Nationwide — Regena Felix, an African American mother from Gilbert, Arizona, gave birth in her family’s car after she was sent home from the hospital while in labor. She delivered her daughter in a parking lot as a monsoon storm hit, and her labor progressed faster than expected.
Regena and her husband, Frankie, had driven about 30 miles to the hospital, prepared for the arrival of their baby. They packed their belongings and believed they would be welcoming their child there.
After several hours at the hospital, Regena said she was discharged and told to continue laboring at home. According to 11Alive, she said she told medical staff she did not feel comfortable leaving, especially because her home was far from the hospital.
As the couple drove home, Regena’s contractions became stronger and more intense. They realized they could not make it back to the hospital, so they pulled into a nearby casino parking lot.
Inside the passenger seat of their new car, Regena gave birth to their daughter, Noa, while the storm continued outside. Frankie described the moment as overwhelming, saying, “If you were on the outside looking in, it probably looked like pure chaos.”
After the birth, Frankie noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Noa’s neck. He was able to remove it before driving Regena and their newborn daughter back to the hospital.
When Frankie called the hospital, Regena said they were surprised when they realized she was the same patient they had recently sent home. She said she is thankful that she and her baby are safe, but hopes her experience encourages other women to speak up about their concerns.
“I wish they would listen to their patients just a little bit more,” she said. “As women, we know our bodies, so advocate for yourself even more.”
The hospital declined to discuss Regena’s specific case because of patient privacy laws. In a statement, officials said they remain committed to providing every patient with respectful, compassionate, and high-quality care.