WARREN — Eighteen maternity ward nurses who spent many years working at Trumbull Regional Medical Center came together for a final farewell as the maternity ward closed earlier this week.

The registered nurses gathered at the main entrance of the maternity ward for a group photo.

Beth Pankuch of Bristol, who has worked in the maternity ward for 42 years, said some of the nurses are planning to retire, but others will be working at other hospitals and some are looking for new jobs.

Pankuch said many of the nurses have known each other since they attended nursing school together.

“Some of us have worked here since nursing school. Being here with the other nurses and staff has been like a second family for all of us,” she said.

Natalie Sanders of Cortland, with 39 years, said many of the nurses have spent many years at the maternity ward.

“We have all grown up together and our children know each other,” she said.

Barb Crawford of Champion, who has 44 years, said the nurses were very surprised when it was announced the maternity ward would be closing at year’s end. The nurses said the last day for the maternity ward was Sunday.

“We all combined have hundreds of years of experience.” said Donna McGuire of Warren, with 39 years.

She said people were hired at the hospital for the maternity ward and stayed for most of their careers.

“We stayed here because we loved our jobs. Today, we have to leave,” McGuire said.

Crawford said everyone thought of each other as “a work family.”

Pankuch said the nurses always gave the first-time moms a good experience.

“That meant a lot to the moms who gave birth for the first time. We took care of them and their babies,” she said.

Pankuch said she remembers combing and curling the newborn babies’ hair.

“They had a little curl at the top of their head when they were born,” she said.

“We met many great families. We want to thank the Warren community and Trumbull County for letting us be a part of their lives,” said Nancy Marhulik of Niles, with 39 years.

Marhulik said she discharged her last baby at the hospital earlier this week.

Sanders said she helped with the delivery of her own grandchildren when her children had babies.

“We have bathed hundreds and hundreds of babies over the years,” Pankuch said.

The nurses said they loved seeing the happiness of the parents as they watch and record the births of their babies.

The hospital announced earlier this month plans to close the maternity ward. Patients still can access maternity care at Sharon Regional Medical Center, a sister hospital to Trumbull Regional in the Steward Health Care group, which is less than 20 miles from Warren.

The decision to close Trumbull Regional’s maternity ward was based on low demand, said Alexa Polinsky, a hospital spokeswoman. She said Trumbull’s maternity ward covers less than 15 percent of the babies delivered in the region annually.

Polinsky said previously the affected nurses in the maternity ward have the opportunity to take open positions within the hospital.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com