Medical Center Used Up Blood In an Attempt to Save Health Influencer's Life Following Free Birth, Coroner Is Told.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a wellness influencer's specific blood type in a unsuccessful attempt to keep her alive as she bled uncontrollably after a free birth, a coroner's inquest has been told.

Stacey Warnecke, 30, was accompanied by her spouse, Nathan Warnecke, and an unlicensed birth attendant named Emily Lal when she gave birth to her son at her home in Melbourne home on the 29th of September.

The baby boy was healthy, but the mother's condition deteriorated quickly and an emergency services was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on this week.

Paramedics arrived to find the woman looking pale and struggling to breathe as she was seated on the ground near the inflatable pool, counsel assisting the court said.

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

It is suspected she died from complications after a postpartum haemorrhage, the counsel explained.

All available reserves of her blood group was entirely depleted during doctors’ attempts to stabilize her, the court was told.

This incident was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke gave an account to detectives, but Lal refused.

As police went to examine the residence the following day, they also found the house had been deep cleaned by the doula.

Decisions Around Pregnancy Care

Warnecke elected not to receive any form of medical care during her term, including declining scan appointments and consultations with a midwife or obstetrician.

She wanted to give birth at home and contacted the doula, who advertised herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

An unassisted birth, also referred to as a birth without medical attendants, is distinct from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from registered medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with the doula will form part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, Ellyard noted.

Her beliefs on the medical establishment, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.

Context and Ongoing Investigation

The inquest was told that the woman was a qualified nutritionist who advocated for a healthy and “chemical-free” lifestyle on her online channels.

It appeared she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those apprehensions influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard added.

Earlier this year, the state health regulator issued a warning that it was looking into the doula's activities over concerns she was involved in home deliveries that could put mothers and babies at risk.

The investigation would be seeking a statement from the doula, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated Warnecke, the court heard.

This matter will be back before the coroner’s court in March for a further directions hearing.