Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center: labor and delivery in La Crosse, WI
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is a hospital in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin that delivers babies. It handled 1,845 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 16% delivered by C-section (521 such births). That is below the Wisconsin rate of 22% and below the U.S. median of 26%.
- 16%First-birth C-section rate
- 1,845Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 76Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 4 of 5Patient survey stars
- 4 of 5Overall hospital stars
Address and phone
1910 South Ave
La Crosse, WI 54601
La Crosse County
Call (608) 782-7300 Directions
- Emergency department: Yes
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Nonprofit, Private
How Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 16% | 22% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 76 | 197 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 64 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Top 25% (fewest complications). Not counting transfusion-only cases: Middle 50%.
In Wisconsin, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center has the 7th-lowest first-birth C-section rate of 69 hospitals that report one.
The first-birth C-section rate counts first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby. Complication rates are adjusted for patient risk. Our data explains each number.
What patients say
- Patient survey summary: 4 of 5 stars
- 81% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 78% of patients rated this hospital 9 or 10 out of 10
Survey results cover all patients at the hospital, not only maternity patients.
Birthing-Friendly designation
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center holds the federal Birthing-Friendly designation. Hospitals earn it by taking part in a perinatal quality collaborative and following maternal safety practices.
Other hospitals that deliver babies near La Crosse
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc. | La Crosse | 0.7 | 27% | 518 | Yes |
| Vernon Memorial Hospital | Viroqua | 24 | 14% | 125 | – |
| Winona Health Services | Winona | 25 | 24% | 166 | Yes |
| Tomah Memorial Hospital | Tomah | 39 | 25% | 190 | – |
| Black River Memorial Hospital | Black River Falls | 40 | – | 102 | Yes |
| Winnmed | Decorah | 43 | 29% | 231 | Yes |
More labor and delivery in La Crosse
All hospitals in La Crosse · La Crosse County · All Wisconsin hospitals