2022’s Best Cities for New Moms This Mother's Day

Two multiethnic women smiling at each other, one is pregnant and the other is holding an infant on her lap. Image for the Best Cities for New Moms.

Being a new mom is hard, but being surrounded by a strong community can help lighten the load.

Which U.S. cities are best at supporting women through the challenges of motherhood?

To mark Mother’s Day on May 8, LawnStarter compared 180 of the biggest U.S. cities to rank 2022’s Best Cities for New Moms.

We looked at more than 40 mom-friendliness factors, such as OB/GYN and pediatrician access, strength of breastfeeding laws, child care costs, and new-mom support groups.

See where your city stands in our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and expert parenting insights.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Maternity Care Rank	Child Care Rank	Mom Protections Rank	Affordability Rank	Social Support Rank	Socioeconomics Rank	Home and Outdoor Environments Rank
1	Orange, CA	55.28	1	17	16	154	94	11	62
2	Boston, MA	54.88	14	1	4	167	172	61	42
3	Portland, OR	54.53	96	15	7	69	132	39	105
4	Jersey City, NJ	52.74	61	36	1	165	12	62	99
5	San Francisco, CA	51.88	40	7	16	178	154	5	38
6	Salem, OR	51.63	106	133	7	45	107	137	95
7	Eugene, OR	51.39	62	117	7	54	180	119	104
8	Paterson, NJ	50.99	2	72	1	171	178	135	160
9	Yonkers, NY	50.89	18	42	10	149	142	72	103
10	Bellevue, WA	50.74	21	131	56	135	6	8	141
11	Fremont, CA	50.64	93	37	16	176	67	3	61
12	Pasadena, CA	50.49	3	48	16	170	41	27	174
13	Fullerton, CA	50.45	12	35	16	162	95	40	73
14	Salinas, CA	50.33	17	16	16	145	159	54	109
15	Irvine, CA	50.24	50	29	16	169	3	21	91
16	Sunnyvale, CA	50.09	174	25	16	179	70	1	27
17	Vancouver, WA	50.03	127	28	56	116	2	86	17
18	Torrance, CA	50	5	55	16	166	101	22	178
19	New York, NY	49.72	100	8	10	158	127	77	53
20	Huntington Beach, CA	48.46	110	24	16	163	66	15	82
21	Seattle, WA	48.22	48	82	56	133	140	19	108
22	Sacramento, CA	48.04	49	39	16	139	40	90	87
23	Hayward, CA	47.98	66	45	16	174	177	20	59
24	Elk Grove, CA	47.78	178	63	16	136	149	18	77
25	Worcester, MA	47.75	80	83	4	148	99	116	83
26	San Jose, CA	47.38	168	19	16	177	119	7	74
27	Spokane, WA	47.29	60	95	56	87	81	128	107
28	Rochester, NY	47.12	71	85	10	120	112	175	7
29	Sioux Falls, SD	46.9	9	4	144	29	62	46	86
30	Bridgeport, CT	46.8	42	58	14	141	116	161	131
31	Glendale, CA	46.78	16	50	16	173	173	44	148
32	Garden Grove, CA	46.74	102	32	16	157	150	47	65
33	Oakland, CA	46.62	131	43	16	175	68	49	44
34	Naperville, IL	46.49	28	61	86	64	45	2	4
35	Newark, NJ	46.42	43	114	1	172	35	169	127
36	Santa Clarita, CA	45.86	153	49	16	161	102	23	143
37	Pomona, CA	45.51	19	52	16	147	114	146	147
38	Lincoln, NE	45.22	46	3	91	4	142	71	120
39	Springfield, MA	45.19	120	93	4	137	95	159	90
40	Omaha, NE	45.18	52	10	91	9	26	64	37
41	Escondido, CA	45.16	92	90	16	153	31	57	122
42	Anaheim, CA	45.09	128	26	16	160	173	55	85
43	Overland Park, KS	45.01	74	12	144	33	128	13	9
44	Santa Ana, CA	44.92	143	32	16	151	139	69	81
45	Modesto, CA	44.66	68	119	16	130	156	97	142
46	Boise City, ID	44.63	7	51	144	18	155	45	12
47	San Diego, CA	44.55	140	31	16	156	76	35	154
48	Lexington, KY	44.39	34	23	91	3	146	75	34
