The worst states to have a baby have high costs, low quality care

NewsOne expert says that the best states, however, support parents way after the baby is born. (Getty Images)Getty ImagesBy Claudia Dimuro | cdimuro@pennlive.comSimilar to the bottom states for healthcare, the worst states for having a baby all got low grades in things like cost and quality. A new study conducted and published by WalletHub analyzed each of the 50 plus Washington , D.C. on factors including the aforementioned “cost” as well as “health care,” “baby-friendliness” and “family-friendliness.” Each factor was comprised of metrics including “Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges,” “Rate of Preterm Births,” and “Child Care Centers per Capita.”The five worst states to have a baby were found to be Nevada (47th overall), New Mexico (48th), Florida (49th), Alabama (50th) and Mississippi (51st). Mississippi also came in 51st under the “Health Care” category. On the flip side of things, the top 5 best states for having a baby were New Hampshire (fifth), Rhode Island (fourth), North Dakota (third), Minnesota (second), and Massachusetts (first).“Massachusetts is the best state to have a baby, in large part because it has the third-lowest infant mortality rate in the country and the third-lowest maternal mortality rate,” the report reads. “It also has the best neonatal hospitals in the country (for premature births or babies with health problems).“The Bay State has the sixth-lowest share of households with infants or toddlers experiencing food insecurity, and the sixth-highest share of children under three years old with all seven recommended vaccines.”“The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers,” added WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. “They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier.”Giant, Martin’s offer MMR vaccines without a prescription as measles cases rise Pa. among 23 states reporting cases of drug-resistant fungus FDA approves Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50 and olderClaudia covers trending and breaking news stories across the United States. She previously worked as a digital reporter for PennLive.com, where she covered a range of topics from metal music to consumer news to...