Hospital Exhausted Blood Supply In an Attempt to Save Health Influencer's Life After Unassisted Home Birth, Inquest Hears.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's specific blood group in a unsuccessful attempt to save her life as she bled uncontrollably after a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has been told.

Stacey Warnecke, aged 30, was accompanied by her spouse, Nathan Warnecke, and an unregulated birth attendant named Emily Lal when she delivered her son at her home in Melbourne residence on 29 September.

The infant was healthy, but the mother's condition deteriorated quickly and an emergency services was called around 4:30 in the morning, the inquest was informed on Wednesday.

Paramedics discovered Warnecke looking yellow and gasping for air as she was seated on the floor near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard said.

The patient was transported to Frankston hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

It is suspected she succumbed to complications after a postpartum haemorrhage, Ellyard said.

All available reserves of her blood type was entirely depleted during doctors’ attempts to save her, the inquest was told.

The fatality was notified to authorities, and her husband provided a statement to detectives, but Lal refused.

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

Choices Regarding Prenatal Healthcare

Warnecke elected not to receive any form of health care during her pregnancy, including refusing scan appointments and consultations with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.

The expectant mother desired to give birth at home and engaged the doula, who described herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

A so-called "wild" birth, also referred to as a wild or unassisted birth, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from registered health professionals.

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

The 30-year-old’s beliefs on the medical establishment, the decisions around her delivery plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.

Context and Current Inquiry

The court was informed that Warnecke was a qualified dietary consultant who promoted a healthy and “natural” lifestyle on social media.

It appeared she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard said.

Earlier this year, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner announced that it was investigating Lal over allegations she was facilitating or participating in home births 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 treated Warnecke, Ellyard heard.

This matter will return to the coroner in the coming months for a further directions hearing.