College Station is gaining national attention for how and where it welcomes little ones into the world. .
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-College Station has been named a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. The designation places it among a select group in Texas recognized for strong outcomes for mothers and newborns.
What the recognition measures
The High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care recognition comes from a detailed evaluation of hospital performance in maternity care, including safety measures, delivery outcomes, and newborn health indicators. Only 31 hospitals in Texas earned the distinction out of more than 200 statewide, underscoring the ranking’s selectivity.
Rather than focusing on a single metric, the designation reflects a broad picture of quality—ranging from complications and cesarean sections to breastfeeding support and outcomes tied to routine and higher-risk deliveries.
“These measures are about consistency and safety across maternity care,” said Tami DePenning, RN, MSN, RNC-NIC, Director of Nursing for Women’s and Children’s Service Line. “It’s not just one outcome; it’s how well we perform across the full spectrum of care for moms and babies.”
Why it matters for families
For College Station families, this recognition reflects something more personal than data points.
“This is the only delivery they’ll have with that baby,” Manager of Women’s Services Cathy Collier RN, MSN, RNC-OB, NEA-BC said. “Whether it’s their first or fifth child, we only get one chance at that experience—and we want that experience to be safe, supportive and memorable.”
That focus on safety and support is what the designation represents: care that aligns with national benchmarks while centered on each patient’s experience. For expectant mothers, that means evidence-based practices, close monitoring during labor and delivery, and coordinated recovery attention.
Care beyond routine delivery
But that performance level doesn’t happen in isolation; it is built into daily care delivery.
At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-College Station, maternity care extends beyond routine deliveries to support families with complex medical needs.
The facility holds a Level II maternal designation, allowing it to care for low- to moderate-risk pregnancies, including hypertension, diabetes and preeclampsia. This designation comes with structured oversight every three years to evaluate outcomes, readiness and clinical training.
For newborns needing extra support, the hospital operates a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. That unit provides advanced care for premature and complex infants, allowing families to stay in College Station instead of transferring to larger hospitals.
That ability to care for a wide range of cases reflects the hospital’s broader approach—supporting families not just through delivery, but throughout the entire pregnancy and early parenthood journey.
Care during pregnancy, birth and early childhood
Expecting parents can take advantage of free childbirth education classes, lactation support and baby care classes designed to help families feel ready to deliver their little one. Hospital tours also allow families to meet care teams, explore the hospital environment, and prepare for labor, delivery and recovery with in-person and virtual offerings available to fit a range of schedules.
And that support continues after families leave the hospital.
Through the NICU developmental clinic, NICU graduates who meet certain criteria can receive follow-up care for up to two years. The clinic monitors developmental milestones, tracks growth, and connects families with support services, extending the continuum of care beyond birth.
Hospital leaders say continuity is intentional to ensure families feel supported at every stage, not just during delivery.
Digital tools that support in‑person care
Care also extends beyond the hospital through digital support, with virtual pregnancy and postpartum resources available through the MyBSWHealth app to guide families between appointments.
Moms can message their care advocate, schedule virtual check‑ins and receive trusted, stage‑specific guidance on everything from pregnancy milestones to postpartum recovery, mental health, lactation, and pelvic floor health.
This digital care model helps moms stay connected, informed and supported during pregnancy and throughout the critical months after delivery—when access and convenience matter most.
A coordinated team approach
Behind this care is a coordinated clinical team collaborating across specialties.
“We work as one team daily to ensure seamless and responsive care,” Collier said. “That collaboration allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes for mothers and babies.”
Labor and delivery units operate with 24/7 in-house coverage, including obstetric providers and anesthesia support, allowing quick responses to changing conditions. Physicians, nurses and other care team members work together in real time, creating a shared decision-making approach during routine and high-risk deliveries.
Preparation is reinforced through regular training and simulation exercises to keep teams ready for various scenarios. This consistency in skill and communication is key to maintaining the care level reflected in the hospital’s national recognition.
Those systems, teams and programs form the foundation behind Baylor Scott & White Health’s College Station maternity care—built on outcomes and ensuring families are supported at every step of one of life’s most important moments.
To learn about maternity care services at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–College Station, visit www.bswhealth.com.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.