Specialised antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy for improving maternal and infant outcomes

Dodd JM, Crowther CA

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

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.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Regular 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.

Objectives:

To 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 strategy:

We 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 criteria:

Randomised 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 analysis:

Both review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

Main results:

There are no included studies.

Authors' conclusions:

There 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.

This record should be cited as:

Dodd JM, Crowther CA. Specialised antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy for improving maternal and infant outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD005300. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005300.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

December 19, 2006

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Primary Review Group:

Pregnancy and Childbirth Group

Health topics:

Pregnancy & childbirth > Multiple pregnancy

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Specialised antenatal clinics for women with a multiple pregnancy for improving maternal and infant outcomes

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