HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Medical Center saw an increase in the number of babies birthed this past fiscal year, but was it a baby boom?

Not quite, hospital officials say.

The Meritus Family Birthing Center recorded 2,065 babies born during the fiscal year ending June 30, said Ellen Curry, MSN, RNC-OB, nurse manager of the center.

“We passed 2,000 on June 18,” she said.

The number was 1,870 for fiscal year 2024, said Anand Budi, M.D., Meritus chief medical officer. On average, the center sees between 1,700 and 1,900 births per fiscal year.

While there was a bump this year in the number of families from Washington County, Md., which is Meritus’ primary service area, there was growth in the number of families from outside the area, Dr. Budi said.

“There were more patients coming from southern Pennsylvania and a fair number from Frederick County, and some from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia,” he said. “There was a slight increase in Washington County as well, but I’m not sure I would call that a baby boom yet.”

Curry and Kathy King, R.N., MSN, director of women's and children's services, said they have heard anecdotally from new moms and dads that fellow parents said Meritus is the best place in the region to have a baby.

“That’s something we’re proud of,” Curry said, “that people are making the conscious decision to come here.” 

U.S. News & World Report recently named Meritus a High Performing hospital in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) for 2024.

“We’ve received quality recognitions that put us in a higher class among rural hospitals,” King said.

She noted the birthing center has certified midwives on staff and offers a number of birthing options, plus spacious and comfortable accommodations for parents. In most cases, babies stay in the room with their mothers.

The birthing center also has expert care at the ready should the newborn need it. Meritus has a Level 2 NICU which has the capability to take care of premature infants and infants with any medical problems that would need specialized intensive care. This eliminates the need to travel outside the area.

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Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.

Alyssa Tetiow holds her daughter, Amiyah Maxwell, who was born June 29, 2025. She was one of the 2,065 babies born at Meritus Family Birthing Center during fiscal year 2025, a record number of births for Meritus Medical Center.