The Practising Midwife – Writing for Us

We welcome contributions that offer a personal viewpoint or description of life as a midwife ‘at the coalface’ of today’s profession. These may be humorous, controversial, analytical or reflective. We are particularly interested in current issues, new developments, reflective practice and controversial topics. We are keen that articles are very much about the practice of midwifery and say something new that can be used by midwives to further their practice.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum of 1700 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the article.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Explanation and context should be given for any bullet points, do not supply bullet point lists on their own.
• Conclusion.
• Main body of article with the reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images - See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

Usually a series of articles on a topic/theme, published from September. We welcome submissions that address core, 'essential' aspects of midwifery practice. Such articles offer an opportunity to update basic skills and knowledge and address fundamental knowledge and understanding that underpins midwifery practice. These articles can include introductions to key concepts, explorations of core midwifery knowledge that is central to the role of the midwife and specific aspects of midwifery knowledge or skills.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum of 1700 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the article.
• 3-5 Care Considerations points (Reflective questions/practice points)
• Appropriate subheadings throughout.
• Explanation and context should be given for any bullet points, do not supply bullet point lists on their own.
• Conclusion.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information> Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

Very much practice based, these articles may offer a new perspective on clinical practice – or more usually explore an area of practice that tends to be encountered either by the more experienced practitioner or less often than ‘the every day’. We welcome articles that might challenge the reader in some way.

These articles should include practice challenges, i.e. reflective questions posed to the reader to increase their engagement with the content of your article. During the design process the practice challenges are highlighted at key points throughout your article.

Questions are not prescriptive but as an example, in an article about birth outside the guidelines, readers were asked: ‘How do you feel your experiences have shaped your approach to supporting physiological birth?’ ‘Can you reflect upon what fears and vulnerabilities you might have in your workplace? How might these fears be managed?’ ‘What do you feel you need in order to support women’s choices? Consider your personal and professional needs.’

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum 2500 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Main body of article with up to 5 practice challenge questions identified throughout the article.
• Explanation and context should be given for any bullet points, do not supply bullet point lists on their own.
• Conclusion.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

We welcome both primary and secondary research (literature or systematic reviews). Occasionally, larger pieces of research may be broken down into two or more consecutive articles.

Research papers are subject to peer review. See General Information>Peer Review

A primary research article should include:

• Maximum 2500 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100-word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• An introduction to include background information to support the reasons for the study.
• A brief but clear outline of the methodology, making clear the study setting, the sample, the hypothesis (where relevant) and the reason for the chosen method.
• Information of ethical approvals granted and particular ethical considerations in your study.
• Results/findings consistent with your chosen methodology. Tables and graphs may be used.
• Discussion, relate your findings to focus their relevance to midwifery practice. Also include a brief statement of limitations of the research, and implications for practice and future research.
• Explanation and context should be given for any bullet points, do not supply bullet point lists on their own.
• Conclusion.
• Reference list positioned at the end. See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

A secondary research article should include:

• 100 word summary of the article, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headers throughout.
• An introduction to include background information to support the reasons for the study.
• A brief outline of the methodology, to include search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, study selection, quality appraisal, reflexivity (if applicable), data extraction and analysis methods.
• Results/findings consistent with your chosen methodology. Tables and graphs may be used.
• Discussion, relate your findings to focus their relevance to midwifery practice. Also include a brief statement of limitations of the research, and implications for practice and future research.
• Conclusion.
• Reference list postitioned at the end. See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

a) Research unwrapped

In this long-running series, authors ‘walk’ readers through critiquing a specific piece of research. The idea is that the reader will gain a greater understanding of critiquing research, while also gaining knowledge about the specific research study being ‘unwrapped’. The studies chosen need to be recent. In doing so we can advance our knowledge and understanding of a research topic and apply it to our practice. This process is designed to assess the usefulness of the evidence in terms of decision making and application to practice.

b) Cochrane corner

This series is very long standing but more recently became a collaborative project between Cochrane UK and The Practising Midwife. A systematic review tries to search for, appraise and bring together existing research to answer a specific research question. The aim of Cochrane Corner is to highlight Cochrane systematic reviews of relevance to pregnancy and childbirth and to stimulate discussion on the relevance and implications of the review for practice.

c) Guideline commentary

This series, which complements Cochrane corner and Research unwrapped helps readers make sense of published guidelines by offering a detailed appraisal of a guideline or a specific section of a guideline, in a careful and considered manner. In doing so midwives can advance their knowledge and understanding of reviewing guidelines to inform our practice. This process is designed to assess the usefulness of the guideline and underpinning evidence, in terms of decision making and implications for practice.

d) Report review

This series, which runs alongside Guideline commentary and the other evidence bases, looks at local, national and international reports that have implications directly or indirectly for midwives. It helps readers to understand what reports mean for midwifery practice and to place report recommendations into context.

e) Understanding research

Understanding research is a series of articles aimed at dispelling the myths around research theories and practices, and exploring just what is meant by the different terminologies encountered when reading and using research articles. We will explore different aspects of research to make this knowledge accessible and relevant. It forms part of the Evidence series, and aims to help midwives to understand, use and engage with research, and consider how research matters to their practice.

We welcome shorter reflective or position pieces. Voices is a space to reflect all views from across the maternity services. These shorter articles may be written as clinical, descriptive, narrative or reflective pieces. We are particularly keen to hear from service users, obstetricians, paediatricians, and birth workers to provide a broader range of views.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum 1200 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

This standard summarises core and advanced midwifery skills and can feature innovations in practice, evaluation of skills teaching and new approaches to skills learning, or explore and evaluate application of clinical skills across the maternity care setting.  Skills can range across any topic, from core clinical skills, to communication skills, to more advanced skills, management and leadership.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum 1700 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

A Spotlight article is for any focus or topic relevant to contemporary midwifery practice, and can include summaries of primary and secondary research, service evaluations, opinion pieces, and reflections. The article should highlight a specific issue or topic and deal with it succinctly but in a focused way.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum 1200 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations

We welcome articles of any type that draw attention to and explore issues that have global significance, or are written from a global perspective, or feature contexts outside the UK. We particularly welcome articles addressing local and national midwifery practice from across the globe, including indigenous and traditional maternity care.

For inclusion with your submission:

• Maximum 1700 words including in-text references and the reference list.
• Article main title to be maximum of 6 words.
• 100 word summary, positioned at the start of the paper.
• Appropriate sub headings throughout.
• Reference list positioned at the end (use sparingly). See Referencing
• Images. See General Information>Photographs, headshots, diagrams and illustrations