Newsweek: America's Best Maternity Hospitals 2024

The arrival of a healthy baby brings unparalleled joy. It's no wonder that families welcoming their newest members are looking for high-quality health care to ensure a smooth delivery and reliable postpartum care.

Unfortunately, for many U.S. women, access to maternity care is shrinking. In August 2023, mother- and baby-focused nonprofit March of Dimes released data showing that more than 5.6 million women live in counties with no or limited access to maternity care services. The group reported that the loss of hospitals' obstetric units has led to reduced maternity care access in 369 U.S. counties since 2018.

To help expectant parents find the right facility amid diminishing options, Newsweek has partnered with data and business intelligence portal Statista for the third annual ranking of America's Best Maternity Hospitals. The list recognizes the 404 leading maternity hospitals in the U.S.

The ranking is based on a nationwide online survey of hospital managers and medical professionals (regarding areas like perinatal care and operative obstetrics) as well as publicly available data from hospital surveys addressing the patient experience (including topics such as cleanliness and communication about medication).

Data on hospital quality metrics—like the number of elective deliveries and level of personnel vaccination—was provided from several sources, including nonprofit hospital accreditation organization The Joint Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The resulting list illuminates which American hospitals are best equipped to provide some of life's most crucial care.