NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Kings County, Lincoln, South Brooklyn Health, and Woodhull were named to the list
NYC Health + Hospitals on December 9, 2025, announced that five of its hospitals were recognized by U.S. News & World Report as 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care: NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Kings County, Lincoln, South Brooklyn Health, and Woodhull. U.S. News evaluated 817 hospitals from across the United States, and only half of all hospitals evaluated for its 2026 ratings edition have been recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. The award’s methodology is based 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, vaginal birth after cesarean and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
“Congratulations to NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst, Kings County, Lincoln, South Brooklyn Health, and Woodhull for being named to the list of U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity Care!” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Women’s Health Officer Wendy Wilcox, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOG. “All of our maternal care teams, physicians, nurses, midwives, as well as leadership and support staff, should be very proud of receiving this recognition. This honor shows not only how well our teams collaborate in caring for patients, but also how well our clinicians provide equitable care in the face of complex clinical cases and the needs of behavioral and social determinants of health. This is a very proud moment for NYC Health + Hospitals. Thanks to everyone who brought it to fruition!”
“Choosing where to welcome a new baby is one of the most personal health care decisions a family makes. Expectant parents can use U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care to compare key outcomes and support services at maternity hospitals in their area,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “Whether your priority is a low C-section rate, strong VBAC support or the availability of a dedicated lactation consultant, U.S. News’ digital hospital profiles offer parents free, transparent information as they choose a hospital for their maternity care.”
All five hospitals were recognized for avoiding unnecessary C-sections and achieving above-average rates of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. While C-sections are sometimes necessary, they should be avoided when possible since they can lead to serious complications, including infections, bowel or bladder injury, hysterectomy, rupture of the uterus, and problems with the placenta in future pregnancies.
