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

Multiple‐micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy

Keats, EC, Haider, BA, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2019

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thinnest evidence

Reviews 252

Multiple‐micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy

Fetal fibronectin testing for reducing the risk of preterm birth

Cervical assessment by ultrasound for preventing preterm delivery

Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour

Combined spinal‐epidural versus spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section

Vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy

Techniques of monitoring blood glucose during pregnancy for women with pre‐existing diabetes

Calcium supplementation commencing before or early in pregnancy, for preventing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Guided imagery for treating hypertension in pregnancy

Prenatal administration of progestogens for preventing spontaneous preterm birth in women with a multiple pregnancy

Interventions for supporting the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among women who are overweight or obese

Fetal biometry for guiding the medical management of women with gestational diabetes mellitus for improving maternal and perinatal health

Regimens of vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy

Immersion in water during labour and birth

Epidural versus non‐epidural or no analgesia for pain management in labour

Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems

Antihypertensive drug therapy for mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy

Interventionist versus expectant care for severe pre‐eclampsia between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation

Omega‐3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy

Prophylactic use of ergot alkaloids in the third stage of labour

Effect of partograph use on outcomes for women in spontaneous labour at term and their babies

Progestogen for treating threatened miscarriage

Parenteral opioids for maternal pain management in labour

Mechanical dilatation of the cervix during elective caesarean section before the onset of labour for reducing postoperative morbidity

Maternal position in the second stage of labour for women with epidural anaesthesia