SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2019
Effect of maternal birth positions on duration of second stage of labor: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
MIDWIZE - Strengthening Midwives to Implement and Sustain Quality Improvements to Optimise Maternity Care: A Longitudinal Observational Study in Uganda
The Effect of Birth Positions on Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength, Severity, and Quality of Perineal Pain in Primiparous Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 99 citations in OpenAlex.
- Maternal Positioning in the Second Stage of Labour and its Relationship with Perineal Trauma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.International urogynecology journal · 2026Pooled it
- Influence of Laboring People's Mobility and Positional Changes on Birth Outcomes in Low-Dose Epidural Analgesia Labor: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.Journal of midwifery & women's health · 2023Pooled it
- The effect of labour hopscotch framework on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2025Trial
- IUGA International Guidelines on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Enhancing maternal autonomy in choosing birthing positions: an exploratory pre-post intervention study protocol (MAM-Care).BMJ open · 2026Article
- Intrapartum sonographic evaluation of fetal head descent in relation to maternal position: comparison between dorsal lithotomy and kneeling squat positions.Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2026Article
- Impact of a virtual reality-enhanced learning program for maternal positioning in midwifery students: an exploratory multicenter pre-post study.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Free positions in the second stage of labor for pelvic floor protection: a narrative review.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Dynamic birth position, awareness and practice by midwives in Ethiopia: a parallel mixed-methods study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Questionnaire development: midwives' knowledge and attitude on liberal birthing position in 2nd stage.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- The Impact of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on the Consecutive Stages of Labour and Perinatal Outcomes-A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Effectiveness of nulliparous women's different childbirth positions during the second stage of labor: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciences · 2025Review
- From Pregnancy to Breastfeeding: The Role of Maternal Exercise in Preventing Childhood Obesity.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Improving apgar scores and reducing perineal injuries through midwife-led quality improvements: an observational study in Uganda.BMC public health · 2025Observational
- Inequalities in the care for Labor and Delivery in Rio de Janeiro - Birth in Brazil Research II: national survey on abortion, delivery, and birth.Revista de saude publica · 2025Article
- Article
- Midwives' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Liberal Birthing Position Management During the Second Stage of Labor: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of nursing management · 2025Article
- [Effect of the Spinning Babies Program on Birth Outcomes and Satisfaction during Labor: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial].Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing · 2024Article
- Factors Influencing Duration of Breastfeeding: Insights from a Prospective Study of Maternal Health Literacy and Obstetric Practices.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Analysis of Maternal Positions during the Dilation and Expulsive Phase and Their Relationship with Perineal Injuries in Eutocic Deliveries Attended by Midwives.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIt is believed that giving birth in an upright position is beneficial for both mother and the infant for several physiologic reasons. An upright positioning helps the uterus to contract more strongly and efficiently, the baby gets in a better position and thus can pass through the pelvis faster. Upright and lateral positions enables flexibility in the pelvis and facilitates the extension of the outlet. Before implementing a change in birthing positions in our clinics we need to review evidences available and context valid related to duration of second stage of labor and birthing positions. Therefore this review aimed to examine the effect of maternal flexible sacrum birth position on duration of second stage of labor.
methodThe research searched articles using bibliographical Databases: Medline/PUBMED, SCOPUS, Google scholar and Google. All study designs were considered while investigating the impact of maternal flexible sacrum birthing positioning in relation duration of second stage of labor. Studies including laboring mothers with normal labor and delivery. A total of 1985 women were included in the reviewed studies. We included both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
resultsWe identified 1680 potential citations, of which 8 articles assessed the effect of maternal upright birth positioning on the reduction during the duration of second stage of labor. Two studies were excluded because of incomplete reports for meta analysis. The result suggested a reduction in duration of second stage of labor among women in a flexible sacrum birthing position, with a mean duration from 3.2-34.8. The pooled weighted mean difference with random effect model was 21.118(CI: 11.839-30.396) minutes, with the same significant heterogeneity between the studies (I
conclusionThe second stage duration was reduced in cases of a flexible sacrum birthing position. Even though the reduction in duration varies across studies with considerable heterogeneity, laboring women should be encouraged to choose her comfortable birth position. Researchers who aim to compare different birthing positions should consider study designs which enable women to choose birthing position. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: [CRD42019120618].
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.