Doreen Sorce Zirnheld Charged Me for a Birth, she did NOT deliver Tucson Arizona Arizona

Doreen Sorce was the midwife I hired for the last two of my three home births. She is well educated, has many years’ experience and her main goal is to see that families-mommas, babies, daddies and siblings-have the best birth experience possible.

I well know that Doreen offers free consultations--as do most midwives. I would submit the following for your consideration: you have the opportunity to trust your own judgment and intuition in making an important decision. This is a valuable resource available to you—to interview every midwife in town, if you desire. To hear from them in their own words the answers to your questions. So my question to you is this: "Why would you take the anonymous word of a stranger over a personal interview and interaction?" You have nothing to lose by requesting and having a consultation; you just might have everything to gain.

I interviewed other midwives, but found I could not find confidence with them and their practice.

But my decision was made based on my own experience--not the word of a stranger I found on the internet.

While I am not the original poster and cannot comment to her experience, I can say this: your decision to hire a midwife should be based on your own personal interview and interaction with the midwife. Making the decision to hire a midwife and the midwife you choose has a huge bearing on your birth experience.

The account given of this birth is nowhere near what I experienced with Doreen. However, if I was currently in the position of needing to hire a midwife, I believe due diligence would be best exercised if I went through the numbered accusations and came to my own conclusions.

1. As I cannot attest as to whether or not this person was able to contact Doreen, I will only say that I never had any problems reaching her by phone, and if I left a message, she always returned the call. As far as payment goes, it should be expected that payment would need to be paid in full before the birth took place. This is something that should be discussed at a consultation.
2. I did not know Doreen to work with a doula or supply doula services. If the services of a doula are desired by the mother, she should take the responsibility to hire and pay for one—not to expect one to be furnished.
3. If a water birth is desired, and it is important to the mother, all aspects should be discussed before the actual birth. However, birth does not follow a script and does not always go according to the desired plan. Safety and circumstances will dictate where the actual birth takes place most of the time.
4. Were charges brought in this accusation? According to this account, it seems speculative as to the cause of the missing money.
5. As the most important decisions and quick actions are needed during the actual birth, it is paramount that the midwife be rested and alert during that time and the time immediately following.  While a midwife will give guidance and encouragement during labor, it is often best for the mother and, in most cases, the father, to labor together. Distractions of having other people around will often impede labor progress. If the only place available for the midwife to rest is in a room where the TV is on, then what is she to do?
6. What were the other factors in the decision to go to the hospital?  The information given here is incomplete.  Discussing the instances where a transport might be warranted is something that could be discussed at a consultation appointment.
7. What does the contract say regarding payment in the case of transport? This is something that needs to be discussed during a consultation. I would also check into the policies of the birth center just to verify this account.
8. What causes craniosynostosis? Would laboring for this long after the water has broken cause such a malady? This person states that this is her belief—not that she has medical proof.

Each birth experience is personal--your decision of who you are going to trust to help you have the birth you want should be one made carefully and thoughtfully. 

I would suggest you examine why you wish to have a home birth; formulate questions that will provide you with the answers you need to make an informed, educated decision, then set out to find those answers. In the process of finding the answers, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the midwife. This decision is the first of many important ones you will make as a parent. You owe it to yourself, your baby and your family to make this decision with well thought out intent.

For me and my family, Doreen was a valuable resource--she was a partner in helping us reach our goal of having a healthy home birth. And she was this not just once, but twice. After experiencing my second birth with Doreen as my midwife, when I was pregnant once again, I had no question of who I wanted to be with me as I delivered my baby. 

I find it interesting that the only person who wrote a positive report, lives in the same obscure little town where Doreen's son and daughter in law live! Newport News, VA? Come on, what are the chances! Also, it is signed by TD, her daughter in law's name happens to start w/a T. Coincidence? I don't think so! Sure, she may have gotten lucky a few times at deliveries, but would you want to take the chance? If a baby just happens to fall out, anyone can catch it. Doreen has very little knowledge of the process and what to do if anything happens. She doesn't know how to prevent complications or what to do if they arise! Look at the fines that department of health services gave her (azdhs.com). You won't find another AZ MW with those kinds of charges. She has no back up and is not respected anywhere. She's a part time midwife for a reason. There are enough good midwives in the area, why take the chance with you and your baby' lives. People like her are the reason that midwifery faces so many challenges here. Go online and do some searches, you'll be lucky to find anyone who recommends her, except people she asks to write reviews, like her family. Oh, and by the way, her info on Cranio (even though she copied it from a website) is not even accurate.
Good Luck

It's interesting how the person who is advocating for this "midwife" states that she ALWAYS is attentive to her clients, how would she know unless she was ALWAYS there with her (or perhaps is HER, the "midwife" in question). Also, how does she know for a fact that she listened to heart tones every 15 minutes, was she at this birth? She refused to submit the majority of her records to the licensing body. Her training is sketchy (she embellishes greatly when telling people about it). Talk to other midwives in town, she's NOT well respected.

Anyone wondering about the validity of these claims should just go to azdhs.com and search licensed midwives (city of Sahuarita) and look at the fines that the state levied against her. Read the details more than the amount, though I do believe that it is the highest that they have ever filed.
She is a scary midwife. I also made the mistake of employing her.

