A recent study by U.S. News and World Report named three Massachusetts hospitals among the best facilities in the country for maternity care, including UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

The study looked at services for uncomplicated pregnancies as well as how hospitals perform in childbirth using c-section rates, newborn complication rates and whether the hospital meets federal criteria for "birthing-friendly" practices.

"Its incredibly important to receive the prenatal care and the delivery care that parents need really does improve health outcomes for the parent and the baby," said Jennifer Winston, a health data scientist at U.S. News and World Report. 

U.S. News and World Report says access to maternal health is becoming a bigger issue. Locally, UMass Memorial Health closed the birthing center at their Leominster facility in September, forcing pregnant patients to have to travel to other facilities to give birth. It's something which can be dangerous when moments matter.

The trend of maternal health closures prompted researchers to designate hospitals vital to care. 

"This year for the first time we created maternity care access designations," Winston said. "And this was to recognize hospitals that provide maternity care in places that would otherwise turn into a maternity desert."

Southcoast Health's Fall River location received this inaugural designation, while Mass. General and Beth Israel Deaconess are the other high performing hospitals in the state.

The Leominster birthing center remains closed despite efforts from patients, lawmakers and health care providers.