Finding Care in New York
Where to Give Birth in Brooklyn: Hospitals with Labor and Delivery Compared
Ten Brooklyn hospitals reported births to the New York State Department of Health for 2023. Maimonides Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist and NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn were the busiest, and Maimonides and SUNY Downstate (University Hospital of Brooklyn) are part of the state's Regional Perinatal Center program for the most complex cases. In practice, you'll deliver where your OB/GYN or midwife has privileges, so choose the hospital and the provider together.
Most people start this search by asking friends, and Brooklyn group chats have strong opinions. Those stories are worth hearing. The numbers below are worth having too, because they tell you things a single birth story can't.
Brooklyn hospitals with labor and delivery (2023 data)
| Hospital | Neighborhood | Births | Cesarean rate | VBAC rate* | Midwife-attended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maimonides Medical Center | Borough Park | 5,716 | 24% | 21% | 23% |
| NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist | Park Slope | 4,198 | 27% | 18% | 23% |
| NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn | Sunset Park | 4,132 | 26% | 26% | 4% |
| South Brooklyn Health (NYC H+H) | Coney Island | 1,424 | 31% | 12% | 20% |
| Kings County Hospital (NYC H+H) | East Flatbush | 1,409 | 30% | 23% | 4% |
| Woodhull (NYC H+H) | Bushwick / Bedford-Stuyvesant | 1,339 | 27% | 31% | 69% |
| The Brooklyn Hospital Center | Fort Greene | 1,285 | 45% | 7% | under 1% |
| Wyckoff Heights Medical Center | Bushwick | 873 | 40% | 7% | 1% |
| University Hospital of Brooklyn (SUNY Downstate) | East Flatbush | 678 | 38% | 19% | 0% |
| Brookdale Hospital Medical Center | East Flatbush / Brownsville | 642 | 32% | 28% | 45% |
*VBAC rate = share of people with a prior cesarean who had a vaginal birth. Source: NYS DOH Hospital Maternity Information, 2023. For comparison, New York State's overall cesarean rate was about 35%.
Hospital services change. Before you plan around a hospital, call its labor and delivery unit to confirm it's still delivering babies and that it takes your insurance.
How to read the table
- Births tell you the size of the unit. Bigger units usually have more specialists in-house around the clock; smaller ones can feel more personal and less hectic.
- Cesarean rates partly reflect who a hospital serves. Hospitals that take high-risk transfers often run higher. The primary cesarean rate (first-time cesareans) is a fairer comparison; ask the hospital for it.
- VBAC rates matter if you've had a cesarean and want to try labor this time. The hospital has to offer trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). See VBAC.
- Midwife-attended births show how much care is midwife-led. Woodhull, Brookdale, Maimonides and Brooklyn Methodist stand out.
New York's Maternity Information Law requires hospitals to give prospective patients a leaflet with these kinds of statistics. Ask for it on a tour; the staff will know what you mean.
Which one fits you? A quick guide
You have a high-risk pregnancy (twins, diabetes, high blood pressure, a known condition in the baby). Your provider may steer you to a hospital with a higher-level NICU and an in-house maternal-fetal medicine team. In Brooklyn, the state's Regional Perinatal Center program includes Maimonides and SUNY Downstate. Read Regional Perinatal Centers in New York.
You want a midwife-led hospital birth. Look at the hospitals with high midwife-attended rates and ask about their midwifery service, or browse Brooklyn midwives. Brooklyn has one of the largest midwife communities in our directory.
You want a VBAC. Ask each hospital directly whether it offers TOLAC, and look at the VBAC column. Then make sure your provider supports it too.
You're thinking about a birth center. Freestanding birth centers in New York are few and their status changes, so call ahead and ask whether a center is licensed by the state. Read birth center vs hospital vs home birth in New York.
You're uninsured or on Medicaid. The three NYC Health + Hospitals sites (South Brooklyn Health, Kings County, Woodhull) serve patients regardless of ability to pay or immigration status and can help you apply for coverage.
