Hospital Exhausted Blood In an Attempt to Save Health Social Media Figure's Life Following Free Home Birth, Inquest Hears.

A hospital exhausted its supply of a wellness influencer's specific blood group in a unsuccessful effort to save her life as she bled uncontrollably following a so-called "wild" birth, a coroner's inquest has been told.

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

Her newborn son was healthy, but the mother's condition worsened suddenly and an ambulance was called around 4:30 in the morning, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on Wednesday.

Paramedics discovered Warnecke looking jaundiced and struggling to breathe as she sat on the ground near the water birth tub, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard stated.

The patient was rushed to Frankston hospital but could not be saved.

The preliminary finding suggests she succumbed to severe complications after a post-birth hemorrhage, Ellyard said.

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

The fatality was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke provided a statement to detectives, but Lal refused.

As police went to examine Warnecke’s home the following day, they discovered the house had been thoroughly cleaned up by the doula.

Decisions Regarding Prenatal Healthcare

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

The expectant mother desired to deliver at home and contacted Lal, who advertised 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 health professionals.

Warnecke’s interactions with Lal will be a key part of the official inquest into her passing, the counsel said.

Her views on the healthcare system, the choices around her delivery plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a forthcoming hearing.

Background and Current Investigation

The court was told that the woman was a certified nutritionist who promoted a wholesome and “chemical-free” lifestyle on social media.

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

In October, the state health regulator issued a warning that it was investigating Lal over concerns she was facilitating or participating 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 emergency responders and hospital staff who treated the patient, Ellyard heard.

The case will be back before the coroner’s court in March for a procedural update.