Table 2 Characteristics of excluded studies (ordered by study ID)

Hämeen-Anttila et al. (2013) [27]

The study presented a wide variety of information sources that pregnant women used during their pregnancies and Internet searching was not presented as one category.

Laz & Berenson (2013) [28]

The study recruited all women (pregnant/non-pregnant) who searched the Internet for a variety of health problems, including menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections. Data in relation to pregnancy information were not considered separately.

Rodger et al. (2013) [29]

The study reported on a wide variety of social media and information and communications technologies, including: email, texting, Internet, websites, YouTube, and smartphone applications that women used during pregnancy. Internet searching was not presented as one category.

Shieh, Mays, McDaniel, & Yu (2009) [30]

The study focused on health literacy and its association with the use of information sources including the Internet. Barriers to information seeking were also discussed. Data collection was not focussed on internet use in pregnancy.

Song et al. (2012) [9]

Qualitative study. This article explored the way in which women used the Internet to manage their pregnancies and mediated their doctor–patient relationships. A particular emphasis was on the role of social class and personal health history in shaping Internet use.

Weston & Anderson, 2014 [31]

Qualitative study. This study recruited three distinct groups of women: midwives, pregnant women and postnatal women. The study did not only focus on pregnancy women.