The Best Maternity Care in Philadelphia
Where you decide to welcome your newborn is an important decision. Choose the best maternity care in Philadelphia with this guide
Philadelphia offers a diverse range of maternity care options when you’re having a baby in Philly. Choose among historic hospitals or modern medical centers. As a major medical hub, Philadelphia hospitals often offer the highest levels of care available, including specialized services for high-risk pregnancies and advanced NICU capabilities.
This maternity guide covers major hospitals providing maternity services throughout Philadelphia. Don’t forget to get a plan in place with these Philly maternity and new parent support groups.
- What should a pregnant person consider when choosing maternity care in Philadelphia?
- What Are Hospital Quality Indicators?
- Philadelphia Maternity Options
- Explore More Maternity Care Options with our Sister Brands
- What Are Good Questions to Ask During a Philly Maternity Tour?
- What Are the Different NICU Levels?
- Additional Resources for Philly’s Expecting Parents
What should a pregnant person consider when choosing maternity care in Philadelphia?
1.Location: Philly traffic has a reputation. How long will it take to get from home to hospital? Try timed runs to figure out if a particular location is not worth the hassle.
2. Cost: What insurance does the hospital or birthing center accept? Some hospitals offer payment plans. Compare costs between hospitals to determine who best fits your budget.
3. High-risk birth: What happens if an easy pregnancy becomes not so easy? What facilities does a birthing center or hospital have to offer in case of a premature birth?
4. Visitors: Understand the hospital or birthing center visitor policy as you figure out maternity care in Philadelphia. How many people can be part of the birthing process?
Hospitals typically provide the full range of pain management options and medical interventions, while birth centers often focus on natural birthing practices. Consider the practical aspects, such as room types (private vs. shared), costs, and visitor policies when deciding on the right maternity care in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia’s urban environment, don’t forget to investigate parking availability and costs, as these can significantly impact your experience, especially when family members plan to visit. Make the most of your visits. Browse Philly’s shopping destinations for affordable baby gear, too.
What Are Hospital Quality Indicators?
- Baby-Friendly Designation (🌟): Baby-Friendly hospitals are formally designated by Baby-Friendly USA (BFUSA) for implementing evidence-based maternity practices that support breastfeeding and optimal infant feeding. The Baby-Friendly designation is generally valid for five years, provided the hospital maintains compliance with BFUSA’s current standards.
- U.S. News High Performing (⭐): Top-tier rating for uncomplicated pregnancy care, based on factors like breast milk feeding rates and newborn complication rates
Philadelphia Maternity Options
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP)
3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia | 215-662-4000
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) is an academic medical center providing comprehensive, personalized maternity care. Its Labor and Delivery Unit includes 13 spacious labor and delivery suites with the latest technology, such as central fetal monitoring and electronic medical records. Three operating rooms support cesarean deliveries. A multidisciplinary team of attending physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, residents, and nursing staff provides round-the-clock care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and post-delivery, supporting each family’s individual birth plan.
HUP also offers natural birth support, including aromatherapy and other drug-free pain management methods. Birthing balls and squatting bars are available, along with nurses trained in Lamaze International natural childbirth methods. Certified doulas are welcomed onto the support team.
- 🌟 Baby-Friendly designated (since 11/2015)
Key Features of HUP include:
- Level IV NICU (highest level available) with dedicated maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Private labor, delivery, and recovery rooms
- Midwifery services available
- Comprehensive breastfeeding support
Pennsylvania Hospital
800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia | 215-829-3000
Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751, is America’s first hospital and part of Penn Medicine. It delivers nearly 5,000 babies each year, more than any other hospital in Philadelphia. The hospital offers Philadelphia’s first all-private-room maternity suites across its Well Mother & Baby Unit. Its Labor & Delivery unit also features private rooms, including birthing suites for natural, low-intervention childbirth. Pennsylvania Hospital is the area’s only medical center offering 24/7 midwifery services, supporting holistic, natural labor. The hospital cares for both routine and high-risk pregnancies. Pennsylvania Hospital has extensive childbirth and parenting classes, available virtually and in person.
