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Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
3,601 questions in 252 reviews · Pregnancy and Childbirth
current versionsNo studies 726 · 20.2%Ungraded 421 · 11.7%Very low 828 · 23%Low 993 · 27.6%Moderate 486 · 13.5%High 147 · 4.1%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Cervical dilatation vs no dilatation Drop from baseline haemoglobin > 0.5 g/dL · women with non‐labour caesarean section Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.64, 1.31] | 2 studies · 722 participants | Low |
Cervical dilatation vs no dilatation Secondary postpartum haemorrhage (within 6 weeks postpartum) · women with non‐labour caesarean section Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.18 [0.07, 18.76] | 1 study · 447 participants | Low |
Cervical dilatation vs no dilatation Febrile morbidity (at least 38° Celsius, measured on 2/10 days postpartum) · women with non‐labour caesarean section Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.18 [0.76, 1.85] | 7 studies · 2126 participants | Low |
Cervical dilatation vs no dilatation Endometritis · women with non‐labour caesarean section Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.35, 2.52] | 4 studies · 1536 participants | Low |
Cervical dilatation vs no dilatation Uterine subinvolution · women with non‐labour caesarean section Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.34 [0.08, 1.36] | 2 studies · 654 participants | Low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Maternal outcomes · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Upright position vs recumbent position Low cord pH · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.2, 0.9] | 2 studies · 3159 participants | Moderate |
Upright position vs recumbent position Admission to neonatal intensive care unit · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.54 [0.02, 12.73] | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Upright position vs recumbent position (sensitivity analyses ‐ studies at low risk of bias only) Operative birth (caesarean or instrumental vaginal) · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.11 [1.03, 1.2] | 3 studies · 3609 participants | High |
Upright position vs recumbent position (sensitivity analyses ‐ studies at low risk of bias only) Caesarean section · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.29 [1.05, 1.57] | 3 studies · 3609 participants | High |
Upright position vs recumbent position (sensitivity analyses ‐ studies at low risk of bias only) Instrumental vaginal birth · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.08 [0.91, 1.3] | 3 studies · 3609 participants | Low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Operative birth (caesarean or instrumental vaginal) · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.86 [0.7, 1.07] | 8 studies · 4316 participants | Low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Duration of second stage labour (minutes) (from time of randomisation to birth) · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 456 participants | Very low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Caesarean section · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.61, 1.46] | 8 studies · 4316 participants | Very low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Instrumental vaginal birth · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.9 [0.72, 1.12] | 8 studies · 4316 participants | Very low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Trauma to birth canal requiring suturing · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1 [0.89, 1.13] | 3 studies · 3266 participants | Low |
Upright position vs recumbent position Blood loss (greater than 500 mL) (trial authors defined it as PPH requiring blood transfusion) · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.2 [0.83, 1.72] | 1 study · 3093 participants | Moderate |
Upright position vs recumbent position Infant outcomes · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Upright position vs recumbent position Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, requiring intervention · women in the second stage of labour with epidural anaesthesia Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.69 [0.32, 8.84] | 1 study · 107 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Pain intensity — first stage of labour · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 362 participants | Low |
Warm pack vs usual care Pain intensity — first stage of labour · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 191 participants | Very low |
Warm pack vs usual care Sense of control in labour — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Warm pack vs usual care Satisfaction with childbirth experience — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Warm pack vs usual care Assisted vaginal birth — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Warm pack vs usual care Caesarean section — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Warm pack vs usual care Use of pharmacological pain relief — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Warm pack vs usual care Length of labour: minutes · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 128 participants | Very low |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Pain intensity ‐ first stage of labour · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 96 participants | Very low |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Sense of control in labour — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Satisfaction with childbirth experience — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs usual care Sense of control in labour Seven point scale, 29 items range ‘1=almost always’, to ‘7=rarely’ · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 124 participants | Low |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Assisted vaginal birth · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.52 [0.08, 3.54] | 1 study · 96 participants | Very low |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Caesarean section — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Use of pharmacological pain relief — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Thermal manual methods vs usual care Length of labour: minutes · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 96 participants | Very low |
Massage vs music Pain intensity "severe pain reported" · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.4 [0.18, 0.89] | 1 study · 101 participants | Very low |
Massage vs music Sense of control in labour — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs music Satisfaction with childbirth experience — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs music Assisted vaginal birth — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs music Caesarean section — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs music Use of pharmacological pain relief · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.41 [0.16, 1.08] | 1 study · 101 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Sense of control in labour (shortened Labour Agentry Scale). Seven point scale range ‘1=almost always’, to ‘7=rarely’ · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 56 participants | Low |
Massage vs music Length of labour — not reported · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Massage vs usual care Satisfaction with childbirth experience. Five point scale, 5=more satisfaction · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Satisfaction with childbirth experience · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.9 [1.07, 3.38] | 1 study · 60 participants | Low |
Massage vs usual care Assisted vaginal birth · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.71 [0.44, 1.13] | 4 studies · 368 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Caesarean section · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.75 [0.51, 1.09] | 6 studies · 514 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Use of pharmacological pain relief · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.81 [0.37, 1.74] | 4 studies · 368 participants | Very low |
Massage vs usual care Length of labour (minutes) · women in labour Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 514 participants | Very low |
Relaxation vs usual care Pain intensity: active phase (lower scores indicate less intense pain) · women in labour Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 271 participants | Very low |