Hospital Exhausted Blood Supply Trying to Save Wellness Social Media Figure's Life Following Free Home Birth, Coroner Is Told.
A medical facility completely used up a wellness influencer's specific blood group in a unsuccessful effort to keep her alive as she bled uncontrollably following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has learned.
Stacey Warnecke, aged 30, was accompanied by her spouse, her husband, and an unlicensed birth attendant named the doula when she gave birth to her son at her Melbourne home on 29 September.
Her newborn son was healthy, but Warnecke's state deteriorated quickly and an ambulance was summoned around 4.30am, the hearing was informed on Wednesday.
Emergency medical technicians arrived to find the woman looking pale and having difficulty breathing as she sat on the ground near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard said.
The patient was rushed to the local hospital but doctors were unable to save her.
The preliminary finding suggests she died from complications following a post-birth hemorrhage, Ellyard said.
The medical center's stock of her blood type was fully used up during doctors’ efforts to save her, the court was informed.
This incident was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke provided a statement to investigating officers, but Lal refused.
As police went to examine the birth scene the next day, they also found the property had been extensively cleaned by the doula.
Choices Around Pregnancy Healthcare
The woman chose not to receive any health care during her pregnancy, including refusing scan appointments and appointments with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.
The expectant mother wanted to give birth at home and engaged the doula, who also promoted herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.
A so-called "wild" birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, is distinct from a home delivery with professional support, which includes the assistance of registered health professionals.
Warnecke’s interactions with the doula will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her passing, the counsel said.
The 30-year-old’s thoughts on the medical establishment, the choices around her delivery plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a forthcoming hearing.
Context and Ongoing Investigation
The court was informed that Warnecke was a certified nutritionist who promoted a wholesome and “chemical-free” lifestyle on social media.
Evidence suggests 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 announced that it was looking into the doula's activities over allegations she was involved in home deliveries 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 the patient, Ellyard was told.
The case will return to the coroner’s court in March for a procedural update.
