Medical Center Depleted Blood Trying to Save Wellness Influencer's Life After Unassisted Home Birth, Coroner Is Told.

A medical facility completely used up a social media health advocate's specific blood group in a unsuccessful bid to keep her alive as she suffered catastrophic bleeding following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has heard.

Stacey Warnecke, 30, was with her husband, her husband, and an unlicensed doula named the doula when she delivered her son at her Melbourne residence on 29 September.

The baby boy was in good health, but Warnecke's condition worsened suddenly and an emergency services was summoned around 4.30am, the Victorian coroner’s court was told on this week.

Ambulance officers arrived to find Warnecke looking pale and gasping for air as she was seated on the ground near the water birth tub, the coroner's counsel the court stated.

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

It is suspected she succumbed to severe complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, Ellyard said.

All available reserves of her blood type was completely exhausted during doctors’ efforts to stabilize her, the court was told.

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

As police went to examine the residence the following day, they discovered the property had been thoroughly cleaned up by Lal.

Decisions Regarding Prenatal Care

Warnecke chose not to receive any form of health care during her pregnancy, including declining scan appointments and appointments with a midwife or obstetrician.

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

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a birth without medical attendants, differs from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from registered medical practitioners.

Warnecke’s interactions with the doula will form part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, the counsel noted.

The 30-year-old’s views on the healthcare system, 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 Inquiry

The inquest was told that the woman was a certified nutritionist who promoted a healthy and “natural” way of life on her online channels.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by Covid mandates and those concerns influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard said.

In October, 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 investigation would be seeking a statement from Lal, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who cared for Warnecke, the court was told.

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