49	Long Beach, CA	44.28	101	30	16	159	63	81	155
50	Syracuse, NY	44.24	103	124	10	114	125	177	24
51	Chula Vista, CA	44.17	129	79	16	150	80	60	126
52	Honolulu, HI	44.03	78	60	62	99	120	43	33
53	Madison, WI	44	11	44	74	128	170	25	88
54	Los Angeles, CA	43.96	121	9	16	164	160	83	161
55	Bakersfield, CA	43.83	162	65	16	126	19	127	163
56	Oxnard, CA	43.69	150	74	16	152	163	65	136
57	Olathe, KS	43.59	157	14	144	13	59	17	20
58	Tacoma, WA	43.57	115	145	56	121	71	88	125
59	Oceanside, CA	43.55	152	77	16	155	141	34	140
60	Providence, RI	43.48	133	135	15	49	166	149	94
60	Fort Collins, CO	43.48	6	81	65	109	148	33	152
62	Arlington, VA	43.36	25	41	91	125	147	4	11
63	Frisco, TX	43.26	30	102	116	53	34	6	93
64	Palmdale, CA	43.21	76	46	16	143	121	133	176
65	Minneapolis, MN	43.2	88	20	63	89	91	68	28
66	Cary, NC	43.15	73	144	144	22	1	10	60
67	Alexandria, VA	43.12	8	56	91	122	88	16	16
68	Moreno Valley, CA	43.11	142	76	16	138	39	82	177
69	Scottsdale, AZ	42.73	87	80	77	104	7	9	158
70	Lancaster, CA	42.63	125	54	16	131	164	107	179
71	McKinney, TX	42.62	36	105	116	63	30	12	19
72	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	42.51	177	128	16	144	20	36	175
73	Corona, CA	42.32	171	67	16	142	161	30	168
74	Fresno, CA	42.3	148	89	16	129	27	156	153
75	Gilbert, AZ	41.72	75	101	77	97	60	14	145
76	Riverside, CA	41.67	161	68	16	140	156	78	172
77	Fontana, CA	41.63	118	134	16	134	131	118	171
78	Orlando, FL	41.31	4	22	144	103	15	92	117
79	Virginia Beach, VA	41.26	84	66	91	73	49	28	13
80	Nashville, TN	41.12	51	21	91	58	38	76	66
81	St. Paul, MN	40.25	144	69	63	95	33	95	32
82	Chesapeake, VA	40.2	126	125	91	66	21	29	22
83	Chandler, AZ	40.14	85	111	77	90	42	31	167
84	Denver, CO	40.09	135	99	65	118	9	38	70
85	Salt Lake City, UT	40.05	91	62	116	23	107	59	40
86	Durham, NC	40.02	15	108	144	38	43	87	100
87	Lakewood, CO	39.92	70	94	65	119	166	26	134
88	Pittsburgh, PA	39.74	13	40	116	61	126	101	111
89	Washington, DC	39.63	114	126	61	180	165	42	39
90	Columbus, OH	39.57	63	59	144	15	58	129	51
91	Des Moines, IA	39.38	98	38	144	20	87	115	41
92	Oklahoma City, OK	39.31	33	110	116	19	47	91	146
93	Aurora, CO	39.03	89	75	65	117	90	53	129
94	Louisville, KY	38.95	109	112	91	6	63	122	47
95	Ontario, CA	38.94	179	127	16	146	81	74	180
96	Springfield, MO	38.93	55	84	116	17	81	108	97
97	Wichita, KS	38.9	79	86	144	27	56	109	46
98	Miami, FL	38.88	44	11	144	127	5	125	71
99	Plano, TX	38.82	72	106	116	70	86	24	84
100	San Bernardino, CA	38.81	163	132	16	132	103	153	170
101	Murfreesboro, TN	38.78	160	27	91	55	100	80	18
102	Huntsville, AL	38.63	90	161	144	1	134	111	15
103	Kansas City, MO	38.51	139	18	116	24	118	106	101
104	Chattanooga, TN	38.49	45	113	91	44	23	152	5
105	Phoenix, AZ	38.41	77	70	77	92	55	96	169
106	Tulsa, OK	38.33	23	88	116	26	57	148	123
107	Grand Rapids, MI	38.3	119	47	144	35	121	126	2
108	Austin, TX	38.3	107	2	116	102	93	50	133
109	Raleigh, NC	38.28	56	109	144	37	73	56	132
110	Macon, GA	38.17	116	151	65	41	18	166	8
111	Little Rock, AR	38.12	97	150	91	11	48	117	67
112	Baltimore, MD	37.87	27	160	74	105	133	150	43
113	Akron, OH	37.87	47	53	144	12	50	176	10
114	Colorado Springs, CO	37.72	111	157	65	100	77	63	114
115	Peoria, AZ	37.67	172	118	77	94	44	48	159
