Spencer Municipal Hospital: labor and delivery in Spencer, IA
Spencer Municipal Hospital is a hospital in Spencer, Clay County, Iowa that delivers babies. It handled 199 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 19% delivered by C-section (63 such births). That is below the Iowa rate of 24% and below the U.S. median of 26%.
- 19%First-birth C-section rate
- 199Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 308Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 4 of 5Patient survey stars
- 4 of 5Overall hospital stars
Birth services at Spencer Municipal Hospital
- Lactation consultants
- Childbirth and parenting classes
Tour, class and care-team details are on the hospital's maternity page.
Address and phone
1200 1st Avenue East
Spencer, IA 51301
Clay County
Call (712) 264-6198 Directions
- Emergency department: Yes
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Government, Local
How Spencer Municipal Hospital compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 19% | 24% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 308 | 204 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 57 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Middle 50%.
In Iowa, Spencer Municipal Hospital has the 12th-lowest first-birth C-section rate of 43 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
- 80% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 85% 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
Spencer Municipal Hospital 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 Spencer
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes Regional Healthcare | Spirit Lake | 19 | 14% | 235 | Yes |
| Palo Alto County Hospital | Emmetsburg | 23 | – | 62 | – |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center | Cherokee | 34 | – | 81 | Yes |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center | Storm Lake | 34 | 14% | 305 | – |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center | Sheldon | 36 | 8% | 120 | – |
| Sanford Worthington Medical Center | Worthington | 40 | 21% | 331 | Yes |