the pandemic. cost is also an issue. >> a lot of rural hospitals are getting out of delivering babies. it's just so expensive. you know, and they just get to the point where they have to make a decision on that. >> reporter: jeff barnhard runs the herford regional medical center in the texas panhandle. this is its maternity department, the only one for some 1,600 square miles. how often are you short of labor and delivery nurses? >> recently, we have to go on diversion part of the week. >> reporter: that's when a woman in labor is taken by ambulance to another hospital, about 50 miles away. samuelitz is on alert as her due date gets closer. >> even if i think it's labor, even if it might not be we'll head in that direction. better safe than sorry. >> reporter: after nine months, for some, still a distance to go. janet shamlian, cbs news, herford, texas. >> diaz: still ahead on the "cbs weekend news," a priest finds a new pulpit producing a hit podcast.