Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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WA
Women and Birth is the official journal of the Australian College of Midwives and publishes midwifery research and scholarship on pregnancy, birth, and the first six weeks post-partum. The journal has a woman-centred focus inclusive of partners, families, fetus and newborn, and covers healthy and complex pregnancies and births. It welcomes primary research papers, systematic reviews, and research-informed discussion papers relevant to midwifery practice, research, theory, education, management, leadership, maternity service provision, maternal and newborn health, respectful maternity care, breastfeeding, primary health care, and related disciplines.
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Subject
Nursing, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Impact Factor
4.1
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
ISSN
1871-5192
eISSN
1878-1799
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Open access APC: USD 3730 excluding taxes for all articles; subscription publication has no open access publication fee.
Submission Instructions
Women and Birth accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Research Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be under 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings must be Problem, Background, Question, Hypothesis or Aim, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5000 words. Research Articles should be organised with the headings Introduction, Participants, Ethics and Methods, Findings or Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Acknowledgments and Disclosures. The manuscript must include a Statement of Significance table in the introduction of 100 words or less with the headings Problem or Issue, What is Already Known, and What this Paper Adds, and must include a separate declaration section before the references titled 'Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the manuscript preparation process' when such tools are used.
References
References must not exceed 50. References must follow International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations using the Lancet Output Style. Every reference listed must be cited in the text, and every in-text citation must appear in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Research Articles must not exceed 6 tables or figures. Figures must be submitted as separate files, while tables must be submitted as editable text. Tables must not exceed six typeset pages.
Review Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest and confirm that publication is approved by all authors.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be under 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings should be Problem, Background, Question, Hypothesis or Aim, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5000 words. Manuscript must be arranged as structured abstract and keywords, main text including acknowledgments or disclosures and references, followed by tables and figures. Manuscript must include four to six keywords, a compulsory acknowledgements section, and a separate AI declaration section before the references if AI tools were used in manuscript preparation.
References
References must not exceed 70. References must follow International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations using the Lancet Output Style. Every reference list entry must be cited in the text, and all in-text citations must appear in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
The combined total of tables and figures must not exceed 6. Figures must be submitted as separate files, and tables must be submitted as editable text. Tables must not exceed six typeset pages.
Systematic Reviews
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest and imply that publication is approved by all authors and by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be under 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings must be Problem, Background, Question, Hypothesis or Aim, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5000 words. Manuscript must be arranged as a structured abstract and keywords, manuscript including acknowledgments or disclosures and references, tables, and figures. Manuscript must include four to six keywords, an acknowledgements section, a conflict of interests statement, and a separate declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies before the references when applicable.
References
References must not exceed 70. References must follow International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations using the Lancet Output Style. Every reference list entry must be cited in the text, and all text citations must appear in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Tables and figures combined must not exceed 6. Figures must be uploaded as separate files, and tables must be submitted as editable text rather than images. Tables must not exceed six typeset pages.
Meta-Analyses
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest and submission implies approval by all authors.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be under 250 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract should use the headings Problem, Background, Question, Hypothesis or Aim, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Manuscript
The manuscript must not exceed 5000 words. The complete manuscript must be arranged as structured abstract and keywords, manuscript including acknowledgments or disclosures and references, tables, and figures. The manuscript must include four to six keywords, an acknowledgements section, and a separate declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies before the references when applicable.
References
The reference list must not exceed 70 references. References must follow the International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations using the Lancet output style. Every reference listed must be cited in the text and references should follow ICMJE formatting.
Figures & Tables
The submission must not exceed a combined total of 6 tables or figures. Figures must be uploaded as separate files and tables must be submitted as editable text. Tables must not exceed six typeset pages.
Meta Syntheses
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest and confirm publication is approved by all authors and by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be under 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings should be Problem, Background, Question, Hypothesis or Aim, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5000 words. Manuscript must be arranged as structured abstract and keywords, manuscript including acknowledgments or disclosures and references, tables, and figures. Manuscript must include four to six keywords, an acknowledgements section, a conflict of interests statement, and a separate AI declaration section before the references if AI tools were used in manuscript preparation.
References
References must not exceed 70. References must follow International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations using the Lancet output style. All references listed must be cited in the text and all in-text citations must appear in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Tables and figures together must not exceed 6. Figures must be uploaded as separate files, and tables must be submitted as editable text. Tables must not exceed six typeset pages.
Letter To The Editor
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required for submission. The cover letter must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest and submission implies approval by all authors.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Letter to the Editor text is limited to 350 words. An AI declaration section before the references is required when generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in manuscript preparation.
References
Letter to the Editor must not exceed 5 references. References must follow the International Council of Medical Journal Editors recommendations. All references in the reference list must be cited in the text and all in-text references must appear in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Letter to the Editor may include one small table, figure, or image. Images or figures must be uploaded as separate files. Tables must be submitted as editable text rather than images.
Recent Publications
Corrigendum to “The association between women’s use of HypnoBirthing and maternal labour analgesia use and mode of birth: A retrospective propensity score matched study” [Women Birth 39(3) (2026) 102215]
Nigel Lee, Lauren Kearney, Bec Jenkinson, Claire Howlett, Emma Ballard
10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102217
View Publication
Mapping midwifery continuity of care in Australia; Women’s access and pattern of employment – Results of a national survey
Allison Cummins, Dharmintra Pasupathy, Kathleen Baird, Barb Vernon, Elysse Prussing, Nicole Hainsworth, Katharine Gillett, Nasrin Javid, Nicola Parry, Virginia Stulz
10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102218
View Publication
“We shouldn't have to beg to be heard” – A qualitative framework analysis of the public submissions to the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry
Hazel Keedle, Warren Keedle, Gill Thomson, Hannah G. Dahlen
10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102209
View Publication
“How do I navigate the joy and the grief at the same time?” – Mothers' postnatal experiences following care in a specialist pregnancy after loss clinic: A qualitative study
Joanna Beaumont, Debbie M. Smith, Emilie Bailey, Rebecca Barron, Emma Tomlinson, Margaret Murphy, Alexander E.P. Heazell
10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102210
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
6 days submission to first decision; 68 days submission to decision after review; 123 days submission to acceptance; 11 days acceptance to online publication.
Reformat to Women and Birth using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter is required for every submission. It must disclose conflicts of interest, sources of outside support, and acknowledge any related article based on the same work that has been submitted or published elsewhere.
Reformat to Women and Birth using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Open access APC is USD 3730 excluding taxes for all articles. Subscription publication has no open access publication fee.
Reformat to Women and Birth using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Global Maternal and Child Health
Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Nursing education and management
Maternal and fetal healthcare
Global Health Workforce Issues
Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
Infant Development and Preterm Care
Pelvic floor disorders treatments
Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies
Human auditory perception and evaluation
COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
Educational Robotics and Engineering
Nursing Roles and Practices
Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units
Reproductive Health and Contraception
Pregnancy-related medical research
Migration, Health and Trauma
Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects