Medical Center Exhausted Blood Supply Trying to Save Health Social Media Figure's Life Following Free Home Birth, Coroner Hears.

A hospital exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's matching blood group in a unsuccessful bid to rescue her as she experienced massive hemorrhaging following a unassisted home delivery, a court has learned.

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

Her newborn son was healthy, but Warnecke's condition rapidly declined and an emergency services was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the inquest was told on Wednesday.

Paramedics arrived to find Warnecke looking yellow and struggling to breathe as she was seated on the floor near the birthing pool, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard stated.

The patient was transported to the local hospital but her life could not be saved.

The preliminary finding suggests she died from complications after a post-birth hemorrhage, the counsel said.

The hospital’s supply of her blood type was fully used up during medical teams' efforts to save her, the court was told.

Warnecke’s death was notified to authorities, and her husband gave an account to detectives, but the doula refused.

When officers went to examine the residence the following day, they discovered the property had been extensively cleaned by Lal.

Choices Regarding Prenatal Care

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

She desired to deliver at home and engaged the doula, who described herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

An unassisted birth, also referred to as a birth without medical attendants, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from registered health professionals.

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

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

Context and Current Investigation

The court was informed that the woman was a qualified dietary consultant who advocated for a healthy and “chemical-free” way of life on social media.

Evidence suggests she was deeply influenced by Covid mandates and those apprehensions influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard added.

Earlier this year, the state health regulator announced that it was investigating Lal over allegations she was involved in home deliveries that could pose a danger to women and infants.

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

The case will be back before the coroner in March for a further directions hearing.