Noa Felix was later declared healthy after the unexpected delivery inside her family’s SUV in Chandler.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — An Arizona father delivered his newborn daughter in the front seat of the family’s SUV after his wife’s labor rapidly advanced during their drive home from a hospital, according to the couple’s account.
Regena and Frankie Felix welcomed their daughter, Noa, on July 13 in the parking lot of Gila River Resorts & Casinos — SanTan Mountain. The couple said they had gone to a hospital earlier that day but were discharged because staff determined Regena’s labor had not progressed enough for her to remain there.
Regena’s water broke within minutes of leaving the hospital, the family told Fox 10 Phoenix. Frankie searched for a nearby place where he could safely stop and chose the well-lit casino parking lot. With too little time to return to a hospital, the couple prepared for the delivery inside their vehicle.
The situation became more urgent when the parents saw that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Noa’s neck and that the newborn appeared blue, according to their account. Frankie said he removed the cord and completed the delivery despite having no childbirth training.
“Not enough military training in the world prepared me to deliver a baby, and I just did,” Frankie told Fox 10.
The family later took Noa to a pediatrician, who found her healthy, according to the station. The child was resting at home with her parents four days after her birth. The pediatrician also praised the couple for how they responded during the emergency, Regena said.
Regena told the station that she had questioned the decision to discharge her because she remained in pain and believed her labor was continuing. She said the experience showed why patients’ concerns during labor should be taken seriously.
The hospital was not identified in the reports reviewed for this article. No public statement from the facility was included, leaving it unclear what examinations were conducted before Regena was discharged or what instructions staff gave the couple.
The available reports also did not identify any emergency personnel, casino employees or bystanders who may have assisted the family. Noa’s birth time and weight were not released, and the family’s account remains the main source of information about the delivery.
The Felix family was home together after Noa received a clean bill of health. No complications had been publicly reported, and there was no indication that the family had filed a formal complaint against the hospital.
Author note: Last updated July 20, 2026.