She Aimed for a Natural Birth, but After an Emergency C-Section and Heartbreak, She Calls for a State Investigation

MESA, Arizona — Noelle Zmrzel’s journey to motherhood took a tragic turn when she lost her baby during delivery at the Willow Center for Birth and Wellness on November 9, 2023. She was 42 weeks pregnant, and despite her family’s concerns over excessive pain, it took over 30 hours of labor before emergency medical assistance was called.

“We asked them about going to the hospital because she was in so much pain,” said Dylan Zmrzel, Noelle’s husband. Their situation escalated, leading to an ambulance transport to Banner Desert Medical Center, where an emergency C-section was performed, but tragically, it was too late.

“About as bad as you can imagine,” Noelle reflected on the experience. In the wake of their loss, the Zmrzels filed a formal complaint against the midwives with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), which oversees certified non-nurse midwives and the licensing of birth centers like Willow.

After more than a year of investigation, the ADHS released its findings, revealing numerous deficiencies in care. Among the violations, the midwives failed to monitor fetal heart tones adequately after the rupture of the amniotic sac, an oversight that lasted over an hour despite concerning heart rate indicators.

Furthermore, one midwife was cited for not establishing an emergency care plan and neglecting to conduct necessary screenings and vital sign assessments in a timely manner. The ADHS has not confirmed whether further investigations are in progress.

The co-owner of the Willow Center, Diane Ortega, expressed sympathy for the Zmrzels’ loss, recognizing the inherent risks of childbirth. “Even with the healthiest, low-risk mom, we can’t know every possibility of things that can go wrong,” she stated, defending the care provided at the facility.

While the Willow Center plans to respond to the ADHS findings, specific comments regarding the Zmrzels’ complaints were withheld due to patient privacy laws. The investigation also resulted in a $9,000 monetary penalty for one midwife, which can be reduced to $200 if paid promptly.

This tragic case raises questions about the standards of care in midwifery and the importance of timely medical interventions during childbirth.