116	Amarillo, TX	37.47	81	146	116	39	91	113	14
117	Houston, TX	37.4	64	13	116	77	53	131	151
118	Chicago, IL	37.33	141	5	86	107	113	102	56
119	Aurora, IL	37.23	104	78	86	80	169	51	80
120	Thornton, CO	37.09	159	104	65	111	134	32	157
121	Winston-Salem, NC	36.96	38	170	144	30	178	130	1
122	Birmingham, AL	36.8	20	154	144	5	142	172	45
123	Cincinnati, OH	36.75	32	149	144	14	25	168	54
124	Fort Wayne, IN	36.63	53	169	91	21	81	141	21
125	Charlotte, NC	36.57	122	148	144	42	36	52	49
126	Milwaukee, WI	36.51	86	6	74	124	105	158	139
127	Knoxville, TN	36.36	82	116	91	50	137	145	29
128	St. Petersburg, FL	36.22	146	136	144	88	22	66	35
129	Cleveland, OH	36.21	10	138	144	25	24	179	64
130	Augusta, GA	36.2	94	180	65	43	16	163	6
131	Mesa, AZ	36.15	134	115	77	98	95	100	166
132	Glendale, AZ	36.09	117	121	77	96	28	131	173
133	Irving, TX	36.02	57	164	116	72	52	73	68
134	St. Louis, MO	36.02	22	172	116	28	61	154	79
135	Kansas City, KS	36.02	58	107	144	47	13	155	78
136	Jackson, MS	36.01	35	167	116	7	71	173	58
137	Indianapolis, IN	35.95	108	97	91	40	103	138	50
138	New Orleans, LA	35.84	37	153	116	36	138	151	72
139	Clarksville, TN	35.8	180	137	91	34	14	94	63
140	Fort Worth, TX	35.73	83	129	116	65	46	85	113
141	Richmond, VA	35.61	31	165	91	93	106	147	26
142	Tempe, AZ	35.59	169	100	77	106	145	84	165
143	Tampa, FL	35.53	29	141	144	101	74	121	106
144	Fort Lauderdale, FL	35.45	26	96	144	112	4	140	144
145	Jacksonville, FL	35.37	39	171	144	81	11	104	69
146	Dallas, TX	35.28	69	103	116	86	37	120	112
147	Reno, NV	35.2	113	139	91	83	151	70	96
148	Greensboro, NC	35.18	59	176	144	31	95	124	25
149	Mobile, AL	35.02	65	178	144	2	107	162	3
150	Albuquerque, NM	34.96	130	122	91	16	65	136	164
151	Columbus, GA	34.83	132	174	65	48	166	164	36
152	Joliet, IL	34.47	166	87	86	62	134	58	137
153	Hollywood, FL	34.47	41	64	144	113	153	93	162
154	Henderson, NV	34.45	145	142	91	75	162	41	130
155	Newport News, VA	34.44	137	162	91	71	78	114	31
156	Norfolk, VA	34.23	54	168	91	74	128	134	55
157	Shreveport, LA	33.95	24	179	116	10	116	165	115
158	El Paso, TX	33.8	156	130	116	52	54	142	128
159	Tucson, AZ	33.74	138	123	77	85	75	157	138
160	Pembroke Pines, FL	33.65	99	91	144	115	175	67	124
161	Las Vegas, NV	33.56	147	98	91	78	29	98	156
162	Arlington, TX	33.49	124	155	116	68	10	123	119
163	San Antonio, TX	33.36	136	92	116	60	89	139	121
164	Cape Coral, FL	33.32	155	140	144	108	124	110	30
165	Anchorage, AK	33.25	154	34	144	168	69	37	98
166	Garland, TX	32.93	175	152	116	76	50	103	48
167	Port St. Lucie, FL	32.86	158	120	144	110	151	79	92
168	Philadelphia, PA	32.77	95	147	116	91	115	144	75
169	Brownsville, TX	32.77	170	71	116	46	81	160	118
170	Rockford, IL	32.37	67	158	86	57	8	174	135
171	Memphis, TN	32.19	123	156	91	51	107	170	52
172	Hialeah, FL	31.94	176	57	144	123	156	112	57
173	Toledo, OH	31.8	112	173	144	7	121	178	23
174	North Las Vegas, NV	31.77	173	143	91	82	107	99	102
175	Tallahassee, FL	31.61	105	163	144	84	176	143	76
176	Mesquite, TX	31.6	151	166	116	79	128	105	89
177	Pasadena, TX	31.47	149	73	116	59	78	167	116
178	Grand Prairie, TX	31.46	165	159	116	67	171	89	149
179	Fayetteville, NC	29.6	164	175	144	32	17	171	110
180	Detroit, MI	24.2	167	177	144	56	32	180	150

