<b>By Richard Toomey and Kurt Gambla</b>

If you are currently expecting a baby — or planning to have a baby in the near future — it’s important that you are aware of several changes in obstetrical care in Beaufort and how they might affect your delivery.

Some of these changes include:

• Several local OB-GYNs moving their privileges to – and delivering in – another county;

• Beaufort Memorial’s opening of its own Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Specialists practice; and

• The relocation of the Naval Hospital Beaufort’s OB-GYNs to North Carolina.

We realize that these changes may have caused some confusion in the community, so we want to be sure that as expectant parents you understand your options for care in order to ensure that your birthing experience goes smoothly.

We recommend that the first thing you do is clarify with your current health care provider where he/she has privileges and, as a result, will be delivering your baby. It’s important that patients understand that only physicians who are on the Beaufort Memorial medical staff are able to deliver at our Birthing Center, which includes physicians who are associated with Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Specialists and Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need to come to Beaufort Memorial for care, a member of our medical staff will handle your emergency and deliver your baby, if necessary. Please be assured that we will take care of you regardless of who is the attending OB-GYN, and will reach out to your own OB-GYN to coordinate the best care possible for you and your baby.

Earlier this year, the hospital opened its own OB-GYN practice in order to ensure birthing services will always be available close to home. Our four board-certified, fellowship-trained OB-GYNs are delivering babies exclusively at the BMH Birthing Center.

The Birthing Center at Beaufort Memorial remains committed to providing quality obstetrical care and birthing services while continuing the hospital’s 70-year tradition of delivering babies right here in our community.

To learn which physicians are members of our medical staff, visit our website at www.beaufortmemorial.org or call the Physician Referral line at 522-5585. If you would like to visit the BMH Birthing Center free tours are held on the first and third Mondays of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Check in at the Birthing Center lobby to begin your tour.

We hope this information is helpful to you and your families. On behalf of our entire staff we look forward to being a part of one of the most important moments in any family’s life.

<i>Richard K. Toomey is the president &amp; CEO at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Kurt Gambla is the Chief Medical Officer at Beaufort Memorial.</i>