Finding Care in New York
Where to Give Birth in Queens: Hospitals with Labor and Delivery Compared
Eight Queens hospitals reported births to the New York State Department of Health for 2023. Long Island Jewish Medical Center was by far the busiest and is part of the state's Regional Perinatal Center program, while Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Center are the borough's public hospitals. You'll usually give birth where your OB/GYN or midwife has privileges, so you're really choosing the two together.
In Queens, the right answer often comes down to three things: your risk level, your route at rush hour, and whether the staff speaks your language.
Queens hospitals with labor and delivery (2023 data)
| Hospital | Area | Births | Cesarean rate | VBAC rate* | Midwife-attended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island Jewish Medical Center | New Hyde Park (Queens–Nassau border) | 7,288 | 33% | 13% | under 1% |
| Elmhurst Hospital (NYC H+H) | Elmhurst | 2,621 | 30% | 18% | 8% |
| Flushing Hospital Medical Center | Flushing | 2,473 | 37% | 7% | 0% |
| NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens | Flushing | 2,302 | 39% | 5% | under 1% |
| Long Island Jewish Forest Hills | Forest Hills | 1,970 | 35% | 8% | 1% |
| Jamaica Hospital Medical Center | Jamaica | 1,538 | 38% | 18% | under 1% |
| Queens Hospital Center (NYC H+H) | Jamaica | 1,382 | 34% | 15% | under 1% |
| St. John's Episcopal Hospital | Far Rockaway | 425 | 36% | 7% | 0% |
*VBAC rate = share of people with a prior cesarean who had a vaginal birth. Source: NYS DOH Hospital Maternity Information, 2023. Statewide, the cesarean rate was about 35% and the VBAC rate about 14%.
Call a hospital's labor and delivery unit to confirm it's still delivering and in your insurance network before you plan around it.
How to read the numbers without overreading them
- Size. LIJ delivers several times as many babies as any other Queens hospital. Big units often have specialists in-house around the clock, which matters most for higher-risk pregnancies.
- Cesarean rate. A hospital that takes more high-risk patients will have a higher rate, and that's not a mark against it. Ask for the primary (first-time) cesarean rate, which compares more fairly. Elmhurst reported the lowest overall rate in Queens in 2023, about 30%.
- VBAC rate. Queens VBAC rates were mostly below the statewide average in 2023. If you've had a cesarean and want to try labor, ask your provider and the hospital directly whether they support TOLAC, and get a straight answer early. See VBAC.
- Midwives. Midwife-attended births are less common in Queens hospitals than in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx. Elmhurst stands out at about 8%. If midwifery care matters to you, browse Queens midwives and ask where they deliver.
New York's Maternity Information Law requires hospitals to give prospective patients a leaflet with their maternity statistics. Ask for it on a tour; most people never do.
High-risk pregnancy
Long Island Jewish Medical Center is listed in the NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program, which coordinates the highest level of maternal and newborn care in its region. If you're referred to maternal-fetal medicine, ask whether your specialist recommends delivering there or at another higher-level hospital. More in Regional Perinatal Centers in New York.
By neighborhood
- Flushing and northeast Queens: NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens and Flushing Hospital.
- Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona: Elmhurst Hospital.
- Astoria and Long Island City: Elmhurst, or Manhattan hospitals across the river. Compare actual travel times, not just distance.
- Forest Hills, Rego Park and Kew Gardens: LIJ Forest Hills.
- Jamaica and southeast Queens: Jamaica Hospital and Queens Hospital Center.
- The Rockaways: St. John's Episcopal is closest; some families plan for a longer trip to a larger unit, especially for higher-risk pregnancies.
- Eastern Queens: LIJ in New Hyde Park.
Do a test run. Drive or ride your route at the time of day you're most worried about. The Van Wyck, LIE and Grand Central can crawl, so have a backup route and know where the labor and delivery entrance is (it's often not the main entrance). Many people say they wish they'd known that before 2 a.m.
Language access
Queens is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the country. New York hospitals must provide free interpreters, including on the labor floor at night. Ask on your tour how that works in practice: in-person, phone or video. If you'd like a provider who speaks your language, see our guides for Spanish, Chinese and Bengali speakers.
Public hospital options
Elmhurst Hospital and Queens Hospital Center are NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. They serve patients regardless of insurance or immigration status and help uninsured pregnant patients apply for Medicaid, which covers pregnancy for household income up to 223% of the federal poverty level and continues 12 months after the pregnancy ends. Both have prenatal clinics and labor and delivery. See OB/GYNs that take Medicaid in NYC.
Questions to ask on a tour
- Are obstetricians and anesthesiologists in-house 24/7?
- What level is your NICU?
- Do you offer TOLAC/VBAC?
- Are midwives part of the labor team?
- How many support people can stay? Are doulas welcome?
- What interpreter services are available on the labor floor, and at night?
- Which entrance do I use after hours?
Finding a provider who delivers where you want
Browse Queens OB/GYNs and ask each office where they deliver. Confirm the hospital is in your network too: see how to check if an OB/GYN is in-network. More in finding an OB/GYN in Queens.
When to call your provider
Call your provider or labor triage for regular contractions, leaking fluid, bleeding, or fewer baby movements. Go to the nearest emergency department for heavy bleeding, a seizure, chest pain, trouble breathing, or a severe headache with vision changes, even if it isn't the hospital you planned on. The closest hospital can stabilize you and transfer you if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How many hospitals in Queens deliver babies?
Eight Queens hospitals reported births to the NYS Department of Health for 2023, from about 425 at St. John's Episcopal Hospital to about 7,300 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Confirm current services before you plan.
Is there a Regional Perinatal Center in Queens?
Yes. Long Island Jewish Medical Center, on the Queens–Nassau border in New Hyde Park, is listed in the NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program.
Which Queens hospitals are public hospitals?
NYC Health + Hospitals runs Elmhurst Hospital and Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica. Both reported births in 2023 and serve patients regardless of insurance or immigration status.
Which Queens hospital has the lowest cesarean rate?
In 2023 NYS DOH data, Elmhurst Hospital reported a cesarean rate of about 30%, the lowest among Queens hospitals, compared with about 35% statewide. Rates partly reflect each hospital's patient mix.
Can I use a midwife for a hospital birth in Queens?
Yes, though midwife-attended births are less common in Queens hospitals than in some other boroughs. Elmhurst reported about 8% in 2023. Ask hospitals and practices about midwifery care, or browse Queens midwives.
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)
- New York Public Health Law — Maternity Information Law
- 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.