And if obstetrics go, due to falling demand, paediatric and theatre services could soon follow.

Milton doctor Brett Thomson said about 30 per cent of local pregnant women are delivering their babies in Nowra.

He said if births continue to decline, Milton Hospital could lose its maternity service.

“Traditionally up to 140 babies are born in Milton area each year, but this year we’ve lost over 60 women to Nowra.

“If that trend continues and we lose obstetrics and maternity services at Milton, it’s highly likely that paediatric services will go and the operating theatre would be closed as well.

“The theatre is available for a wide range of services and if caesarians aren’t needed it would be difficult to retain,” Dr Thomson said.

He said local mothers should be taking advantage of personalised services with their local GPs and local, experienced midwives at a fully equipped facility that is close to home.

Three GP obstetricians are working at Milton Hospital, providing a full-time, on-call service for expectant mothers.

Dr Thomson and Dr Meike Flore from the Milton Medical Centre as well as Dr Ian Tait from the Ulladulla Medical Centre are working together to ensure local women and their babies are well looked after locally.

In comparison, Dr Thomson said, the three specialist obstetricians working out of Shoalhaven Hospital in Nowra are delivering about 900 babies each year.

He said there’s no reason why normal, healthy mothers can’t have their babies in Milton.

“Only about 10 per cent of women are in the high risk category and we always refer them to Nowra or Sydney to deliver.

“We have the facilities and staff skills at Milton to deliver most babies and, if there’s a problem, we can do an emergency caesarian section in the theatre at anytime.

“On rare occasions, after assessment at Milton, a mother may be transported to Nowra. This is no different to the situation over the past 10 years.”