Infographic showing the best cities for new moms, a ranking based on maternity and child care access, mom-friendly policies, safety, affordability, and more

Highlights and Lowlights

Elite Access From Coast to Coast

Our Best Cities for New Moms dot both coasts, offering plenty of services and support for new moms.

The Golden State shines with two cities in our top 10. Orange, California, brings home the gold at No. 1 overall and in Maternity Care. Further up the state, San Francisco (No. 5) fared well in the Child Care and Socioeconomics rankings.

Head east to Boston (No. 2) for high-quality Child Care (No. 1) and high scores across the charts. Paterson, New Jersey (No. 8), claims a spot near the top thanks to excellent Maternity Care (No. 2).

Unfortunately, access to quality resources can come with a hefty price tag. Most of our top-ranking cities fared poorly in Affordability — only one landed among the best 50 cities in that category.

It Takes a Village

Being a new mom can feel isolating, especially if you’re the first one in your circle to start the journey of motherhood. Washington cities Bellevue (No. 10) and Vancouver (No. 17) performed well in our ranking, thanks to their abundance of new moms and parent support groups.

First-time moms and pregnant women don’t just need community support — they also need high-quality medical guidance and resources. California cities Pasadena (No. 12) and Torrance (No. 18) pull ahead in Maternity Care, while New York (No. 19) fared well in the Child Care ranking.

Don’t Break the Bank

Pregnancy and child care can cost a fortune, especially in the U.S., where hospital bills for childbirth are more expensive than anywhere else in the world. Without insurance, you could be out of pocket by as much as $24,400, depending on where you live among the cities we ranked.

When labor and delivery can be as expensive as a new car — and housing costs are higher than ever — where can a regular mom settle down to take care of her family?

Nebraska cities Lincoln (No. 38) and Omaha (No. 40) are two of the most affordable cities for new moms. Lincoln also ranked well in Child Care (No. 3). However, if you’re looking for community support or healthier surroundings, put down roots in Omaha.

Laws Supporting Moms

Some cities soared to the top of our ranking, thanks to strong legal protections around paid leave, job security, and wage replacement during pregnancy and childbirth.

New Jersey cities tie for first place in Mom Protections, with Jersey City (No. 4) bumping to the top overall for high Social Support, and Paterson (No. 8) just a few steps behind. Mom Protections also brought Oregon cities Portland (No. 3), Salem (No. 6), and Eugene (No. 7) up in the ranking.

Room to Roam Safely

Many new moms want their children to be in touch with nature, but not all cities are safely built for curious kids. Rochester, New York (No. 28), Naperville, Illinois (No. 34), and Overland Park, Kansas (No. 43), earned some of the best scores in Home and Outdoor Environments.

