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Northwestern Medicine
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
251 E Huron Street · Chicago, IL · 11,316 births/year
Safety Rating: A
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Maternal Safety Score
Strong
10.0 / 10
Meets or exceeds safety standards across all measures.
| Category | Max | Score |
|---|
| C-section rate | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Safety rating | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Transparency | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Services offered | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Episiotomy rate | 0.8 | 0.8 |
The safety standard for C-sections is 23.6% or lower. The safety standard for episiotomies is 5% or lower.
NTSV C-Section Rate
20.2%
IL average 24.2% · National average 25.3%
Meets the safety standard
Episiotomy Rate
1.1%
Safety standard: 5% or lower · National average 3.4%
Meets the safety standard
These rates are for first-time mothers with a single baby, full-term, head-down. This is the most common low-risk birth situation.
Maternity Services
VBAC available
Certified midwives on staff
You can bring your own doula
Hospital does not employ doulas
Lactation services
Policy preventing early elective delivery
NICU on site
What to Know
- Largest maternity program in Illinois with over 11,000 births per year
- C-section rate meets the safety standard
- Episiotomy rate well below the safety standard
- Midwives on staff and VBAC available
Maternal Memorial
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Data source: Leapfrog Group Hospital Survey 2025. C-section and episiotomy rates reflect NTSV births. Safety rating assigned by the Leapfrog Group. Illinois state average C-section rate: 24.2%.