Finding Care in New York
Where to Give Birth on Staten Island: Comparing Your Two Hospital Options
Staten Island has two hospitals with labor and delivery: Staten Island University Hospital North in Ocean Breeze and Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton. Each delivered about 2,900 babies in 2023, according to the New York State Department of Health, but their cesarean and VBAC rates were very different. Since you'll deliver wherever your OB/GYN has privileges, compare the hospitals before you pick a practice.
That order matters more than most people realize. Many families choose a doctor first, then find out late in pregnancy which hospital comes with them. On an island with two options, it's worth flipping that around.
The two hospitals, side by side (2023 data)
| Staten Island University Hospital North | Richmond University Medical Center | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Ocean Breeze (East Shore) | West Brighton (North Shore) |
| Births | 2,940 | 2,872 |
| Cesarean rate | 22% | 38% |
| Primary (first-time) cesarean rate | 15% | 24% |
| VBAC rate* | 29% | 1% |
| Midwife-attended births | under 1% | 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%, the primary cesarean rate about 24% and the VBAC rate about 14%.
The NYS Department of Health's hospital profiles list Staten Island University Hospital North among Level 3 perinatal centers, which have NICUs and handle more complex pregnancies and newborns. Call each hospital to confirm current services and NICU level, since these can change.
What the numbers suggest
- Cesarean rates. SIUH North's overall and first-time cesarean rates were among the lowest of any large hospital in New York City in 2023. RUMC's were close to the statewide average.
- VBAC. The gap is big. If you've had a cesarean and want to try labor next time, ask each hospital and your OB/GYN about TOLAC policies, including whether an obstetrician and anesthesiologist are in-house around the clock. ACOG supports offering TOLAC to most people with one prior low-transverse cesarean. See VBAC.
- Midwives. Midwife-attended births were rare at both hospitals in 2023. If midwifery care matters to you, ask OB/GYN groups whether midwives see patients for prenatal visits, or look at a Brooklyn or Manhattan hospital with a midwifery service.
Rates reflect each hospital's patients, so treat them as the start of a conversation, not a final ranking. Under New York's Maternity Information Law, hospitals must give prospective patients a maternity information leaflet; ask for it.
Which one is closer to you?
- East and South Shore (Ocean Breeze, Midland Beach, Great Kills, Tottenville): SIUH North is often closer.
- North Shore (St. George, West Brighton, Port Richmond): RUMC is often closer.
- Delivering off-island? Map the Verrazzano or ferry route, think about rush hour, and decide in advance which Staten Island hospital you'd go to if labor moves fast. The ferry runs on a schedule and you can't drive onto it, so it's rarely the right call in active labor.
Do a test drive at the hour you think you'd be heading in, and save the labor and delivery entrance (not just the main lobby) in your map app.
High-risk pregnancy
If your pregnancy is high risk, your OB/GYN may refer you to maternal-fetal medicine. Some Staten Island patients with the most complex pregnancies are advised to deliver at a state-designated Regional Perinatal Center in Brooklyn or Manhattan, such as Maimonides, NYU Langone or Bellevue. See Regional Perinatal Centers in New York.
Insurance
Confirm that both your OB/GYN and the hospital are in your network. MetroPlus and other Medicaid plan members should check which Staten Island hospital their plan contracts with. See how to check if an OB/GYN is in-network.
Questions to ask on a hospital tour
- What level is your NICU, and when would a baby be transferred?
- Do you offer TOLAC/VBAC?
- Are obstetricians and anesthesiologists in-house 24/7?
- Are there midwives or doulas on the labor floor?
- How many support people can stay?
- What lactation and postpartum follow-up do you offer?
- Where do we park, and which entrance do we use at 3 a.m.?
Midwives and doulas on Staten Island
Because hospital midwifery is limited here, some families add a doula for continuous labor support. New York Medicaid covers doula services for pregnant and postpartum members; see doula Medicaid coverage in NY and what does a doula do. Ask each hospital about its doula policy.
You can also browse Staten Island midwives; some work within OB/GYN groups for prenatal care.
A simple plan for choosing
- Decide what matters most: distance from home, NICU level, VBAC access, or a particular provider.
- Pick the hospital that fits, using the table above and a tour.
- Find an OB/GYN or midwife who delivers there and takes your insurance.
- Book early. With only two hospitals and a limited number of practices, popular groups can fill up, so call in the first trimester.
- Revisit at 28 weeks. If your pregnancy has become higher risk, ask whether your plan still makes sense or whether an off-island Regional Perinatal Center is a better fit.
Finding a provider
Browse Staten Island OB/GYNs and ask each office which hospital they deliver at before you book. For more, read finding an OB/GYN in Staten Island.
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. Don't try to cross a bridge in an emergency; the closest hospital can stabilize you and transfer you if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Which hospitals deliver babies on Staten Island?
Two hospitals reported births to the NYS Department of Health for 2023: Staten Island University Hospital North (about 2,900 births) and Richmond University Medical Center (about 2,900 births).
What perinatal level is Staten Island University Hospital?
The NYS Department of Health's hospital profile site lists Staten Island University Hospital North among Level 3 perinatal centers, which have NICUs and care for more complex pregnancies and newborns.
Can I have a VBAC on Staten Island?
In 2023 NYS DOH data, about 29% of people with a prior cesarean had a vaginal birth at Staten Island University Hospital North, compared with about 1% at Richmond University Medical Center. If VBAC matters to you, ask both hospitals about their current TOLAC policy.
Do Staten Island residents ever deliver in Brooklyn or Manhattan?
Some do, for example if they need a Regional Perinatal Center for a high-risk pregnancy or want a specific provider. Plan the route carefully, because bridge and ferry travel can be slow in labor.
Is there a public hospital on Staten Island?
NYC Health + Hospitals doesn't operate an acute-care hospital with labor and delivery on Staten Island. Medicaid and MetroPlus members can deliver at contracted Staten Island hospitals; check your plan.
Sources
- NY State Department of Health — Hospital Maternity Information, 2023 (health.data.ny.gov)
- NY State Department of Health — Hospital Profiles, Designated Centers: Level 3 Perinatal Center
- NY State Department of Health — Hospital Profiles, Designated Centers: Regional Perinatal Center
- New York Public Health Law — Maternity Information Law
- ACOG — Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery (Practice Bulletin 205)
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.