Maine doulas association to present childbirth film

BANGOR – The Maine Association of Independent Doulas will present “Singing the Bones,” a feature-length motion picture inspired by true events. The film tells the story of three generations of women brought together by a single birth.

Produced by Gord Halloran and Caitlin Hicks, association officials said, the groundbreaking film combines documentary, narrative and storytelling techniques.

“Singing the Bones” has opened to widespread critical acclaim both in the United States and abroad, and has been featured at several film festivals worldwide.

The Montreal Gazette’s John Griffin called the film “complex, emotional and artistically challenging … a tour de force for Hicks.”

Nancy Wainer, certified professional midwife and international childbirth writer and speaker, said of the film: “Bravo. This is a must-see.” Wainer is the midwife who coined the term VBAC – vaginal birth after Caesarean.

The film will be shown:

. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Union Street Brick Church in Bangor.

. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Reel Pizza Cinerama in Bar Harbor.

Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Maine Association of Independent Doulas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing community education regarding choices in childbirth and the importance and value of doula-attended childbirth.

To obtain more information, call Evelyn Conrad at 945-9804, or visit www.mainedoulas.org.

The Maine Association of Independent Doulas was founded in January 1999 by doulas Evelyn Conrad and Vicki Hamm. Its purpose is to provide a support network to doulas and to provide education to the community regarding the importance of doula-attended childbirth.

In September 2003, the association obtained nonprofit status through the state of Maine. The plan for 2004 is to obtain federal nonprofit status and write grants to provide services to low-income women.

“Our hope for the future is to provide financial assistance that will enable all women, regardless of their ability to pay for services, to have access to doula-labor support services,” officials said.