How to Choose Your Maternity Hospital That Supports Your Birth Plan

Co-written by Deja Ramos, a Certified Doula (DONA), ICCE, and Co-Founder of The Birth Companions and Anna Morales, Co-founder of Mila Support

Why does it matter?

Your hospital choice impacts your birth experience, the interventions you may receive, and your overall comfort. Factors like standard hospital policies and procedures, commitment (or lack thereof) to lowering c-section rates for low-risk pregnancies, midwifery options, and NICU quality should factor into your decision.

Key Factors to Consider

📍 Location & Distance – Consider travel time.

💰 Insurance – Check if the hospital is in-network.

👶 NICU Quality – Especially important for high-risk pregnancies.

👩‍⚕️ Midwifery vs. OB Care – Midwifery for low-risk pregnancies,

OBs for higher-risk or preference. Midwives may spend

more time with you during appointments.

⚖️ Birth Philosophy – Choose a hospital that supports your vision of an

empowering birth whether that’s unmedicated, medicated, or laboring

in a shower or tub. Look for care teams that prioritize patient-centered

care, informed consent, and collaborative decision making.

📊 How to Research – hospital reviews (Reddit, Leapfrog Reviews, Irth, local

doulas, friends) and learning about hospital policies and initiatives.

How to pick the right hospital for you?

✔️ Choosing your hospital is just as important as choosing your doctor. While your OB or midwife may not be the one delivering your baby, your relationship with them—and the quality of care they provide—can have a lasting impact on your birth experience.

✔️ Shop Around: Schedule a first appointment or hospital tour to see if you feel comfortable. And research hospital statistics on Leapfrog Ratings.

Questions to Ask on a Hospital Tour

• Do Midwives attend birth here?

• Are doulas welcomed and supported?

• Do they support unmedicated births?

• Are there showers and tubs available for labor?

• Are there private delivery and postpartum rooms available?

• What are standard policies around freedom of movement, eating and drinking during labor, number of support people, and support delivering in the tub?

• What are policies for newborns such as immediate skin-to-skin or rooming-in?

• What kinds of postpartum support do they offer (lactation consultation, physical therapy)?

• What is the c-section rate? How many are low-risk or first time mothers?

Note: general c-section rates can be misleading because they’re influenced by factors like high-risk pregnancies, maternal age, hospital policies, provider practices, and labor support. Consider the full context behind the numbers when reviewing them. The gold-standard comparison across hospitals is primary c-sections in first-time mothers.