Comparison 1. Continued versus discontinued oxytocin stimulation in the active phase.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Caesarean delivery	9	1784	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.56, 0.86]
2 Duration of the active phase of labour	8	1336	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	25.57 [5.28, 45.87]
3 Postpartum haemorrhage of 500 mL or more	5	996	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.45, 1.13]
4 Uterine tachysystole combined with abnormal fetal heart rate	3	486	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.15 [0.05, 0.46]
5 Uterine tachysystole	4	728	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.45 [0.30, 0.68]
6 Chorioamnionitis	1	252	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.32 [0.99, 5.45]
7 Use of analgesia and epidural during labour	3	556	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.95, 1.14]
8 Third‐ and fourth‐degree perineal tear	1	199	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.25 [0.03, 2.22]
9 Vaginal instrumental delivery	5	848	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.07 [0.67, 1.72]
10 Caesarean delivery after the active phase of labour has begun	4	898	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.62, 1.23]
11 Caesarean delivery after active phase begun using "reached active phase" as denominator	4	787	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.65, 1.29]
12 Intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) abnormalities (suspicious/pathological CTGs)	7	1390	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.65 [0.51, 0.83]
13 Apgar score at five minutes below seven	4	893	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.27, 2.21]
14 Acidotic cord gasses at birth (arterial umbilical pH < 7.10)	4	873	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.50, 2.13]
15 Neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit	6	1434	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.49, 1.13]