We all know how important it is to choose the right doctor or midwife for our pregnancy care, but choosing the right hospital to deliver in may have just as big, or bigger, an impact on the quality of your birth experience and your chance for complications during delivery.  A new study released by HealthGrades found that women who gave birth at top-rated hospitals had significantly fewer complications during both vaginal and cesarean deliveries.

Study Findings:

• Women having a vaginal delivery in a top-rated hospital were 51% less likely to have complications versus women having a vaginal delivery in a poorly-rated hospital.

• Women having a cesarean delivery in a top-rated hospital were 76% less likely to have complications than women having a cesarean delivery in a poorly-rated hospital.

When you have the opportunity to choose which hospital you will deliver in, choose wisely.  Do your research.  Talk to your doctor, other moms, and research the hospitals in your area.  Choosing the right hospital can greatly improve your overall childbirth experience and minimize your chances of suffering complications.

Some useful online resources for research hospitals in the United States:

• HealthGrades
• The Leapfrog Group
• US Department of Health & Human Services
• Quality Check