Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist: labor and delivery in Des Moines, IA
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist is a hospital in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa that delivers babies. It handled 5,083 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 25% delivered by C-section (1,591 such births). That is above the Iowa rate of 24% and below the U.S. median of 26%.
- 25%First-birth C-section rate
- 5,083Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 70Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 3 of 5Patient survey stars
- 3 of 5Overall hospital stars
Birth services at Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist
- Midwifery care
- Lactation consultants
- Childbirth and parenting classes
Tour, class and care-team details are on the hospital's maternity page.
Address and phone
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Polk County
Call (515) 343-1000 Directions
- Emergency department: Yes
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Nonprofit, Private
How Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 25% | 24% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 70 | 204 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 72 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Top 25% (fewest complications). Not counting transfusion-only cases: Middle 50%.
In Iowa, Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist has the 21st-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: 3 of 5 stars
- 72% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 68% 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
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist 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 Des Moines
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines | 0.8 | 29% | 1,952 | Yes |
| Broadlawns Medical Center | Des Moines | 1.8 | 36% | 494 | Yes |
| Mary Greeley Medical Center | Ames | 31 | 16% | 1,485 | Yes |
| Boone County Hospital | Boone | 35 | 22% | 140 | Yes |
| Pella Regional Health Center | Pella | 40 | 26% | 615 | – |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center | Grinnell | 48 | 23% | 318 | Yes |
More labor and delivery in Des Moines
All hospitals in Des Moines · Polk County · All Iowa hospitals