Which are the best/worst states to have a baby?

A recent Harris Poll survey found only 42% of women who are pregnant or have been pregnant say they had access to the best possible medical care while pregnant. Likewise, only 44% felt they had access to the best possible medical care during delivery. 

In some states, expecting mothers are more likely to encounter high childbirth costs, a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists and increased risks during delivery. So, which states are the worst to have a baby in? 

To find out, Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states across five key metrics.

[Related: Beyond pregnancy care]

Key findings: 

• Arkansas tops the list of worst states to have a baby, while Vermont ranks as the best.
• Seven of the top 10 worst states to have a baby are in the South: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina and Georgia.
• Seven of the top 10 best states to have a baby are in the Northeast: Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York.
• Mississippi has the highest infant mortality rate (8.87 deaths per 1,000 live births) and Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate (43.5 deaths per 100,000 live births).

Find the full report, including the methodology and infographics, here.

[Read more: Challenges to addressing health equity]