BANGOR – The Maine Association of Independent Doulas will donate books to the Bangor, Ellsworth, Old Town and Belfast libraries and to the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor in recognition of International Doula Month.

Books that will be donated are “The Birth Partner” by Penny Simkin, “Silent Knife” by Nancy Wainer, “Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer, “Birthing from Within” by Pam England, and “Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn” by Janet Whalley and Penny Simkin. Each library will receive five books.

Also, the association will host a Mother’s Day Tea 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Isaac Farrar Mansion in Bangor. Doulas will provide pampering services, birth plan workshops, pregnancy and parenting resource table, refreshments and door prizes.

Pregnant women, new mothers and their families are welcome to attend.

May has been declared International Doula Month by Doulas of North America, an international nonprofit organization that provides training and certification for birth and postpartum doulas. Doulas are required to follow ethical standards and provide the highest quality labor support to birthing women and their families.

MAID is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing peer support to doulas, aspiring doulas and anyone interested in childbirth and providing community education regarding the importance of doula-attended childbirth. To learn about doula services, visit www.mainedoulas.org, call 945-9804, or write MAID, 13 Elm St. Brewer, ME 04412.

For more information on Doulas of North America or about becoming a DONA-certified doula, visit www.dona.org.