Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center: labor and delivery in Bellingham, WA
Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center is a hospital in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington that delivers babies. It handled 1,883 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 29% delivered by C-section (637 such births). That is above the Washington rate of 28% and above the U.S. median of 26%.
- 29%First-birth C-section rate
- 1,883Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 513Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 3 of 5Patient survey stars
- 4 of 5Overall hospital stars
Address and phone
2901 Squalicum Parkway
Bellingham, WA 98225
Whatcom County
Call (360) 734-5400 Directions
- Emergency department: No
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Nonprofit, Other
How Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 29% | 28% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 513 | 280 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 83 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Bottom 25% (most complications).
In Washington, Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center has the 35th-lowest first-birth C-section rate of 47 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: 3 of 5 stars
- 67% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 60% 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
Peacehealth St Joseph 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 Bellingham
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Hospital | Anacortes | 20 | 22% | 389 | Yes |
| Skagit Valley Hospital | Mount Vernon | 25 | 25% | 1,179 | Yes |
| Whidbeyhealth Medical Center | Coupeville | 41 | 25% | 252 | – |
| Cascade Valley Hospital | Arlington | 43 | – | – | Yes |
| Jefferson Healthcare | Port Townsend | 48 | 34% | 88 | Yes |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett | Everett | 55 | 24% | 3,820 | Yes |
All hospitals in Bellingham · Whatcom County · All Washington hospitals