These MN Hospitals Are The Best Places To Have A Baby: U.S. News

MINNESOTA — Where to have a baby is one of the most important decisions Minnesota parents make. To help guide them, U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

An all-time high of 817 hospitals providing labor and delivery care were evaluated but only about half were selected, U.S. News said.

In Minnesota, 19 hospitals earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. News & World Report list for post-maternity care. Of these, six hospitals achieved special recognition as "High Performing," a "Maternity Access Hospital," or both:

• Mayo Clinic Health System-Albert Lea and Austin (Albert Lea and Austin) – Maternity Access Hospital
• Allina Health Mercy Hospital-Coon Rapids (Coon Rapids) – Maternity Access Hospital
• Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital (Duluth) – High Performing
• Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital (Grand Rapids) – High Performing and Maternity Access Hospital
• Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato (Mankato) – High Performing
• M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center (Princeton) – High Performing and Maternity Access Hospital

The latter list is in its second year and recognizes 118 hospitals that serve expectant parents who might not otherwise be able to get prenatal and delivery care.

These 10 metropolitan areas, listed in alphabetical order, have the greatest number of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care in the U.S.:

1. Chicago
2. Dallas-Fort Worth
3. Denver
4. Detroit
5. Los Angeles
6. New York
7. Philadelphia
8. Riverside-San Bernardino, California
9. San Francisco
10. Seattle

Jennifer Winston, U.S. News & World Report’s health data scientist, said in a news release the 2025 list is the most comprehensive since the ratings began in 2021.

“These high-performing hospitals showcase exceptional care for expectant parents, demonstrating significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News,” Winston said in a news release.

According to U.S. News, hospitals on the list:

• Are 47 percent more likely to be designated as “Baby-Friendly” by Baby Friendly USA, indicating a hospital has taken important steps to support breastfeeding;
• Have C-section rates 22 percent lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News;
• Have severe unexpected newborn complication rates 44 percent less often compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News;
• Have episiotomy rates 33 percent lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News;
• Have breast milk feeding rates 12 percent higher compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News;
• Are 13 percent more likely to report race/ethnicity data for both C-section and severe unexpected newborn complications compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

The list is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, birthing-friendly practices, and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.