The Women’s Center at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital is celebrating another historic milestone after welcoming 1,629 babies in 2025, marking the highest annual number of births in the health ministry’s history. This record-breaking year reflects the continued trust families place in the Women’s Center team and the hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate maternity care at every stage of pregnancy, delivery, and recovery.
“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and clinical excellence of our Women’s Center staff,” said Liz Dabb, Director of the Women’s Center at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital. “Even with significant growth, our team remains focused on supporting safe, individualized birth experiences and walking alongside families during one of the most meaningful moments of their lives.”
In congruence with record volumes, the Women’s Center continued to deliver exceptional outcomes for moms and babies. In 2025, the hospital achieved a Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) Cesarean Section rate of just 18 percent, well below the national average. This measure reflects the team’s strong commitment to supporting safe vaginal births for low-risk, first-time mothers- an approach shown to benefit both maternal and newborn health.
The Women’s Center also reported strong results for patients seeking vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). In 2025, the hospital achieved a 79 percent VBAC success rate, helping reduce the risks associated with multiple cesarean deliveries and supporting safer outcomes for future pregnancies when clinically appropriate.
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital offers families a comprehensive, patient-centered birthing experience, including individualized birthing suites, an on-site Level II newborn intensive care unit, and access to pediatric specialty care through SSM Health’s broader system of services.
“Our success is rooted in teamwork and trust,” Liz added. “We are incredibly proud of our Women’s Center team and grateful to the families who choose SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital to care for them and their growing families.”
Families planning a pregnancy or expecting a baby can learn more about maternity services at ssmhealth.com/maternity.
About SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon is a 134-bed hospital and has the most advanced robotic surgical system for minimally invasive surgery, a comprehensive cardiology program with the only Cath lab in the 9 surrounding counties, and a pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program operated in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
As part of the SSM Health system, the hospital system is nationally recognized for quality and innovation. SSM Health Illinois is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across southern Illinois through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system.
For more information, visit us at ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook.
