The Montana Doula Collaborative serves as a statewide organization supporting all perinatal doulas, including but not limited to Indigenous Birthworkers and Recovery Doulas. We provide support and resources for all doulas as well as publicly educate and advocate for the benefits of doula care.

VISION

Every doula working in Montana will have the support and resources to succeed in a sustainable career.

Every family in Montana will have access to compassionate and competent perinatal doula care, allowing them to feel supported, empowered and safe. This will result in improved health outcomes and equity for all parents and babies.

GOALS AND VALUES

The primary goal of this group is to increase access to doula support for all populations that ordinarily wouldn’t be able to afford such care.
Ensure doulas will be adequately reimbursed for the care they provide.
Promote the profession of doulas in Montana through education and awareness to medical institutions, care providers and the public.
Provide educational, professional and collaborative opportunities for Montana doulas.
Be the certifying body for MT doulas seeking accreditation for reimbursement.
Create a central registry for the public to find doulas in their area of Montana.
Provide support for doulas navigating the billing and reimbursement process.

WHAT IS A PERINATAL DOULA?

"Doulas are trained perinatal care workers whose role draws on long traditions of community support to individuals and families before, during, and after birth. Doulas work directly for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people. They provide comprehensive, non-clinical, one-on-one care that meets emotional, physical, social, advocacy, and informational needs. Doula care is preventive care that is proven to significantly improve health outcomes for birthing people and families."

Birth doulas assist families to prepare for and carry out their hopes for birth. They provide emotional support and physical comfort measures throughout the labor, birth and first few hours postpartum.

Postpartum Doulas serve families in the postpartum weeks by providing emotional and practical support during the transitional time of the fourth trimester.

Indigenous doulas play an especially important role in aiding families as they provide education on peripartum concerns as well as supporting traditional practices and ceremony.

Peer recovery doulas utilize their own life experience to provide support to birthing persons and families in the perinatal period with substance use and/or mental health challenges.