U.S. News & World Report Ranks Best Hospitals In Virginia To Have A Baby

VIRGINIA — For parents-to-be, bringing a little one into the world can be stressful. Knowing you will give birth at one of the best hospitals in Virginia can make all the difference when it comes to easing a parent’s fears.

That’s why U.S. News & World Report this month released its inaugural list of Best Hospitals For Maternity. The list recognizes 237 hospitals across the United States that are high-performing when it comes to maternity care.

Eight Virginia hospitals made the 2021 list. Among them were Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax and Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge.

Other Virginia hospitals that are considered high-performing are:

• Sentara RMH Medical Center, Harrisonburg
• VCU Medical Center, Richmond
• VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, South Hill
• Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke
• Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Williamsburg
• Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville

To determine the Best Hospitals for Maternity, U.S. News evaluated 2019 data submitted by hospitals relating only to uncomplicated pregnancies. Data on high-risk pregnancies was not considered.

U.S. News looked at five different factors: scheduled early deliveries, C-section rates in low-risk women, newborn complications, rate of exclusive breast milk feeding, and option for vaginal births after a C-section.

U.S. News analyzed data from a total of 2,700 hospitals. Hospitals that performed well had fewer newborn complications, fewer early deliveries and fewer C-sections compared with other hospitals across the nation.

More on the methodology is available on U.S. News’ website.

The full list of 2021 Best Hospitals for Maternity is also available online.