STUART, Fla. — A Stuart mother's recent high-risk pregnancy highlights the ongoing maternity care crisis in Martin County after she was forced to deliver her baby more than 30 minutes from home at a Palm Beach County hospital.
Christina McGahee welcomed baby Tatum two weeks ago at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, far from her Stuart residence, after Cleveland Clinic Martin North's maternity unit closure left local families without nearby delivery options.
WATCH: INFO ON NEWLY PROPOSED BIRTHING CENTER
"Emotional roller coaster" for Stuart families
"It was just an emotional roller coaster," McGahee told WPTV. "We live down the road from a hospital, but they don't deliver anymore."
Cleveland Clinic Martin North shuttered its maternity care center in April 2025, creating what medical professionals call a "maternity desert" for Treasure Coast families. McGahee's situation became more complicated when doctors classified her pregnancy as high-risk.
"They admitted me and told me they weren't comfortable sending me home because there were no hospitals in Martin County that deliver," McGahee said.
Growing problem across Florida
Dr. Pete Papapanos, a local OB-GYN, says maternity unit closures represent a serious statewide crisis affecting Florida families.
"I think it's very serious," Papapanos said. "In Florida specifically, 20% of the counties are maternity deserts. So, 20% of counties in Florida have no obstetrical services in whatever shape or form. And patients have to travel 30-60 minutes to get prenatal care."
The distance from home created additional stress for McGahee, who has other children at home.
"It definitely does make for a stressful situation when you have other kids involved, especially when it's not your first pregnancy — because each kid comes faster," McGahee said.
$5.4 million solution proposed for Stuart
Samantha Suffich, CEO of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, announced plans for a comprehensive solution to address the maternity care gap affecting Treasure Coast families.
"Our vision is a maternity center," Suffich said.
The proposed Treasure Coast Maternity Center would be a $5.4 million free-standing birth facility built adjacent to Cleveland Clinic Martin South in Stuart. The facility would feature six birthing suites, examination rooms, and recovery spaces staffed by doctors, nurses, and midwives.
Martin County commissioners will vote on a lease agreement for the project during Tuesday's County Commission meeting.
Why this matters now for Treasure Coast families
The maternity care crisis affects thousands of expectant mothers across South Florida, with hospital closures forcing families to travel significant distances during medical emergencies. The proposed Stuart facility would serve as a model for addressing Florida's growing maternity desert problem while providing local families with safe, accessible birthing options.
Funding secured, construction timeline ahead
"We are going to take the pressure off of the local hospitals, which at this point are seeing an increase in moms who are delivering," Suffich said.
The Treasure Coast Maternity Center project has secured $1 million in state funding, with organizers actively raising additional millions needed for construction and operation.
For McGahee, the proposed facility represents hope for future Martin County families facing similar challenges.
"Having a facility right there, for sure, would give a lot of peace of mind to expectant moms," McGahee said.
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