Fit Pregnancy Magazine ranked Portland, Oregon as the best city to have a baby! Go Portland.
What made Portland so awesomly birth friendly? Portland has tons of health food options, walkability, many many many birth options and exceptional breasfeeding rates! The survey was based on 47 different critera, and here’s a look at some Portland stats:
• Relative to population, Portland has more specialty retailers of healthy/organic foods and vitamins than most places.
• Portland has 150 miles of stroller-friendly trails and public pathways, according to a survey of parks departments. In a per capita comparison, that’s 163 percent more than the average city surveyed (3rd highest overall relative to population).
• 14.9 percent of births statewide are attended by midwives. That’s 98 percent more than average. Midwifery is more widely available in Portland than anywhere else surveyed, with 189 percent more midwives than average. Relative to the number of live births per year, Portland has 64 percent more doulas than average–that figure is the 5th highest in the survey.
• 25 percent of babies in Oregon are born via Cesarean section. That rate is 8 percent less than average, and among the lowest in the survey.
• 26.6 percent of Portland mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively (meaning no solids, formula, or other liquids) for six months or longer (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.) That’s among the top 2 percent of cities in the survey. Eighty-nine percent of Portland mothers attempt breastfeeding. That’s the highest percentage of any city in the report. Portland moms are 20 percent more likely than average to at least try breastfeeding. Compared to the number of babies born, Portland has 81 percent more lactation consultants than average. That’s the 2nd highest ratio Fit Pregnancy found. And, once Portland mothers begin breastfeeding, they are 19 percent more likely than average to continue through 6 months. That’s the 3rd highest level of follow-through of any city studied. Finally, By six months of age, 42 percent of Portland babies are still being breastfed. That’s the highest percentage of any city in the report.
• According to data from the CDC, maternal mortality in Oregon is especially low. (My own comment: you can thank midwives and childbirth education for this one.)
• Portland babies are 22 percent less likely than average to be born prematurely.
• Oregon allows greater dependent-related tax breaks than most.
• Portland babies are 25 percent less likely than average to be born with low birth weight.
