Giving Birth In The US: The Best And Worst States To Have A Baby

Does it really matter if you gave birth to your child in Vermont or West Virginia? Well, according to a survey by AI-driven financial advisor WalletHub, it actually does. And, to quite a significant degree! WalletHub’s recent study to determine which states are the best and worst for childbirth in the US led to some rather impressive results. More on that below.

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How did they rank the states?

The survey studied three broad categories: budget, baby-friendly maternity care, and healthcare facilities. Other ranking factors like infant death rate, the rate of preterm births, air pollution, and the presence of childcare centers.

The ranking is an average that has been calculated based on various factors. So, a low ranking may not be a true picture of the state being conducive to raising kids, and a high ranking doesn’t guarantee a positive experience.

Here’s how they line up.

Best States To Have A Baby

3) Oregon:

Oregon isn’t high on the budget rankings, but it does rank 2nd in healthcare, which means that the state has a low infant mortality and preterm birth rate than many other states. It is why Oregon is among the top three states to have a baby in the US.

2) North Dakota:

North Dakota isn’t as good as Oregon in terms of healthcare, but it ranks higher on the budget, and the baby-friendly categories, which indicates that North Dakota is less polluted than most other US states.

1) Vermont:

For the second year straight, Vermont is the best state in the US to deliver a baby. Vermont ranks 1st on the healthcare ranking, 5th in the baby friendly category, and 15th on the budget rankings, making it the ideal destination to deliver and raise kids.

Worst States To Have A Baby

The rankings are average ratings based on many factors that we discussed below. Rest assured that there will be adequate medical aid and infrastructure available in most US states. But, as this is a ranking survey, here are the three worst states in the US to have a baby.

3) West Virginia:

West Virginia may be at a respectable 13th rank in budget, but it has the highest infant mortality rate in the country with almost 1 out 2 infants dying during childbirth. Also, the state ranks miserably low on the baby-friendly ranking, coming in at 50th.

2) Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania has the lowest number of pediatricians per capita in the US. Pennsylvania is the worst state in the baby-friendly ranking, characterized by a lack of postpartum support and adequate healthcare facilities for babies.

1) Mississippi:

Mississippi is officially the worst state to have a baby. It ranked 51st on the healthcare category, which means it has a high rate of preterm birth and infant mortality. Other factors like a lack of infrastructure have also led to lowest ranking for Mississippi.

So, there you have it; our collection of the best and worst states in the US to have a baby. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the section below.

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