Overlook Medical Center In Summit Among Best To Have A Baby

SUMMIT, NJ — 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 New Jersey can make all the difference when it comes to easing a parent’s fears.

That’s why U.S. News & World Report this week 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.

Fifteen hospitals made the 2021 list, including Overlook Medical Center in Summit.

The hospital's ranking said it never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended and that newborn complications are very rare. At Overlook, 55.7 percent of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay — feeding breast milk boosts an infant's immune system and brain development and may protect against allergies, asthma, obesity, and other conditions, according to the report.

Other hospitals that are considered high-performing are:

• Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
• Inspira Medical Center-Elmer
• Englewood Hospital
• Morristown Medical Center
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center
• Newton Medical Center-New Jersey
• Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center
• Ocean Medical Center
• Chilton Medical Center
• Riverview Medical Center
• Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township
• Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital
• Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center

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.