Report: Colorado's best hospitals to give birth

State of play: U.S. News' ranking reviewed survey data submitted from more than 900 hospitals. It found 495 met its bar for "high quality" maternity care — a designation tied to lower intervention rates and better outcomes.

Zoom in: Denver and its suburbs dominate Colorado's showing with "great options for maternity care," U.S. News' health data scientist Jennifer Winston tells us.

• The region placed among the top 20 markets nationwide for maternity care.

Denver-area standouts include:

• Denver Health (Denver)
• Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver)
• Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital (Brighton)
• Lutheran Medical Center (Wheat Ridge)
• Sky Ridge Medical Center (Lone Tree)
• Swedish Medical Center (Englewood)
• UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital (Highlands Ranch)
• Boulder Community Health (Boulder)

Zoom out: Seven more hospitals across the state earned recognition:

• UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital (Longmont)
• Intermountain Health St. Mary's Regional Hospital (Grand Junction)
• Montrose Regional Health (Montrose)
• UCHealth Greeley Hospital (Greeley)
• UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies (Loveland)

• UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (Fort Collins)
• UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center (Steamboat Springs)

What they did: Hospitals were analyzed across numerous indicators, including lower rates of C-sections and episiotomies; unexpected newborn complications; "birthing-friendly" practices; and whether hospitals publicly report disparities in care.

Go deeper: Colorado moms are older than ever before