- 🌟 Baby-Friendly designated (since 11/2015)
Key Features of Pennsylvania Hospital include:
- Level III NICU
- Strong midwifery program
- Water birth options
- Extensive breastfeeding support
Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital
5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia | 215-456-7890
Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital is a non-profit teaching hospital located in North Philadelphia. It is the largest independent teaching hospital in the Philadelphia region. The hospital delivers a relatively high number of births each year. It employs 74 OB/GYNs and 81 pediatricians to support new families. The hospital employs a team of obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and doulas. They offer lactation consultants both in-hospital and after discharge. Perinatal and postpartum depression screening and support services are available. Take a virtual tour.
- ⭐ U.S. News High Performing in Maternity Care (2026)
- 🌟 Baby-Friendly designated (since 08/2018)
Key Features of Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital include:
- Level III NICU
- Family-centered care approach
- Strong commitment to diverse communities
- Comprehensive maternity services
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia | 215-955-6000
Founded in 1825 and located in Center City Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Pennsylvania. The hospital employs a large staff of OB/GYNs and pediatricians to support expectant families. Labor and delivery suites feature modern amenities and 24/7 clinical support. Mothers can choose epidurals, natural childbirth techniques, or other pain management options. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists collaborate on advanced diagnostics and high-risk pregnancy care.
After birth, lactation consultants assist mothers with breastfeeding and newborn care. A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides specialized care for premature or critically ill infants. Take a virtual tour.
- ⭐ U.S. News High Performing in Maternity Care (2026)
- 🌟 Baby-Friendly Designated (since 08/2016)
Key features of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital include:
- Level III NICU
- Advanced maternal care
- High-risk pregnancy management
- Urban location with good accessibility
Temple Women & Families Hospital
1331 E. Wyoming Avenue, Philadelphia | 800-TEMPLE-MED
Temple Women & Families Hospital provides 24/7 delivery and maternity care from doctors and nurses. The team personalizes each labor management plan for comfort and safety. Obstetric anesthesiologists are present for labor and delivery to manage pain. Patients can choose natural childbirth, IV pain medication, or an epidural. Temple also offers a dural puncture epidural, a faster-acting technique. After birth, healthy babies are placed skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest. This practice supports bonding, breastfeeding, and better health outcomes for both.
Patients recover in home-like rooms within the Mother-Baby Unit. The same nurse cares for both mother and baby together. Temple encourages rooming-in — keeping babies with mothers throughout the hospital stay. As a designated Baby-Friendly hospital, staff are trained to support breastfeeding. Specialists provide education on newborn care, safe sleep, and feeding cues. Before discharge, an obstetrician and pediatrician check both mother and baby. Families receive discharge instructions, essential baby supplies, and safe-sleep education.
- 🌟 Baby-Friendly Designated (since 03/2018)
Key features of Temple Women & Families Hospital include:
- Level III NICU in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility
- Specialized high-risk pregnancy care
- Only hospital in the region dedicated solely to women and families
- Private postpartum rooms
Explore More Maternity Care Options with our Sister Brands
What Are Good Questions to Ask During a Philly Maternity Tour?
- What are current C-section rates?
- What birth positions and pain management options are available?
- What is the visitor or support person policy?
- How do room assignments work?
- What happens in case of complications?
What Are the Different NICU Levels?
- Level I: Basic newborn care
- Level II: Special care nursery for moderately ill infants
- Level III: Complex neonatal care, including most critical cases
- Level IV: Highest level of care for the most complex cases
Additional Resources for Philly’s Expecting Parents
Browse the Philly Family Baby Guide, for parenting resources, advice, and relevant tips.
Note: Statistics and rates should be verified with individual hospitals as they change over time. Remember that raw statistics don’t tell the whole story – factors such as whether a hospital handles more high-risk cases can affect their intervention rates.