Cities in Tennessee, like Murfreesboro (No. 101) and Chattanooga (No. 104), and Alabama cities Huntsville (No. 102) and Mobile (No. 149) might have big backyards to roam, but parents have to make a big compromise to live there. Despite the high environmental quality and big yards in these cities, they fall behind in many other categories, lacking important resources that cater to mothers and their children.

Not So Family-Friendly

For the second year in a row, Detroit (No. 180) sinks to the bottom of our ranking as the worst city for new moms. Motor City was slowed down by poor scores across the board, except Affordability (No. 56) and Social Support (No. 32).

Following just behind is Fayetteville, North Carolina (No. 179), and a few Texas suburbs, Grand Prarie (No. 178), Pasadena (No. 177), and Mesquite (No. 176). While these cities are moderately affordable, they lack resources to meet the needs of new moms.

Ask The Experts

You might know what to expect when you’re expecting, but what about post-childbirth? We reached out to a panel of experts for actionable, real-world guidance for first-time moms. See what wisdom they had to share below.

What are the three biggest challenges facing new moms today, and what are the solutions?
What is your best piece of advice for women considering motherhood for the first time today?
The pandemic exacerbated depression and anxiety symptoms in new moms. What are your top three suggestions for getting the support they need?
What is the best gift for a new mom this Mother’s Day and why?

Ilse DeKoeyer, PhD

Associate Professor (Lecturer), Department of Psychology

Annette Regan, Phd, MPH

Assistant Professor, MPH Faculty Lead

Alison Gemmill, PhD

Assistant Professor

Ilse DeKoeyer, PhD

Associate Professor (Lecturer), Department of Psychology

University of Utah

Ilse DeKoeyer, PhD

Associate Professor (Lecturer), Department of Psychology

University of Utah

What are the three biggest challenges facing new moms today, and what are the solutions?

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are by far the biggest challenge for new and pregnant moms today. Even before the pandemic, at least about 1 in 7 new moms (15%) suffered from postpartum depression (PPD). In women of color and/or living in poverty, the number is much higher (up to 50% of new moms in this group experiences PPD). In Utah, between 2017 and 2019, about 43% of new moms experienced anxiety or depression (before and/or after giving birth) — and this was before the pandemic.

A new study from Canada, in a low-risk sample of mothers who were mostly White, married, and well educated, 41% indicated that they experienced depression, and 72% said they experienced anxiety during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth. This was a self-selected sample, so moms may have opted into the study out of an interest in this topic, but it is safe to say that the pandemic has caused a rise in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Secondly, there is a constant onslaught of information for new parents to process. Of course, there has been lots of information about the risks of the pandemic and what to do about it in the past year, and this information has often been changing or confusing.

But even before the pandemic, there has been an explosion of information about how to best take care of yourself during pregnancy and how to best raise a child. Some of this is information that is solidly based in research, but there is also a lot of mom and dad blogs (of varying quality) and an avalanche of advertising to new parents. New parents are made to believe that they need a ton of fancy products to make their baby smarter, better developed, and bonded. But the vast majority of these products has no research evidence behind them, and babies do not need specific toys for optimal development.

Thirdly, we have a birth culture that often leaves moms feeling disempowered, emotionally unsupported, and alone. We tend to see birth as portrayed on TV: surrounded by panic, excruciating pain, and potential danger. While pregnancy and birth do place a huge burden on a woman’s body, complications are still more exception than rule. We do need to have highly specialized doctors, in case there are risk factors or emergencies.

But research shows that interventions in normal, low-risk births (e.g., inductions) tend to lead to more interventions, which tend to go along with stress. About 9% of mothers develop postpartum PTSD. This is often related to emergency situations but also is more likely when the mother is not told what is going on, why procedures are done, and what (if any) choices she has.

After giving birth, parents are expected to go home from the hospital and figure out how to care for a newborn and for the mom’s well-being without support or adequate parental leave. Other countries, such as The Netherlands and Australia, have nurses who come to your home to help the family adapt after the huge event of giving birth. All of these challenges are even more likely in women of color, women who are younger or less educated, or women living in poverty.

What we can do on a societal level is to improve policies for parental leave, provide more support for parents around the time of birth (such as home visiting programs), and support high-quality childcare. Social support from friends, family, and fellow parents also greatly reduces risk.

On an individual level, it helps to be informed and to know that you have choices (e.g., about how to give birth, if it is not high-risk). Be sure to go to your doctor for check-ups, and be sure to have them check in with you about your emotional well-being. Moderate exercise and mindfulness practices (like yoga or meditation) have been proven to reduce depression and anxiety. Pre-birth relaxation and visualization exercises also help reduce stress. Lastly, reach out for mental health support when you need it. There are lots of expert professionals out there who love to help.

What is your best piece of advice for women considering motherhood for the first time today?

Follow your own intuition, and trust yourself. The vast majority of babies are born healthy, and every child has their own strengths, even as a tiny baby.
Be informed, but trust the process once you decide you are ready for a baby. Use information wisely, but do not let all the news overwhelm you.
Accept help whenever you can — it does take a village to raise a child. You are worthy of support, and you cannot take care of a baby very well if you do not take care of yourself, too.
Know that you matter!

The pandemic has exacerbated depression and anxiety symptoms in new moms. What are your top three suggestions for getting the support they need?

First, know that you are not alone and there is help. New moms are often led to believe that they need to be the ones who take care of everything. But you need care, as well.

It is a huge transition to become a mom, physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. You discover new ways of relating, redefine your identity, along with all the practical changes of having a new baby in your home.

Who in your social network can support you? Do you have a partner who can support you (emotionally, practically, or even just financially)? If you have no family nearby, is there a new-mom group in your area or online? Ask for help when you need it, and accept help when it is offered.

Second, know that professionals are waking up to the reality that many moms are suffering mentally. Pediatricians, OB-GYNs, and family physicians are increasingly checking in about emotional well-being in new moms and helping them get connected to services.

There is a growing group of mental health professionals who are specifically trained in Maternal Mental Health (also called Perinatal Mental Health). Check with your local Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, Postpartum Support International (PSI), Help Me Grow, or United Way 2-1-1 to find these resources.

Third, don’t give up. Keep advocating for yourself when you don’t feel heard or helped. This is very hard to do when you feel anxious or depressed because there is typically a tendency to withdraw and think you are not as important as your baby and to focus on other barriers.

But, again, there is help, and these conditions are treatable. When you leave them untreated, they can get worse over time. It is better for everyone if you allow yourself the care that you need. If you cannot muster the energy to do this, ask your doctor or anyone who loves you to get you connected. A well-resourced mom is a much better resource for her baby.

What is the best gift for a new mom this Mother’s Day and why?

Let her know she is loved. Most new moms will appreciate it if she feels you care about her.

Offer her some time away from baby, a sensory experience (like a soft blanket or some time in nature), or just to spend quality time with you. All moms are different, so you could offer several options and have her choose something that would comfort her.

Listen to her. The most important thing is that she feels loved and cared for and that she realizes that her well-being will help her baby, too.

Annette Regan, Phd, MPH

Assistant Professor, MPH Faculty Lead

University of San Francisco-Orange County Campus

Annette Regan, Phd, MPH

Assistant Professor, MPH Faculty Lead

University of San Francisco-Orange County Campus

What are the three biggest challenges facing new moms today, and what are the solutions?

Welcoming a new baby is always a challenge, and during the pandemic, especially so. I think the three biggest challenges today are finding consistent social support, finding reliable child care, and supporting positive mental health.

To be clear, I don’t think these are new challenges. These have always been challenges for new moms. But the pandemic has really amplified these challenges. I think finding a child care situation that meets the families’ needs can really help address all three of these challenges.

What is your best piece of advice for women considering motherhood for the first time today?

Enjoy it. The pandemic may have presented challenges, but it hasn’t taken away the joyful experiences.

For those considering motherhood, I hope the pandemic is not the factor that keeps them from becoming a parent. In an ongoing study we’re conducting, we found that 58% of currently pregnant individuals said they delayed pregnancy because of the pandemic.

While I think it is definitely worth planning ahead a little more to handle the additional challenges, I hope that people thinking about becoming a new mom don’t let the pandemic discourage them.

