This year’s survey also recognized more than 100 hospitals that are preventing obstetric deserts.
washington, December 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the world’s leading authority on hospital rankings and consumer advice, today announced its 2025 rating of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Only half of the hospitals evaluated in the 2025 edition were named best for obstetric care.
U.S. News began its Maternity Hospital Ratings in 2021, evaluating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submitting detailed data to the publication for analysis. In the 2025 edition, a record 817 hospitals submitted obstetric data for evaluation. These public assessments help expectant parents, in consultation with their doctors, make informed decisions about where to receive obstetric care for an uncomplicated birth.
“With a record number of hospitals rated, U.S. News’ 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care rating represents the most comprehensive resource for expectant parents ever.” Ta. jennifer winstonPhD, Health Data Scientist at US News. “These high-performing hospitals provide exceptional care to expectant parents, have significantly lower C-section rates, and lower rates of severe neonatal neonatal births compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News. It has been proven that there are no undesirable complications.
Hospitals rated “Best” for obstetric care by US News:
47% more likely to be designated as ‘baby friendly’ by Baby Friendly united states of americashows that hospitals are taking important steps to support breastfeeding.
22% lower C-section rate compared to maternity hospitals not recognized by US News.
44% lower rate of serious unexpected neonatal complications compared to maternity hospitals not recognized by US News.
33% lower episiotomy rate than maternity hospitals not recognized by US News.
12% higher breastfeeding rate compared to maternity hospitals not recognized by US News.
13% more likely to report race/ethnicity data for both cesarean sections and severe unexpected neonatal complications compared to maternity hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
The 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care also recognizes hospitals serving underserved communities. The Maternity Care Access Hospital designation, introduced last year, was awarded to 118 hospitals in the 2025 assessment. These critical hospitals serve communities that are at risk of becoming obstetric deserts if they cease providing critical obstetric services. Fourteen percent of all hospitals rated by U.S. News are designated as maternity care access hospitals. 75 hospitals are recognized as both Maternity Care Access Hospitals and Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
story continues
