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

Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour

Smith, CA, Levett, KM, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thinnest evidence

Reviews 252

Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour

Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour

Acute tocolysis for uterine tachysystole or suspected fetal distress

Metformin for women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy for improving maternal and infant outcomes

Methods for blood loss estimation after vaginal birth

Antibiotics for treating gonorrhoea in pregnancy

Care prior to and during subsequent pregnancies following stillbirth for improving outcomes

Discontinuation of intravenous oxytocin in the active phase of induced labour

Planned birth at or near term for improving health outcomes for pregnant women with gestational diabetes and their infants

Antifibrinolytic drugs for treating primary postpartum haemorrhage

Selective versus routine use of episiotomy for vaginal birth

Pelvimetry for fetal cephalic presentations at or near term for deciding on mode of delivery

Psychosocial interventions for supporting women to stop smoking in pregnancy

Position in the second stage of labour for women without epidural anaesthesia

Acupuncture or acupressure for induction of labour

Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling for prenatal diagnosis

Continuous support for women during childbirth

Planned early birth versus expectant management for women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes prior to 37 weeks' gestation for improving pregnancy outcome

Cardiotocography versus intermittent auscultation of fetal heart on admission to labour ward for assessment of fetal wellbeing

Planned early birth versus expectant management (waiting) for prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks or more)

Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) as a form of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) for fetal assessment during labour

Fundal pressure during the second stage of labour

Home uterine monitoring for detecting preterm labour

Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma

Dietary advice interventions in pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus