12-225-103. Definitions

12-225-103. Definitions. As used in this article 225, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Birth center" means a freestanding facility licensed by the department of public health and environment that:

(a) Is not a hospital, attached to a hospital, or located in a hospital;

(b) Provides prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum care to low-risk pregnant persons and newborns; and

(c) Provides care during delivery and immediately after delivery that is generally less than twenty-four hours in duration.

(1.5) "Client" means a pregnant woman for whom a direct-entry midwife performs services. For purposes of perinatal or postpartum care, "client" includes the woman's newborn.

(2) "Direct-entry midwife" means a person who practices direct-entry midwifery.

(3) "Direct-entry midwifery" or "practice of direct-entry midwifery" means the advising, attending, or assisting of a woman during pregnancy, labor and natural childbirth at home or at a birth center, and the postpartum period in accordance with this article 225.

(4) "Natural childbirth" means the birth of a child without the use of instruments, surgical procedures, or prescription drugs other than those for which the direct-entry midwife has specific authority under this article 225 to obtain and administer.

(5) "Perinatal" means the period from the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy through seven days after birth.

(6) "Postpartum period" means the period of six weeks after birth.