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Specialised antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy to improve maternal and infant outcomesDodd JM, Crowther CA
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Summary'Specialised' antenatal clinics versus 'standard' antenatal care for women with a multiple pregnancy'Women carrying more than one baby are at increased risk of complications in pregnancy, which can affect the health of both mother and babies. 'Specialised' antenatal clinics have been suggested for women with a multiple pregnancy as a means of improving health outcomes for women and their infants. The review found no randomised trials to help determine the best form of antenatal care. A trial is underway which may provide further information.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 3, Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
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April 18. 2007 AbstractBackgroundRegular antenatal care for women with a multiple pregnancy is accepted practice, and while most women have an increase in the number of antenatal visits, there is no consensus as to what constitutes optimal care. 'Specialised' antenatal clinics have been advocated as a way of improving outcomes for women and their infants. ObjectivesTo assess, using the best available evidence, the benefits and harms of 'specialised' antenatal clinics compared with 'standard' antenatal care for women with a multiple pregnancy. Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (October 2006), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)(The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 4), and PubMed (January 1966 to January 2006). Selection criteriaRandomised controlled trials with reported data that compared outcomes in mothers and babies who received 'specialised' antenatal care with outcomes in mothers and babies who received 'standard' antenatal care. Data collection and analysisBoth review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Main resultsThere are no included studies. Authors' conclusionsThere is no information available from randomised controlled trials to support the role of 'specialised' antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy compared with 'standard' antenatal care in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. The value of 'specialised' multiple pregnancy clinics in improving health outcomes for women and their infants requires evaluation in appropriately powered and designed randomised controlled trials. |