The Mother Baby Center at United Hospital and Mercy Hospital earned U.S. News’ 2026 High Performing designation, recognizing both sites as top national providers of maternity care.

MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn. The Mother Baby Center, a partnership between Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota, has earned national recognition for excellence in maternity care. Its locations at United Hospital in St. Paul and Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids have been named among the 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News and World Report, receiving the highest possible distinction of High Performing for labor and delivery care for uncomplicated pregnancies.

In addition to the High Performing designation, The Mother Baby Center at Mercy Hospital has been honored as a Maternity Care Access Hospital, a recognition reserved for facilities that provide essential maternity services in underserved communities.

Indy Lane, MD, vice president of Women’s Health at Allina Health and executive leader of The Mother Baby Center, said the honors reflect the dedication of clinicians and staff who guide families through the birth experience with expertise and compassion.
“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing the safest, highest quality care and the compassionate support every family deserves,” Dr. Lane said. “Every birth is a profound moment. We consider it a privilege to walk alongside families during this life changing experience.”

A National Benchmark in Maternity Care

The High Performing designation is the top rating awarded by U.S. News and World Report in its annual maternity hospital rankings. Nearly 900 hospitals nationwide voluntarily submitted detailed data for the 2026 evaluation. U.S. News assesses these facilities against objective, evidence based measures intended to help expectant parents make informed decisions about their childbirth options.

United Hospital and Mercy Hospital were evaluated on performance indicators that include:

• Low Cesarean section rates in lower risk pregnancies
• Low rates of severe and unexpected newborn complications
• Adherence to best practices supporting breast milk feeding
• Support for birthing friendly practices such as rooming in and vaginal birth after Cesarean
• Transparency in reporting outcomes for patients of different races and ethnicities

The inclusion of race and ethnicity reporting is an important component of the U.S. News evaluation, which aims to highlight hospitals committed to equitable maternity care and eliminating racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Mercy Hospital Recognized for Expanding Access to Care

The Mother Baby Center at Mercy Hospital received an additional designation as a Maternity Care Access Hospital. This recognition is reserved for hospitals that play a critical role in sustaining maternity services in regions where access to obstetric care is limited. In the 2026 rankings, only 147 hospitals nationwide received this designation. These facilities are located, on average, more than 22 miles from the next nearest maternity hospital, highlighting the essential role they play in preventing gaps in local care.

For families in the north metro region, Mercy Hospital’s maternity program represents a vital resource, particularly for expectant parents who may face transportation, geographic, or socioeconomic barriers to accessing high quality obstetric services.

A Partnership Strengthening Care for Families

The Mother Baby Center is a joint endeavor between Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota, two of the most prominent health organizations in the region.

Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin through more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, specialty centers, home care services, and emergency medical transportation. Its hospitals, including United Hospital and Mercy Hospital, are leading providers of comprehensive maternal care.

Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest freestanding pediatric health systems in the United States and the only one in Minnesota dedicated solely to caring for children from before birth through young adulthood. The partnership ensures that families delivering at The Mother Baby Center benefit from immediate access to pediatric specialists and neonatal experts, including the highest level neonatal intensive care units for critically ill newborns.

Together, the two organizations provide a full spectrum of maternal and neonatal services, from routine labor and delivery to advanced maternal fetal care. Expectant parents have access to a diverse team of providers including obstetricians, midwives, family physicians, lactation specialists, and neonatologists.

A Continuing Commitment to Excellence

The 2026 U.S. News recognitions reinforce The Mother Baby Center’s position as one of Minnesota’s leading maternity providers and affirm a sustained commitment to improving birth outcomes, supporting families, and expanding equitable access to maternal health care.

For families across the Twin Cities region and beyond, these honors signal a trusted and data validated choice for one of life’s most significant milestones.

MinneapoliMedia