samedi 21 janvier 2017

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The 10 Worst States to Have a Baby

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Pregnant women have plenty to be concerned about these days, and although many factors are within our control – eating nutrient-rich foods, drinking plenty of water, and forgoing that third cup of coffee – there are some issues, like genetics or the global Zika epidemic, that are a bit harder to do much about. So, where does the state in which you plan to give birth fall on your priority list?

Following an in-depth study by leading personal finance site WalletHub, you'll want to read on to see if where you plan to give birth is problematic enough to consider crossing state lines.

This year, Vermont leads the US, while Mississippi bottomed out the list, but what to do if you're in one of the 48 other states?

The study's findings aim to give expectant parents an idea of the delivery budget, health care accessibility, and "baby-friendliness" – think maternity leave policies, support group prevalence, and daycare options – of each state by compiling data across 17 key metrics, including hospital C-section instances, the number of midwives and pediatricians per capita, and infant mortality rates.

The 10 Best States to Have a Baby

  1. Vermont
  2. Maine
  3. Connecticut
  4. Minnesota
  5. New Hampshire
  6. Hawaii
  7. Oregon
  8. Massachusetts
  9. North Dakota
  10. Washington

The 10 Worst States to Have a Baby

  1. North Carolina
  2. Florida
  3. Arkansas
  4. Nevada
  5. West Virginia
  6. Georgia
  7. New York
  8. Alabama
  9. Louisiana
  10. Mississippi

Regardless of where your state ranks overall (the complete list can be found at WalletHub), you'll want to see how it fares on the individual categories that matter most to you. Some highlights:

  • Birth Weight: If you want a healthy-size baby, take note that Alaska has the lowest number of babies born with a low birth weight, with only a 5.9 percent instance. In Mississippi, that rate is the highest.
  • Baby Costs: Although it is definitively the worst overall state for giving birth, Mississippi does have the lowest annual infant care costs – which covers ongoing needs, including diapers, and one-time expenses like cribs and strollers – of any state. Its average, $3,824 per year, is nearly four times lower than in the District of Columbia, where the costs are highest at $14,837.
  • Infant Mortality Rate: California has the lowest number of infant deaths per 1,000 births, at 4.3, which is two times lower than in Alabama, where the infant mortality rate is highest, with 8.68 deaths for every thousand.
  • Childcare Facilities: For those most dependent on childcare, Vermont has the highest number of day-care centers, with 84 per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, West Virginia only offers nine establishments within the same population. That's a difference of 900 percent!
  • Delivery Costs: North Dakota and Maryland have the lowest hospital bills for conventional and cesarean deliveries, respectively. New Jersey and New Mexico, however, are tied for having the highest costs in both types of deliveries.
  • Maternity Leave: Working moms might consider a move to California, which has the best parental leave score at 140. A whopping 17 states – including Arizona, Michigan, and South Carolina – tied for the worst.
  • Doctor Prevalence: Although Washington DC is prohibitively expensive, it has plenty of positives: the district has the highest number of obstetricians, gynecologists, and pediatricians out of all the states.


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