Overview
- A record 901 hospitals voluntarily submitted labor-and-delivery data for evaluation in the 2026 edition.
- U.S. News recognized 405 facilities as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and designated 147 as Maternity Care Access Hospitals that help prevent local care deserts.
- The Access designation applies geographic thresholds and minimum quality standards to single out essential providers in underserved areas.
- New York City leads metropolitan areas with 39 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, followed by Los Angeles with 22 and Chicago with 21.
- For 2026, hospitals submitted 2024 data, and evaluations focused on measurable outcomes, including C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complications, VBAC rates, breastfeeding support, episiotomy rates, birthing-friendly practices, and reporting of outcome disparities.