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

Skin preparation for preventing infection following caesarean section

Hadiati, DR, Hakimi, M, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thinnest evidence

Reviews 252

Skin preparation for preventing infection following caesarean section

Vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution before cesarean section for preventing postoperative infections

Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management during labour

Intravenous versus intramuscular prophylactic oxytocin for reducing blood loss in the third stage of labour

Advance misoprostol distribution to pregnant women for preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage

Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy

Complementary and alternative therapies for post‐caesarean pain

Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non‐hospitalised term infants

Multi‐professional simulation‐based team training in obstetric emergencies for improving patient outcomes and trainees' performance

Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation

Aspirin (single dose) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period

Setting and techniques for monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy

Aspirin or heparin or both for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent pregnancy loss

Cervical stitch (cerclage) in combination with other treatments for preventing spontaneous preterm birth in singleton pregnancies

Probiotic treatment for women with gestational diabetes to improve maternal and infant health and well‐being

Anaesthesia/analgesia for manual removal of retained placenta

Strategies for optimising antenatal corticosteroid administration for women with anticipated preterm birth

Mechanical and surgical interventions for treating primary postpartum haemorrhage

Support during pregnancy for women at increased risk of low birthweight babies

Antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy

Prophylactic oxytocin for the third stage of labour to prevent postpartum haemorrhage

Medical treatment for early fetal death (less than 24 weeks)

Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping and other strategies to influence placental transfusion at preterm birth on maternal and infant outcomes

Progestogen for preventing miscarriage in women with recurrent miscarriage of unclear etiology

Antiplatelet agents for preventing pre‐eclampsia and its complications