Medical Center Depleted Blood Supply In an Attempt to Rescue Health Social Media Figure's Life Following Free Home Birth, Inquest Hears.

A hospital exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's specific blood type in a vain bid to save her life as she experienced massive hemorrhaging following a unassisted home delivery, a court has been told.

Stacey Warnecke, aged 30, was with her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and an unlicensed doula named the doula when she delivered her baby boy at her Melbourne home on the 29th of September.

Her newborn son was well, but the mother's condition deteriorated quickly and an ambulance was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on this week.

Emergency medical technicians arrived to find the woman looking jaundiced and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the floor near the water birth tub, counsel assisting the court said.

She was rushed to the local hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

Authorities believe she died from complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, Ellyard said.

The hospital’s supply of her blood group was completely exhausted during doctors’ efforts to stabilize her, the inquest was informed.

The fatality was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke provided a statement to investigating officers, but Lal refused.

As police went to inspect the birth scene the next day, they also found the house had been extensively cleaned by Lal.

Decisions Around Pregnancy Healthcare

Warnecke elected not to receive any prenatal care during her pregnancy, including refusing ultrasounds and consultations with a midwife or obstetrician.

She wanted to give birth at home and contacted Lal, who also promoted herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.

A free birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, is distinct from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from registered medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with the doula will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her passing, Ellyard noted.

Her beliefs on the medical establishment, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also come under scrutiny in a forthcoming hearing.

Context and Current Investigation

The inquest was told that Warnecke was a certified nutritionist who advocated for a healthy and “natural” way of life on her online channels.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns shaped her choices during her prenatal period and delivery, counsel added.

In October, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner announced that it was investigating Lal over allegations she was involved in home births that could pose a danger to women and infants.

The coroner would be requesting testimony from the doula, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated Warnecke, Ellyard heard.

The case will return to the coroner’s court in the coming months for a procedural update.