How to Choose a Hospital for Your Birth

The Most Important Decision You’ll Make Before Baby Arrives

Where you give birth matters — not just for your comfort, but for your safety and your baby’s. Hospital C-section rates vary from under 10% to over 60%. NICU availability ranges from basic nursery care to full Level IV neonatal intensive care. Some hospitals support VBAC; others ban it entirely.

Step 1: Check the CMS Birthing-Friendly Designation

This is the fastest quality filter available. Hospitals with this federal designation participate in national safety programs and have implemented evidence-based protocols to prevent maternal harm. Learn more about what the designation means →

Search Birthing-Friendly hospitals near you →

Step 2: Ask for the NTSV C-Section Rate

The NTSV rate (Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex) is the gold-standard measure of unnecessary C-sections. It measures C-section rates for first-time mothers with a single, full-term, head-down baby — the lowest-risk group.

• National average: ~26%
• WHO recommends: 10-15%
• High-quality hospitals: 10-20%
• Red flag: above 35% for low-risk patients

Step 3: Understand the NICU Level

• Level I: Healthy full-term newborns only
• Level II: Moderately premature (32+ weeks) or ill newborns
• Level III: Very premature infants (28+ weeks), complex conditions
• Level IV: Most complex surgical cases, smallest and sickest infants

Step 4: Verify 24/7 Coverage

Ask whether the hospital has an OB physician in the hospital 24/7 (not just on-call), an anesthesiologist in the building overnight, and a neonatologist available if needed. The difference between “on-call” and “in-house” can be 20-30 minutes in an emergency.

Step 5: Consider Your Birth Preferences

• Do you want a water birth or birthing tub? Not all hospitals have them.
• Do you want a doula? Some hospitals restrict who can be in the room.
• Are you hoping to avoid an epidural? Ask about their natural birth support.
• Do you have a previous C-section and want a VBAC? Confirm the hospital supports it.