Medical Center Exhausted Blood Supply In an Attempt to Save Wellness Influencer's Life After Free Birth, Coroner Hears.

A medical facility depleted its entire stock of a social media health advocate's matching blood type in a unsuccessful effort to keep her alive as she bled uncontrollably following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has heard.

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

The baby boy was in good health, but Warnecke's condition worsened suddenly and an ambulance was called around 4.30am, the hearing was informed on Wednesday.

Paramedics arrived to find Warnecke looking jaundiced and struggling to breathe as she was seated on the floor near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel the court said.

She was taken to the local hospital but could not be saved.

The preliminary finding suggests she succumbed to complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, the counsel explained.

The hospital’s supply of her blood group was completely exhausted during medical teams' efforts to save her, the inquest was told.

This incident was reported to police, and her husband provided a statement to investigating officers, but Lal declined to cooperate.

When officers went to examine the birth scene the following day, they also found the house had been thoroughly cleaned up by the doula.

Decisions Around Prenatal Care

Warnecke opted not to receive any medical care during her pregnancy, including declining scan appointments and appointments with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.

She planned to deliver at home and contacted Lal, who described herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a birth without medical attendants, differs from a home delivery with professional support, which includes the assistance of qualified medical practitioners.

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

The 30-year-old’s views on the healthcare system, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the global pandemic will also be examined in a forthcoming hearing.

Context and Current Investigation

The court was told that the woman was a certified nutritionist who advocated for a healthy and “natural” lifestyle on social media.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by Covid mandates and those apprehensions influenced her decision-making during pregnancy and birth, counsel said.

Earlier this year, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner issued a warning that it was investigating Lal over concerns she was involved in home deliveries that could put mothers and babies at risk.

The investigation would be requesting testimony from the doula, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who cared for the patient, Ellyard heard.

This matter will be back before the coroner in the coming months for a further directions hearing.