Mothers say they are bearing the brunt of doctor shortages in rural areas, being forced to leave their hometowns to give birth or face limited birthing choices.

A group of women held a small rally outside the Emerald Hospital this week, 270 kilometres west of Rockhampton, after the closure of a local maternity ward and complaints of bullying at another hospital.

A number of mothers say they felt pressured and harassed into having a caesarean at the Emerald Hospital, or drive hours away to give birth in a major regional hospital.

Mother of two Fiona Bailey said just weeks before her due date, she was told by doctors she could no longer have a natural delivery at the hospital, due to her previous C-section birth.

Chloe Ryder supported her mum at the rally. ( ABC News: Isabella Higgins )

She was told she would need relocate to Rockhampton if she wished to continue with her birthing plan.

Ms Bailey said she had been approved for the natural delivery early into her pregnancy, and felt the doctors belittled her to change her mind.

"I feel I was being bullied into having a caesarean here in Emerald," she said.

"The option to go away just wasn't possible, it was over Christmas time it would've meant spending Christmas Day in a hotel room somewhere away from family, away from my friends just waiting to have a baby."

Biloela's maternity ward shut for weeks amid holiday

Other women in regional areas have been faced with the same prospect, having to travel hours away to be able to give birth.

The Biloela hospital, closed for weeks after a doctor took a holiday. ( ABC News )

In Biloela, another 300km west of Emerald, the local maternity ward shut for weeks when the obstetrician went on holidays.

Women said they were given little notice they would be forced to drive hours to deliver in Rockhampton or Gladstone.

Maternity Consumer Network central Queensland representative Latisha Ryder said it was concerning a replacement doctor had not been found.

A spokesperson for the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service said they were unable to secure a suitably qualified doctor.

"It is extremely difficult to recruit permanent doctors to rural areas right across Australia, especially doctors with obstetric skills."

Rural Doctors' Association president Ewan McPhee said it was extremely important women had suitable birthing facilities in their home town.

He said recruiting in rural areas could be tough, but women should not be made to suffer.

Mother Fiona Bailey and her son Campbell outside the Emerald Hospital. ( ABC News: Isabella Higgins )

"It is a tragedy when these services fall over," Dr McPhee said.

The director of Midwifery for the Emerald Hospital, Sue Foyle, has conducted a review of maternity services, and has identified communication should be improved.

"It's never good for women to feel like that, like they've been bullied and intimidated and I'm really sorry that's how they feel," she said.

She said most mothers in the area would be able to have a successful delivery at the hospital, but about 10 per cent of pregnancies required specialist care that could only be offered at a major hospital.

She said they considered the risk associated with a birth, and gave advice based on the best outcome for mother and baby.