Choosing where to give birth is one of the biggest decisions of pregnancy—and in St. Louis, families have no shortage of options. Across the region, hospitals offer different approaches to labor and delivery, from amenities and support services to classes, digital tools, and personalized birth planning with your provider.
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Getting familiar with those differences ahead of time can boost your confidence going in. No two birth experiences are the same, but knowing your options—who can be in the room (yes, doulas are part of your care team), what support is available, and which newborn care choices you’ll make, from vaccinations to circumcision—can make all the difference. Talking through these choices with your provider ensures your preferences are respected when it matters most.
Here’s a side-by-side look at what St. Louis hospitals offer to help local parents compare options:
Note: C-section rates vary based on the population each hospital serves and may be impacted by a hospital’s acceptance of more high-risk referrals. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states: “Nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) cesarean birth rate is a critical measure in obstetric care, focusing on patients experiencing the first birth of a single fetus, at full term, in a cephalic-first presentation. Measurement of NTSV cesarean birth rates, focusing on lower-risk births, provides a standardized way to evaluate cesarean birth rates and compare performance across similar hospitals…”
