A New Approach to Obstetric Care
A look at one of the birthing rooms inside the MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital Family Birth Center.
A New Approach to Obstetric Care
A look at one of the birthing rooms inside the MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital Family Birth Center.
In November 2024, MaineHealth Waldo Hospital announced that it would be restructuring its obstetrics department, ending inpatient labor and delivery services there as of April 1, 2025. The decision came following a months-long review of the obstetrics program that included extensive community outreach and input.
Under the new structure, MHWH will continue to provide and expand comprehensive pre- and post-natal care, partnering with MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and other nearby hospitals for labor and delivery services.
“Families will continue to receive the same compassionate, high-quality prenatal and postnatal care at Waldo, with the added benefits that come with delivering at a higher-volume center like Pen Bay. Our goal is to ensure safe, seamless care for all patients.”
– Denise Needham, president, MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals
MHWH has long provided labor and delivery services to the community. However, significant challenges emerged over the past several years that make the continuation of these services unsustainable, including consistently low birth volume, which fell to just 109 deliveries in 2023, and ongoing difficulty recruiting and retaining the necessary specialized staff.
MaineHealth has sought to address staffing challenges with aggressive recruiting, higher pay for care team members and investments in clinical education programs. Nevertheless, these staffing challenges are particularly acute in rural settings, and MHWH has faced persistent shortages of pediatric providers, anesthesia providers and nurses. Recruitment efforts over the past three years have failed to fill key positions, making it increasingly difficult to offer safe, around-the-clock coverage for labor and delivery care at the hospital.
Under the new obstetrics model, expectant mothers will receive their prenatal and postnatal care at MHWH and will be referred to MHPBH for labor and delivery only. The hospitals will consolidate their OB/GYN and midwifery teams, ensuring continuity of care throughout the pregnancy and delivery process. The consolidation will also allow for the expansion of obstetric services, including the potential introduction of VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) services, which are currently unavailable at MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals.
MHWH will maintain outpatient services including prenatal consultations, antenatal testing, obstetrical ultrasounds and postnatal care. Other important offerings such as fertility services, lactation support, childbirth education classes and postpartum counseling will also continue.
Obstetrics & Gynecology | OB/GYN | MaineHealth Waldo Hospital
MaineHealth Obstetrics and Gynecology Belfast provides expert obstetrical and gynecological services in Belfast, Maine. Our multi-disciplinary team of obstetricians, gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, nurses and lactation consultants work collaboratively to provide compassionate care focused on you. Our goal is to help you understand your body and your health in a safe, comfortable environment. We’re here for you at all stages of your life – from puberty to menopause.