Finding Care in New York
Where to Give Birth in the Bronx: Hospitals with Labor and Delivery Compared
Seven Bronx hospitals reported births to the New York State Department of Health for 2023. Montefiore is the borough's Regional Perinatal Center for the most complex cases, while North Central Bronx and Jacobi, both public NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, stand out for midwife-led births. You'll usually deliver wherever your OB/GYN or midwife has privileges, so choose the provider and the hospital together.
Most people pick a hospital based on what's closest, where a sister or friend delivered, or what their OB happens to use. Those are all fair reasons. This page adds the numbers that New York hospitals have to report, so you can ask better questions.
Bronx hospitals with labor and delivery (2023 data)
| Hospital | Area | Births | Cesarean rate | VBAC rate* | Midwife-attended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montefiore – Jack D. Weiler Hospital | Morris Park / Van Nest | 3,257 | 39% | 23% | under 1% |
| Jacobi Medical Center (NYC H+H) | Pelham Parkway / Morris Park | 1,799 | 40% | 15% | 57% |
| Lincoln Medical Center (NYC H+H) | Mott Haven (South Bronx) | 1,479 | 32% | 17% | under 1% |
| BronxCare Hospital Center | Concourse | 1,383 | 41% | 11% | 5% |
| Montefiore Wakefield Hospital | Wakefield | 990 | 25% | 35% | 30% |
| North Central Bronx Hospital (NYC H+H) | Norwood | 981 | 30% | 15% | 64% |
| SBH Health System (St. Barnabas) | Belmont / East Tremont | 609 | 28% | 27% | 14% |
*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%.
Services change. North Central Bronx's labor unit, for example, closed in 2013 and reopened in 2014. Call the labor and delivery unit to confirm current services and that the hospital takes your insurance before you plan around it.
How to read the numbers
Midwife-attended births. North Central Bronx and Jacobi have some of the highest midwife-attended rates in New York City. If you want a midwife-led hospital birth, with an OB/GYN and an operating room close by, start there.
Cesarean rates. Montefiore Wakefield and SBH reported rates well below the statewide average. Hospitals that take high-risk transfers, like Montefiore's Weiler campus and Jacobi, may have higher rates partly for that reason. A more useful question is the primary (first-time) cesarean rate for low-risk patients.
VBAC. If you've had a cesarean before, Montefiore Wakefield, SBH and Montefiore Weiler reported the highest VBAC rates in 2023. Wakefield's 35% was more than double the statewide rate. See VBAC.
ACOG encourages approaches that avoid unnecessary intervention in labor for low-risk patients, which is part of what midwifery-led units focus on. Ask any hospital how they approach it.
If your pregnancy is high risk
Montefiore Medical Center is listed in the NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program, which provides the highest level of maternal and newborn care in its region. If you have a condition like preeclampsia, diabetes, twins or a baby expected to need intensive care, your provider may refer you to maternal-fetal medicine in the Bronx and recommend where to deliver. Read delivering at a Regional Perinatal Center in NY.
Midwives in the Bronx
The Bronx has a long tradition of hospital midwifery; North Central Bronx's midwifery service dates back to the 1970s. Browse Bronx certified nurse midwives. Advocates have worked for years to open a freestanding birth center in the Bronx, so check current status before assuming one is available. Read birth center vs hospital vs home birth in New York.
Coverage and cost
Many Bronx residents have Medicaid managed care. Ask every office and hospital whether they take your specific plan, not just "Medicaid." NYC Health + Hospitals serves patients regardless of insurance or immigration status and helps uninsured pregnant patients apply for Medicaid, which covers pregnancy for household income up to 223% of the federal poverty level. See OB/GYNs that take Medicaid in NYC.
Language access
Spanish is widely spoken in Bronx hospitals, and all New York hospitals must offer free interpreters, including in the middle of the night on labor and delivery. Ask for one at registration. See Spanish-speaking OB/GYN in New York, and Bengali-speaking OB/GYN in NYC for Parkchester and nearby neighborhoods.
Questions to ask on a tour (or a phone call)
Many hospitals offer in-person or virtual tours. Ask:
- Will a midwife or an OB/GYN attend my birth?
- What level is your NICU, and where would my baby go if they needed more?
- Do you offer TOLAC/VBAC?
- Can I move around, use a birth ball or eat lightly in labor?
- Are doulas welcome? (New York Medicaid covers doula services; see doula Medicaid coverage in NY.)
- How many support people can I have?
- What lactation and postpartum support do you offer?
Finding a provider who delivers where you want
Work backward: pick two or three hospitals you'd be happy with, then call Bronx OB/GYNs and ask each office which hospital they deliver at. If you live near one of the H+H hospitals, their own clinics are a direct route in. For more, read finding an OB/GYN in the Bronx.
Getting there in labor
- Time the trip from home at rush hour and at 2 a.m.; the Cross Bronx and the Bruckner can turn a 10-minute drive into 40.
- Save the labor and delivery triage number in your phone.
- If you rely on the subway or bus, plan a car service or taxi for active labor, and have a backup if the first ride falls through.
- If you live near the Westchester line, some families also consider hospitals just north of the border. Confirm insurance first.
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. The closest hospital can stabilize you and arrange a transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How many Bronx hospitals deliver babies?
Seven Bronx hospitals reported births to the NYS Department of Health for 2023, from about 600 at SBH Health System to about 3,300 at Montefiore's Weiler Hospital. Confirm current services before you plan.
Which Bronx hospitals are known for midwifery care?
In 2023 NYS DOH data, licensed midwives attended about 64% of births at North Central Bronx and 57% at Jacobi, both NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, and about 30% at Montefiore Wakefield.
Is there a Regional Perinatal Center in the Bronx?
Yes. Montefiore Medical Center is listed in the NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program, which provides the highest level of maternal and newborn care in its region.
Which Bronx hospital had the highest VBAC rate?
Montefiore Wakefield reported that about 35% of people with a prior cesarean had a vaginal birth in 2023, more than double the statewide rate of about 14%.
Are Bronx public hospitals free?
NYC Health + Hospitals serves patients regardless of insurance or immigration status and helps uninsured pregnant patients apply for Medicaid, which covers pregnancy for household income up to 223% of the federal poverty level.
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)
- NYC Health + Hospitals — North Central Bronx midwifery unit
- New York Public Health Law — Maternity Information Law
- ACOG — Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth (Committee Opinion 766)
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.