Comparison 4. Continuous support versus usual care ‐ policy about routine EFM.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Spontaneous vaginal birth	21	14441	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.08 [1.04, 1.12]
1.1 Setting had routine EFM	8	9717	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.07 [1.01, 1.13]
1.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	7	1913	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.11 [1.06, 1.17]
1.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	6	2811	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [1.00, 1.18]
2 Negative rating of/negative views about birth experience	11	11154	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.60, 0.79]
2.1 Setting had routine EFM	4	7467	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.55, 0.94]
2.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	4	1710	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.60 [0.49, 0.74]
2.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	3	1977	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.84 [0.65, 1.08]
3 Postpartum depression	2		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Setting had routine EFM	1	6915	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.75, 1.05]
3.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	1	149	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.18 [0.09, 0.36]
4 Admission to special care nursery	7	8897	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.76, 1.25]
4.1 Setting had routine EFM	3	7740	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.84, 1.11]
4.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	3	729	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.48 [0.15, 1.52]
4.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	1	428	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.98 [0.76, 5.18]
5 Exclusive or any breastfeeding at any time point, as defined by trial authors	4		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 Setting had routine EFM	1	4559	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.92, 1.02]
5.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	2	804	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.98, 1.13]
5.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	1	221	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.28 [1.02, 1.60]
6 Any analgesia/anaesthesia	14	12345	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.84, 0.96]
6.1 Setting had routine EFM	6	8580	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.79, 0.99]
6.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	6	2186	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.79, 1.04]
6.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	2	1579	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.80, 0.99]
7 Synthetic oxytocin during labour	17	12847	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.91, 1.03]
7.1 Setting had routine EFM	4	8340	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.78, 1.11]
7.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	8	1789	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.64, 1.01]
7.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	5	2718	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.97, 1.08]
8 Caesarean birth	24	15347	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.64, 0.88]
8.1 Setting had routine EFM	9	10123	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.84 [0.71, 1.00]
8.2 Setting did not have routine EFM	9	2529	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.59 [0.43, 0.81]
8.3 Policy about routine EFM not known	6	2695	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.56, 1.32]