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What's Good

•According to data from the CDC, maternal mortality in Florida is especially low.

•Just 2 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care, the 7th best score in our survey. In the average city in our survey, 5 percent receive late or inadequate care.

•Relative to population, Miami has more specialty retailers of healthy/organic foods and vitamins than most places in our survey.

•The local climate is especially mild - perfect for getting out and working off pregnancy weight gain.

•11.3 percent of births statewide are attended by midwives, compared to a national average of 7.3 percent.

•Miami has one doula for every 236 live births, the 10th highest ratio in our survey. The national average is one doula per 649 live births.

•According to our survey of park departments, for every 10,000 residents, Miami has 85 miles of public trails and pathways for hiking and stroller use, the 7th highest in our survey. The average city in our survey has 79 trail miles for every 10,000 residents.

•There are 75 percent more advanced fertility clinics per capita than average here, the 2nd highest ratio in our survey.

•Miami has more OB-GYNs than average, the 2nd highest in our survey.

•State laws require stringent background checks for day-care workers.

•In a comparison of inspection schedules for day-care centers, Florida requires more frequent visits than average.

Needs Improvement

•At $103, the average doctor's office visit here is the 5th highest in our survey, compared to a national average of $82.

•The CDC reports very high infant mortality rates for Florida.

•41 percent of babies in Florida are born via Cesarean section, among the highest in our survey. The average is 27 percent.

•With one acre of parkland for every 304 residents, there's 156 percent less public park space than average here, relative to population.

•State laws do not require health insurance companies to provide or offer any fertility-related services.

•Miami's violent crime rate is 41 percent higher than average, the 10th highest in our survey, in fact.

•According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, Miami has one of the worst commutes of any city in our survey. It takes 42 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That puts a lot more pressure on parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.

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