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What's Good

•Hospital costs here are among the lowest in our survey.

•According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma City is 27 percent more affordable than average for cities in our survey.

•Oklahoma has particularly progressive laws guaranteeing a nursing mother the right to breastfeed in public.

•Oklahoma City has 31 lactation consultants for every 10,000 live births, the 10th highest ratio in our survey. The average city in our survey has 23 lactation consultants per 10,000 live births.

•There are 24 percent more fertility doctors per capita here than average-the 9th highest ratio in our survey.

•Day-care centers in Oklahoma City are required by state law to meet special requirements aimed at reducing the risk of SIDS. Many cities and states have less-stringent or no SIDS-prevention programs for day-cares.

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

•There are 7.7 licensed day care centers for every 1,000 children under 4 years. The average city in our survey has 5.9.

•According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma City has one of the best commutes of any city in our survey, it takes only 10 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That takes a lot of pressure off parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.

Needs Improvement

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

•16 percent of pregnant women in Oklahoma City admit to smoking during pregnancy, the 4th highest rate in our survey. Nationwide, 8 percent of pregnant women smoke.

•Just 67 percent of Oklahoma City mothers attempt breastfeeding. That's the 11th lowest percentage of any city in our report. The average for cities in our survey is 75 percent.

•By six months of age, 70 percent of Oklahoma City babies aren't being breastfed at all. That's the 5th poorest percentage of any city in our report. The average for cities in our survey is 57 percent.

•Once Oklahoma City mothers begin breastfeeding, they are 21 percent less likely than average to continue through 6 months. That's the 2nd lowest level of follow-through of any city in our report.

•Just 3.4 percent of births statewide are attended by midwives, compared to a national average of 7.3 percent.

•Oklahoma City has 10 midwives for every 1,000 births, the 11th lowest in our survey. The national average is 37 midwives for every 1,000 births.

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

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