To hire or not?
I didn't the first time -- my midwife said she'd be with me the whole time I was in active labor (which was most of my long drawn out induction and on a day when she wasn't on call so she had patients to see, too!)
Next time we definitely will have a doula.

Do you have one? Did you use one?
What do you think about using one?

I'm interested in using a doula but don't know where to go in Ocala to find one. I know there are more options in bigger cities but haven't heard of any here.

I did not use one with my first pregnancy but now after learning more I would like to with my next. But I am with boogsoup. Where do you find one in Ocala? Aer they typically covered by insurance? If not, how expensive are they?

There are doulas in Ocala.
I know of quite a few.

They usually are not covered by insurance but local prices range in the area of $400-600 I'd say for a rough number.
Totally invaluable -- usually you get a visit (or 2 or 3) pre-delivery, during delivery (my friend's doula recorded every visit, everything that happened, etc... so she has a pretty neat running time line for her VBAC), and a visit afterwards.

Here are some DONA ones from Ocala (and surrounding cities -- search by city name.)
http://www.dona.org/search/results.php?nav=5

Note not all are birth doulas; some are postpartum doulas -- also cool but a bit different than a birth doula.

What does a post-partum doula do?

I met Elizabeth this morning, and she alerted me to this post (hi Elizabeth!) I am a doula, certified through CAPPA, and am more than willing to discuss here or via e-mail how doulas can help. I know there are more than me in Ocala, and I know there are several in the Gainesville area who are willing to come to Ocala. I definitely suggest you talk to several (not that I don't think I'm great, LOL) to make sure you have one that can meet your needs and that you personally connect with.

Lisa
mrskbrook@yahoo.com

Lisa can probably explain better than me, but a postpartum doula comes and takes care of the mom after the baby. Does some light house cleaning or cooking, helps w/ breastfeeding issues, etc...., I believe.

That's a quite accurate description Elizabeth. Couldn't have stated it better myself!

Lisa