It is interesting as to how I came to see this report. I had a birth with Doreen Sorce 8 years ago and did not have a good experience. Im sorry for the woman who filed this report. A birth should be the most beautiful experience a woman has but unfortunately it does not always happen like this.

It seems to me that the person who believes Doreen Sorce is an amazing midwife is either her or related to her. She begins her response with: "i don't know where you get off by saying this". This is a platform for expression, for letting others know our experiences. It is fair to say that there are always two sides to a story and here we find both. There is no reason to get so personal.

I give thanks to Ripoffreport for the opportunity to share with the world our positive and negative experiences. My experience was negative. 8 years ago, Doreen Sorce attended my birth. I never again had a home birth and advise people to think twice before they do so. Doreen arrived at my home 10 minutes before I gave birth. On top of my horrendous labor pains, I was nervous that she would never show up. I regret that I was not calm and relaxed when my baby arrived to this world as she felt everything I did.

If you are reading this and do decide to have a home birth regardless of the chances you are taking, my only advice is to do extensive research on the midwives in your area and ask others who have had home births for questions that you should ask.

Sincerely
HG

First off, I do not understand where you get off posting this.

Doreen Sorce is a wonderful midwife, and the only person I would trust with something as important as the birth of my child.

She is ALWAYS attentive to her patients, regardless of whether she has been paid or not. Before, during, and after the birth she frequently visits patients preforming wellness checks on both mother and child.

A doula is often referred to as a labor coach or assistant. You stated that Doreen brought two assistants with her. (Who are honest and trustworthy people.) In a home birth, the father of the child is typically a labor coach. So you did essentially have all the assistance that a "doula" would provide. You had the assistants who I am sure were walking around with you, offering water, and checking on you, as well as the father helping you work through contractions. (I am confident that this does not waiver from birth to birth.)

Many people like the idea of a water birth, because it can be a more gentle birth. But, sitting in warm water if your water has broken and labor is not progressing, will only slow things down, thus putting your baby at a greater risk. Some mothers can not get comfortable sitting in a tub of water during labor. I was also looking to have a water birth, but this was the case for me. Midwives want labor and birth to be a comfortable experience for the mother, so that the baby is born into a calm environment.

Though Doreen may have been downstairs, and you interpreted her as doing nothing, I can assure you she knew exactly what was going on. I was in a home with two stories, and I was upstairs in labor while she was downstairs, listening to me. One of her assistants came up to check on me and I told her that I had the urge to push. The assistant told this to Doreen who already knew this just by the change in the noises I was making during contractions.

While your water may have been broken, if your baby were in any danger, Doreen would have transported you much sooner. Obviously there was no danger to you or your baby, because what you fail to mention is the fact that she and/or her assistants were checking the heart tones of the baby every 15 minutes to ensure that they did not slow or become abnormal as though the baby were in duress.

You stated that your water was broken for a day before you went to the hospital. Do you believe that this day of work and support did not deserve payment? Obviously your labor and delivery did not go as you or Doreen wanted them to, but she was still there as your midwife supporting you, and ensuring that you and your baby were safe. If you consider who cuts the umbilical cord the person who delivers the baby, perhaps I should have paid my husband. If your baby had been born at home, he may have been in more danger, thus you were taken to the hospital, where I am confident that Doreen told the Doctors exactly what was going on so that they could safely deliver your baby.

This is the definition of Craniosynostosis from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke website. (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/craniosynostosis/craniosynostosis.htm)
Craniosynostosis is a birth defect of the brain characterized by the premature closure of one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of the skull (called the cranial sutures) before brain growth is complete. Closure of a single suture is most common. In contrast to normal skull growth, in which the skull expands uniformly to accommodate the growth of the brain, premature closure of a single suture restricts the growth in that part of the skull and promotes growth in other parts of the skull where sutures remain open. This results in an abnormal shape of the skull, but does not prevent the brain from expanding to a normal volume. However, when many sutures close prematurely, the skull cannot expand to accommodate the growing brain, which leads to increased pressure within the skull and impaired development of the brain. Craniosynostosis can be gene-linked, or caused by metabolic diseases, such as rickets or an overactive thyroid. Some cases are associated with other disorders such as microcephaly (abnormally small head) and hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain). The first sign of craniosynostosis is an abnormally shaped skull. Other features can include signs of increased intracranial pressure, developmental delays, or mental retardation, which are caused by constriction of the growing brain.

Just because your water has broken does not mean that your baby has descended into the birth canal. If your baby had descended I do not believe that Doreen would have waited as long as she did to transport you. If after your water had broken and the baby had not descended once you got to the hospital, the chances of you having a natural birth declined dramatically. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 1 in 3 babies in the United States is delivered by cesarean section. If this is how your baby were born, by your thinking, who is to say the a C-section did not cause the Craniosynostosis?

I am very sorry that your birth did not go the way that you pictured it. Unfortunately, sometime that is the case. But I do not think that it gives you the right to try and ruin a wonderful and very well respected midwifes good name.

For those of you who have read both sides of this, the choice is yours, however I trusted Doreen with the birth of my first child, and plan to do so without any reservations with my future children.

TD