Hospital Exhausted Blood In an Attempt to Rescue Health Social Media Figure's Life After Free Birth, Coroner Is Told.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's specific blood type in a vain effort to rescue her as she bled uncontrollably after a unassisted home delivery, a court has been told.

Stacey Warnecke, aged 30, was with her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and an unlicensed doula named Emily Lal when she gave birth to her son at her Melbourne home on 29 September.

The infant was well, but Warnecke's state deteriorated quickly and an ambulance was called around 4.30am, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on Wednesday.

Emergency medical technicians discovered the woman looking pale and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the floor near the birthing pool, the coroner's counsel the court said.

She was taken to Frankston hospital but her life could not be saved.

It is suspected she died from complications after a post-birth hemorrhage, Ellyard said.

The hospital’s supply of her blood group was entirely depleted during doctors’ efforts to save her, the inquest was told.

This incident was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke gave an account to investigating officers, but the doula declined to cooperate.

When officers went to inspect the birth scene the next day, they discovered the house had been extensively cleaned by the doula.

Decisions Around Pregnancy Healthcare

The woman elected not to receive any form of health care during her term, including refusing scan appointments and consultations with a midwife or doctor.

The expectant mother planned to deliver at home and contacted Lal, who also promoted herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a birth without medical attendants, is distinct from a planned home birth, which involves care from qualified medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with Lal will be a key part of the official inquest into her passing, the counsel said.

The 30-year-old’s beliefs on the healthcare system, the choices around her delivery plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the global pandemic will also come under scrutiny in a future inquest.

Context and Ongoing Inquiry

The inquest was told that Warnecke was a certified nutritionist who promoted a healthy and “natural” lifestyle on social media.

It appeared she was deeply influenced by Covid mandates and those apprehensions influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard said.

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

The coroner would be seeking a statement from Lal, as well as from the emergency responders and hospital staff who cared for Warnecke, Ellyard heard.

The case will return to the coroner in the coming months for a further directions hearing.