The pandemic has exacerbated depression and anxiety symptoms in new moms. What are your top three suggestions for getting the support they need?

I think the medical system has responded as best possible to emerging health issues, and this has included providing support for maternal mental health.

My first recommendation is to check in with yourself. It’s normal to have some feelings of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and I think it’s easy for new moms to dismiss when feelings of sadness and anxiety are not normal. Don’t be afraid to check in with your health professional about your mental health — even if you think it may be normal.

My second recommendation is to accept help wherever you can. Health professionals and support groups have responded creatively during the pandemic, creating virtual support groups, social media networks, and other “distanced” ways of supporting new moms.

My last recommendation, and this was some of the best advice I received as a new mom last year, is to be kind to yourself.

Alison Gemmill, PhD

Assistant Professor

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Alison Gemmill, PhD

Assistant Professor

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

What are the three biggest challenges facing new moms today, and what are the solutions?

One of the biggest challenges facing new moms is the lack of paid parental leave in the U.S. This can lead to insufficient time for moms to recover after childbirth; increased stress for families who are trying to ensure job stability while simultaneously finding suitable infant care; and premature cessation of breastfeeding. Thankfully, the political willpower to expand paid family-leave benefits seems to be growing.

The second challenge is identifying strategies to balance work and family obligations. Women often take on most housework and domestic duties, and the pandemic has clearly exacerbated these patterns. For two-parent households, women should work with their partners to voice challenges and come up with equitable solutions, which might include outsourcing some domestic labor.

The third challenge concerns the health of moms after they give birth. Infancy can be a rewarding but challenging period, especially when sleep becomes compromised. Moms tend to put themselves last when it comes to their health and well-being. Any small changes new moms can make to prioritize their needs can go a long way. And if moms feel guilty for engaging in self care, they should remind themselves that doing so makes them a better parent.

What is your best piece of advice for women considering motherhood for the first time today?

One of the best pieces of advice I received is that there’s never a perfect time to become a parent. I think most people think that to start a family they need to have all their ducks in a row, so to speak. What really matters at the end of the day, though, is that you are able to provide a child with a loving home.

The pandemic has exacerbated depression and anxiety symptoms in new moms. What are your top three suggestions for getting the support they need?

My first suggestion is for new moms to seek help from their health care provider. Postpartum depression is a common experience and is treatable. If you are experiencing postpartum depression and have difficulty contacting a provider, ask a partner or friend to contact them for you. If you are worried about contacting a health care provider because of financial or health insurance concerns, postpartum depression hotlines can provide support.

My second suggestion is to connect with other mothers who are experiencing similar challenges. While the pandemic has limited in-person interactions, online support groups, including those found on social media sites like Facebook, can be a great way to voice your worries and feelings; they also provide reassurance that you’re not alone.

My third suggestion, which aligns with what I mentioned above, is to practice self care. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to get enough sleep and exercise when taking care of an infant, but a little goes a long way. Napping while the baby sleeps, taking walks outside, and doing an activity that you enjoyed prior to becoming a parent are all ways to improve your health and mood.

Methodology

We ranked 180 of the most populated U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 180) for new moms based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.

