Cochrane Review Group

Pregnancy and Childbirth

252 systematic reviews in Pregnancy and Childbirth ask 3,601 questions. 20.2% have no studies to answer them, 23% rest on very low certainty evidence and 17.6% reach moderate or high certainty.

Reviews

252

Questions

3,601

current versions

No studies

20.2%

Moderate or high

17.6%

No 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.

Search questions in Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thinnest evidence

All no studies and very low questions

Question	Effect	Evidence	Status / GRADE
Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes Major neurodevelopmental disability (school age)** · women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation) Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus (2024) · Cochrane	RR 0.92 [0.53, 1.62]	2 studies · 940 participants	Very low
Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes Breastfeeding at hospital discharge** · women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation) Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus (2024) · Cochrane	no estimate extracted	NR	No studies
Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes Women’s views of treatment** · women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation) Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus (2024) · Cochrane	no estimate extracted	NR	No studies
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity models vs other models of care Third or fourth degree tear · childbearing women and their infants (all) (important/secondary outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 1.1 [0.81, 1.49]	7 studies · 9437 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity models vs other models of care Maternal readmission within 28 days · childbearing women and their infants (all) (important/secondary outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 1.52 [0.78, 2.96]	1 study · 1195 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity models vs other models of care Attendance at birth by known midwife · childbearing women and their infants (all) (important/secondary outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 9.13 [5.87, 14.21]	11 studies · 9273 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity models vs other models of care Apgar score less than or equal to 7 at 5 minutes · childbearing women and their infants (all) (important/secondary outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 0.95 [0.72, 1.24]	13 studies · 12806 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity models vs other models of care Fetal loss before 24 weeks gestation · childbearing women and their infants (all) (important/secondary outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 0.82 [0.67, 1.01]	12 studies · 15913 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity of care models vs other models of care Regional analgesia (epidural/spinal) · childbearing women and their infants (all) (critical outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 0.85 [0.79, 0.92]	15 studies · 17754 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity of care models vs other models of care Fetal loss at or after 24 weeks gestation · childbearing women and their infants (all) (critical outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 1.24 [0.73, 2.13]	12 studies · 16122 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Midwife continuity of care models vs other models of care Neonatal death (baby born alive at any gestation and dies within 28 days) · childbearing women and their infants (all) (critical outcomes) Midwife continuity of care models versus other models of care for childbearing women (2024) · Cochrane	RR 0.85 [0.43, 1.71]	10 studies · 14718 participants	Very low
Summary of findings table ‐ Vitamin B12 supplementation vs placebo/no vitamin B12 supplementation Maternal anaemia · pregnant women Vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy for maternal and child health outcomes (2024) · Cochrane	RR 1.08 [0.93, 1.26]	2 studies · 284 participants	Very low

Reviews 252

Instruments for assisted vaginal birth

Verma, GL, Spalding, JJ, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2021

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thinnest evidence

Reviews 252

Instruments for assisted vaginal birth

Effect of mass deworming with antihelminthics for soil‐transmitted helminths during pregnancy

Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes

Interventions for preventing nausea and vomiting in women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean section

Paracetamol/acetaminophen (single administration) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period

Different classes of antibiotics given to women routinely for preventing infection at caesarean section

Schedules for home visits in the early postpartum period

Probiotics for preventing gestational diabetes

Oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (single dose) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period

Ultrasound for diagnosis of birth weight discordance in twin pregnancies

Physiological track‐and‐trigger/early warning systems for use in maternity care

Interventions for fear of childbirth including tocophobia

Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour

Routine ultrasound for fetal assessment before 24 weeks' gestation

Membrane sweeping for induction of labour

Pharmacological interventions for treating intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Techniques for preventing hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section

Antenatal corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth

Antibiotic prophylaxis for operative vaginal delivery

Relief of pain due to uterine cramping/involution after birth

Induction of labour at or beyond 37 weeks' gestation

Local cooling for relieving pain from perineal trauma sustained during childbirth

Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation

Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth

Home versus inpatient induction of labour for improving birth outcomes