A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included one study of questionable quality with a total of 1 266 subjects. Four hundred and thirty-two women were prescribed bed rest at home and a total of 834 women received a placebo (412) or no intervention (422). Preterm birth before 37 weeks was similar in both groups (7.9% in the intervention group versus 8.5% in the control group), and the relative risk was 0.92 with a 95% confidence interval from 0.62 to 1.37. There is no evidence either supporting or refuting the use of bed rest at home or in hospital to prevent preterm birth. Due to the potential adverse effects that bed rest could have on women and their families, and the increased costs for the healthcare system, clinicians should not routinely advise women to rest in bed to prevent preterm birth.
A meta-analysis 2 included 14 studies with a total of 2608 women and 3328 infants. Overall, maternal/newborn outcomes were similar between women on bed rest and those not on bed rest. In subgroup analyses of developed and developing regions, length of gestation was shorter with bed rest (weighted mean difference -0.77 wk, 95% CI -1.26 to -0.27, I² = 0%), and the risk of a very premature birth was increased (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.73, I ² = 0%) in developed countries.
Primary/Secondary Keywords