Metric	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Maternity Care
OB/GYNs per 10,000 Females Aged 15+	3	22.39	7,516.27	Max. Value
Nurse Midwives per 10,000 New Moms	2	25.01	2,689.98	Max. Value
Hospitals per 100,000 Residents	2	0	5.41	Max. Value
Quality of Public Hospitals	3	50	87	Max. Value
Lactation/Nursing Spaces per 10,000 New Moms	1	0	24.64	Max. Value
Doulas per 10,000 New Moms	2	0	878.31	Max. Value
Hospitals with Maternity Services per 100,000 Residents	2	0	1.43	Max. Value
Quality of Hospitals with Gynecology Services (Score Out of 100)	3	12.3	94.7	Max. Value
Child Care
Family Practitioners per 100,000 Residents	2	4.71	132.13	Max. Value
Pediatricians per 10,000 Households with Children Under Age 18	3	0.69	10.17	Max. Value
Childcare Workers per 10,000 Households with Children Under Age 18	3	14.6	122.45	Max. Value
Infant Mortality Rate	2	2.72%	11.08%	Min. Value
Life Expectancy	1	71.81	85.31	Max. Value
Low Birthweight Rate	2	6.10%	12.71%	Min. Value
Share of Uninsured Children	1	0.00%	12.04%	Min. Value
Number of Baby Supply Stores	1	0	33	Max. Value
Number of Hospitals with Neonatology Services	2	0	4	Max. Value
Mom Protections
Maximum Length of Paid Family Leave Allowed (in Weeks)	3	0	12	Max. Value
Percentage of Wage Replacement	2	0%	100%	Max. Value
Availability of Job Protection in Paid Family Leave Policy (1 = Yes, 0 = No)	3	0	1	Max. Value
Maximum Additional Paid Medical Leave Allowed for Pregnancy and Childbirth (in Weeks)	3	0	12	Max. Value
Availability of State Law Allowing Sick Leave for Child Care (1 = Yes, 0 = No)	3	0	1	Max. Value
Strength of Breastfeeding Laws	1	1	5	Max. Value
Affordability
Cost of Living Index	2	73	205	Min. Value
Housing Affordability	2	31.94	90.61	Max. Value
Average Delivery Cost With Insurance in State	2	$6,725.94	$14,157.12	Min. Value
Average Delivery Cost Without Insurance in State	3	$11,399.57	$24,430.36	Min. Value
Copay as a Share of Household Income	1	0.00%	22.00%	Min. Value
Hourly Babysitting Rate	2	$11.50	$20.50	Min. Value
Annual Cost of Infant Day Care	3	$5,864.00	$24,081.00	Min. Value
Social Support
New Moms per 1,000 Moms in Past Year	2	30	74	Max. Value
Mom and Parent Support Groups per 100,000 Residents	2	0	4.76	Max. Value
Socioeconomics
Unemployment Rate for Women with Children Under Age 6	2	90.00%	1930.00%	Min. Value
Average Annual Household Income	3	$46,474.00	$192,790.00	Max. Value
Share of Children Under Age 5 Living in Poverty	1	2.80%	51.60%	Min. Value
Share of New Moms Living in Poverty	2	1.70%	55.00%	Min. Value
Food Insecurity Rate	1	5.38%	17.50%	Min. Value
Home and Outdoor Environments
Median Air Quality Index	1	28	101	Min. Value
Presence of Water Quality Violations (1 = Present, 0 = Not Present)	1	0	1	Max. Value
Walk Score	1	13	97	Min. Value
Pedestrian Fatalities per 100,000 Residents	1	0	10.96	Max. Value
Average Yard Square Footage	1	2,744 sq. ft.	23,239 sq. ft.	Max. Value
Crime Index	1	0	85	Min. Value
Share of Homes with Severe Housing Problems	1	9.57%	32.43%	Min. Value

Sources: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AreaVibes, Care.com, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Child Care Aware of America, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, DoulaMatch.net, Feeding America, LawnStarter Internal Data, Livability, Mamava, Meetup, National Center for Children in Poverty, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NeighborhoodScout, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. News & World Report, Walk Score, and Yelp

Why This Study Matters

Motherhood is both a rewarding and challenging role, but the past few years have been extra stressful for new moms.

During the pandemic, new moms reported heightened postpartum depression, and around 10 million left the workforce at the start of 2021.

Rising gas prices, inflation, the housing crisis, the child tax credit expiring, and jobs going from remote to in-person work have increased the overall financial strain on parents across the nation. Not to mention the fact that day care is getting more expensive.

But there is hope. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, pregnant women can no longer be denied coverage or charged higher premiums. And more help may be on the way: A federal spending plan aims to make child care more affordable, expand access to universal pre-kindergarten, and extend paid leave.

With all moms top of mind this Mother’s Day, LawnStarter conducted this study to help bring awareness to the struggles of first-time mothers today.

PS: If you’re a new mom, the last thing you have time for is mowing your yard. And if your mom is older and living alone or younger and juggling work and kids, visit your mother and mow her grass for Mother’s Day. If you’re too busy, LawnStarter can send a local pro to help.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock