 study · 43 participants
  Very low
• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 60 participants
  Low

Oral vitamin B vs no treatment

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral calcium vs vitamin C

It is very uncertain whether oral calcium changes frequency of leg cramps after treatment: never compared with oral vitamin C (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.33 [0.53, 3.38]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Very low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium may leads to higher frequency of leg cramps after treatment: never compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5.66 [1.35, 23.68]
  1 study · 69 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium may leads to higher frequency: 50% reduction in number of leg cramps compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.42 [1.09, 1.86]
  1 study · 86 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

It is very uncertain whether oral magnesium changes intensity of pain: 50% reduction in pain score 100‐mm visual… compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.43 [0.99, 2.06]
  1 study · 86 participants
  Very low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 69 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

Oral magnesium may leads to lower duration of leg cramps: persisting symptoms after night‐time cramps… compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.23 [0.05, 0.98]
  1 study · 69 participants
  Low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

It is very uncertain whether oral magnesium changes duration of leg cramps: persisting symptoms after night‐time cramps… compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.59 [0.19, 1.83]
  1 study · 69 participants
  Very low

Oral magnesium vs placebo/no treatment

It is very uncertain whether oral magnesium changes composite outcome: symptoms of leg cramps (intensity and frequency)… compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.07 [0.71, 1.61]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Very low

Laxative vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Laxative vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether laxative changes adverse effects on babies: loose stools compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.62 [0.16, 2.41]
  1 study · 281 participants
  Very low

Laxative vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether laxative changes adverse effects on babies: diarrhoea compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.46 [0.23, 26.82]
  1 study · 281 participants
  Very low

Laxative plus bulking agent vs laxative alone

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 147 participants
  Very low

Laxative plus bulking agent vs laxative alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found