Carol Thames and Chelsey Bates give a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Like mother, like daughter.”
Both were born and raised in Beaufort. Both attended the University of South Carolina where both received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduation, both returned home and went straight to work at Beaufort Memorial. Today, Carol and Chelsey (who’s a mother herself now) live within a mile of one another — and both still love caring for mothers and babies at the Collins Birthing Center.
Their Comfort Zone
Carol, who will celebrate 39 years at Beaufort Memorial in October, knew exactly what she was going to study at USC.
“I’ve always been very maternal,” she says. “At first, I wanted to be a midwife, so I could deliver babies, but nursing called me.”
After her graduation from USC, Carol married her hometown boyfriend, Eddie Thames, and started work at Beaufort Memorial that fall.
“I was supposed to do a year on medical floors, but after nine months, my manager could see where my heart was, and she sent me to labor and delivery,” she says. “I’ve been there ever since, and I’ve loved every minute of it!”
Although she did follow in her mother’s footsteps when it came to attending USC, Chelsey initially had her sights set on studying law.
“I thought I wanted to do something different,” she says. “With Mom working at Beaufort Memorial, I had literally grown up there. I knew everyone. I babysat for her co-workers. Everywhere we went in Beaufort, people knew my mom because she had delivered their babies. I just wanted a career of my own.”
Read More: Ashley and Eric Gearhart: It’s All in the Family
Jumping in Head First
After one semester of pre-law, Chelsey realized that the one thing she knew for sure was that she wanted to be a mother one day, and she wanted to be the kind of mother she’d had.
“Mom worked weekend nights when my brother and sister and I were growing up so she could be with us during the week,” Chelsey says. “Nursing allowed her to do that. She never missed a thing. She was there for us every day, every school activity, every sports event, and that was important to me.”
Carol smiles. “I was lucky to have a great husband. He was a county lineman (and so is their son) and had weekends off, so we were able to both work and be there for the kids. No need for babysitters or daycare. That was important to us both. It was a win-win.”
Chelsey switched her major to health care, and the summer after her first year, she had the opportunity to sub for a unit secretary on maternity leave.
“I got in there and I loved it,” she recalls. “I received a scholarship from Beaufort Memorial with the agreement that I would come back and work there for two years. That was easy! There was no place else I wanted to be.”
Read More: Beaufort Memorial Doctor Reunites With Mom-To-Be He Delivered 28 Years Ago
An Unexpected Pivot
To say Carol was surprised when her daughter switched her major would be an understatement.
“It caught me completely off guard. She had never mentioned it before. But I loved it. I always wanted my children to get a degree that would get them a job. And you can always get a job in nursing. There’s such a need, especially here.”
Yes, Carol’s daughter wanted to be a nurse. And she wanted to work at Beaufort Memorial — but not in labor and delivery, at least not at first.
“I didn’t want to be in my mom’s shadow,” Chelsey says. “I wanted to see everything there was to see, and I wanted to make a name for myself at the hospital rather than just being known as ‘Carol’s daughter.’”
After three and a half years in the emergency room, Chelsey got married and became a mom to Elliot Bates, now 10.
“After Elliot was born, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I knew it was time to go back to where my heart and my mom were. Labor and delivery.”
Read More: Seeing Double? Meet Twin Sisters Who Work Together at Collins Birthing Center
‘That’s What Mothers Do’
Though mother and daughter both work at the birthing center, they try not to work together. Carol works in antepartum and triage and Chelsey works in labor and delivery. Of course, they do cross paths from time to time, and that’s okay with them both.
“As long as I’m not Chelsey’s charge nurse when she’s there, it works out just fine,” Carol says. “She bounces questions and things off me all the time if she needs information and I’m happy to help however and whenever I can. That’s what mothers do.”
Chelsey agrees. “I made a name for myself in the ER as a competent nurse,” she says. “So, it no longer intimidates me to be known as ‘Carol’s daughter.’”
And then she laughs.
“I also grew up a little, and with age and maturity. I appreciate Mom more and look to her for advice when there’s something going on that I’ve not seen before. Now I’m proud to be called ‘Carol’s daughter.’”
Read More: From Sunset to Sunrise, Carrie McClure Keeps Going
Like Mother, Like Daughter
So, how will Carol and Chelsey celebrate Mother’s Day?
Together, of course!” Chelsey laughs. “First, we’ll cook out in Mom and Dad’s backyard on McCalley Creek, the whole family, and then we’ll climb in the boat. That’s what we do pretty much every weekend.”
Carol and her husband have three children: two daughters and a son. The three siblings are not only close, but they also live basically next door to one another and just down the road from their parents.
“We call it ‘The Family Compound,’” Chelsey says. "And we call ourselves ‘The Sister Moms.’ Our six kids play together, carpool together, go to school together.”
Carol chuckles. “And come to see Grammy together.”
When asked if she ever regrets switching her major from pre-law to nursing, Chelsey doesn’t hesitate.
“I came home when I came to Beaufort Memorial,” she says. “It’s my second family. The people I work with truly care. They welcome you. They teach and guide you both in and outside of work. And yes, that includes my mom.”
“I’m very proud of Chelsey and very happy to have her close by both at home and at work,” Carol says.
Like mother, like daughter indeed.
Are you expecting? Register for a tour of the Collins Birthing Center to visit the birthing suites and amenities for the parents-to-be.