Lake Forest Hospital Named To 'Best Hospitals For Maternity' List

LAKE FOREST, IL — Fewer complications for newborns, fewer Cesarean sections and fewer scheduled early deliveries than other hospitals has landed Lake Forest Hospital onto the first-ever Best Hospitals for Maternity list from U.S. News and World Report.

Lake Forest Hospital is one of 237 hospitals nationwide to make the 2021-22 list, which is based on 2019 data that was self-reported last year by officials from 571 hospitals, out of 2,700 across the country that offer maternity services.

Only data from uncomplicated pregnancies is considered in compiling U.S. News' inaugural list of high-performing hospitals for general maternity care, which looked at five factors: the rate of cesarean delivery, or C-sections, in low-risk women; scheduled early deliveries, newborn complications, rate of exclusive breastmilk feeding and the option for vaginal births after cesarean.

“It was an honor to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity,” said Melissa Kelley, the hospital's director of nursing and maternity services. “We are proud to offer a variety of support services for patients from the beginning of their pregnancy journey, and strive to deliver the highest level of care for our patients and newborns in a comfortable and convenient setting during this important time in their lives.”

According to the U.S. News profile, the average rate for newborn complications overall was 3.4 percent, while at Lake Forest Hospital 2.1 to 2.7 percent of lower-risk births involved complications.

Less than 23.9 percent of first-time, low-risk pregnancies at full term were delivered by Cesarean Section at the hospital, which classified it as "excellent" at minimizing avoidable C-sections.

The rate of babies fed exclusively breastmilk — which "boosts an infant's immune system and brain development and may protect against allergies, asthma, obesity, and other conditions" — at the hospital was 47.5 percent, which is below a Midwest average of 53.4 percent and a national average of 51 percent, according to U.S. News.

There are 15 hospitals in Illinois to make the list of high-performing hospitals for maternity care in uncomplicated pregnancies, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which U.S. News ranks as No. 1 in Illinois and No. 12 in the nation overall.

According to U.S. News' rankings, Illinois hospitals that are not among those considered high-performing in maternity care include University of Illinois Hospital, Silver Cross Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine-McHenry, Huntley, Woodstock Hospitals, Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Rush University Medical Center — even as it was ranked as the No. 2 hospital in the state.