William W Backus Hospital: labor and delivery in Norwich, CT
William W Backus Hospital is a hospital in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut that delivers babies. It handled 945 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 20% delivered by C-section (332 such births). That is below the Connecticut rate of 29% and below the U.S. median of 26%.
- 20%First-birth C-section rate
- 945Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 273Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 3 of 5Patient survey stars
- 4 of 5Overall hospital stars
Birth services at William W Backus Hospital
- Lactation consultants
- Birth center tours
- Baby-Friendly hospital designation
- High-risk pregnancy and maternal-fetal medicine care
Tour, class and care-team details are on the hospital's maternity page.
Address and phone
326 Washington St
Norwich, CT 06360
New London County
Call (860) 889-8331 Directions
- Emergency department: Yes
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Nonprofit, Other
How William W Backus Hospital compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 20% | 29% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 273 | 340 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 51 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Middle 50%. Not counting transfusion-only cases: Top 25% (fewest complications).
In Connecticut, William W Backus Hospital has the lowest first-birth C-section rate of 21 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
- 64% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 61% 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
William W Backus 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 Norwich
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence & Memorial Hospital | New London | 14 | 26% | 1,177 | Yes |
| Day Kimball Hospital | Putnam | 27 | – | – | Yes |
| Manchester Memorial Hospital | Manchester | 28 | – | – | Yes |
| Middlesex Hospital | Middletown | 29 | 27% | 829 | Yes |
| South County Hospital Inc. | Wakefield | 29 | 28% | 692 | No |
| Kent County Memorial Hospital | Warwick | 33 | – | – | Yes |
More in New London County
- Lawrence & Memorial Hospital (New London)
All hospitals in Norwich · New London County · All Connecticut hospitals