Questions to ask on a hospital tour
- Is labor and delivery staffed by in-house obstetricians and anesthesiologists 24/7?
- What level is the NICU?
- Do you offer TOLAC/VBAC?
- Can I move around, eat lightly, use a birth ball or a tub in labor?
- How many support people can stay, and can a doula come?
- Are interpreters available on the labor floor? (Brooklyn units serve families who speak Spanish, Russian, Yiddish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Arabic and more.)
- What lactation support is available?
Choosing a provider who delivers there
Once you've narrowed it to one or two hospitals, find a provider with privileges there. Browse Brooklyn OB/GYNs, filter by neighborhood such as Park Slope, Williamsburg or Borough Park, and ask each office, "Which hospital do you deliver at?" For more, see finding an OB/GYN in Brooklyn.
When to decide
There's no deadline, but earlier is easier. Most people settle on a provider (and so a hospital) by the end of the first trimester. Switching later is possible, even in the third trimester, but new-patient slots get harder to find and your records have to follow you. If you're unsure, book your first prenatal visit with a practice that delivers at a hospital you can live with, then take tours or virtual tours in the second trimester while there's still time to change.
If insurance is the deciding factor, check two things separately: that the provider is in network, and that the hospital is. With a Medicaid managed care plan, ask about both by plan name. Our guide to finding an OB/GYN that takes Medicaid in NYC walks through the exact questions.
Getting there in labor
Brooklyn is big, and a 15-minute drive at 2 a.m. can be 50 minutes at 5 p.m. on the BQE. Before your due date:
- Time the trip from home at rush hour and late at night.
- Save the labor and delivery triage number in your phone.
- Know which entrance to use after hours (often not the main lobby).
- Have a backup ride in case yours falls through.
The subway in active labor isn't a plan most people enjoy. If you live in southern or eastern Brooklyn and plan to deliver far from home, ask your provider when to leave in early labor.
When to call your provider
Call your provider or go to labor and delivery for regular contractions, leaking fluid, bleeding, or fewer baby movements. Go to the nearest hospital, not necessarily your planned one, for heavy bleeding, a severe headache with vision changes, chest pain, trouble breathing, or a seizure. Any Brooklyn hospital with an emergency department can stabilize you and transfer you if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How many hospitals in Brooklyn deliver babies?
Ten Brooklyn hospitals reported births to the NYS Department of Health for 2023, ranging from about 640 births at Brookdale to about 5,700 at Maimonides Medical Center. Confirm that a hospital still offers labor and delivery before you plan around it.
Which Brooklyn hospitals are Regional Perinatal Centers?
The NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program lists Maimonides Medical Center and SUNY Downstate (University Hospital of Brooklyn) in Brooklyn. These centers provide the highest level of maternal and newborn care in their region.
Which Brooklyn hospitals have the most midwife-attended births?
In 2023 NYS DOH data, licensed midwives attended about 69% of births at Woodhull, 45% at Brookdale, 23% at Maimonides, 23% at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist and 20% at South Brooklyn Health.
What is a good cesarean rate for a hospital?
There's no single right number, because hospitals that care for more high-risk patients often have higher rates. Comparing the primary (first-time) cesarean rate and asking your provider about their own approach is more useful. New York's statewide cesarean rate was about 35% in 2023.
Can I choose any Brooklyn hospital to give birth?
You usually deliver where your OB/GYN or midwife has privileges, and the hospital must be in your insurance network. If you want a particular hospital, choose a provider who delivers there.
Sources
- NY State Department of Health — Hospital Maternity Information, 2023 (health.data.ny.gov)
- NY State Department of Health — Regional Perinatal Centers contract list (CRER 20513)
- NY State Department of Health — Perinatal Regionalization
- New York Public Health Law — Maternity Information Law (hospital maternity leaflets)
- ACOG — Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery (Obstetric Care Consensus No. 1)
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.