- (1) “Emotional support” means offering reassurance, encouragement, and a calming presence to reduce stress and anxiety for the client, and includes support for developing perinatal plans.
- (2) “Informational support” means providing reliable, unbiased information about pregnancy, labor, birth, lactation, infant care, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, and related postpartum issues that promote a client’s informed decision-making.
- (3) “Perinatal” means the period of time inclusive of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum as defined in 37-77-101, MCA.
- (4) “Perinatal experience” means any doula-provided support, service, or visit that occurs during the perinatal period.
- (5) “Physical support” includes comfort techniques such as hands-on comfort measures, positioning, breathing exercises, and assistance with mobility, hydration, and basic comfort needs during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
Authorizing statute(s): 37-77-104, MCA
Implementing statute(s): 37-77-102, MCA
History: NEW, 2025 MAR, Notice No. 2025-191, Eff. 1/1/26.