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Table 1 Labour and childbirth analgesic options included in the decision aid and the evidence base

From: Assisting informed decision making for labour analgesia: a randomised controlled trial of a decision aid for labour analgesia versus a pamphlet

Analgesic option

Evidence base

   Support person

   Systematic review[32]

   Being upright during labour

   Three systematic reviews [33–35]

   Touch and massage

   Two systematic reviews, one based on observational data[36]

   Bath

   Systematic review[37]

   Aromatherapy

   Systematic review[37]

   Acupuncture

   Systematic review[37]

   Hypnosis

   Systematic review[37]

   Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

   Systematic review[38]

   Nitrous oxide

   Systematic review[39] and population based data[40]

   Opioid analgesia

   Two systematic reviews[41, 42] and population based data[40]

   Epidural analgesia

   Two systematic review[43, 44] and observational research [45].