Hospital Used Up Blood Supply In an Attempt to Rescue Wellness Social Media Figure's Life Following Unassisted Birth, Coroner Hears.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's matching blood group in a vain bid to save her life as she bled uncontrollably following a so-called "wild" birth, a court has learned.

Stacey Warnecke, 30, was accompanied by her spouse, Nathan Warnecke, and an unlicensed doula named Emily Lal when she gave birth to her baby boy at her home in Melbourne residence on 29 September.

Her newborn son was well, but Warnecke's state rapidly declined and an ambulance was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the hearing was informed on Wednesday.

Ambulance officers arrived to find Warnecke looking jaundiced and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the floor near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel the court said.

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

Authorities believe she succumbed to severe complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, Ellyard explained.

The medical center's stock of her blood group was completely exhausted during medical teams' attempts to save her, the court was told.

Warnecke’s death was notified to authorities, and her husband provided a statement to investigating officers, but Lal refused.

When officers went to inspect the birth scene the next day, they also found the property had been thoroughly cleaned up by Lal.

Decisions Around Pregnancy Care

Warnecke chose not to receive any form of health care during her pregnancy, including refusing ultrasounds and consultations with a qualified midwife or doctor.

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

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, is distinct from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from registered health professionals.

Warnecke’s interactions with Lal will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, Ellyard said.

Her beliefs on the healthcare system, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also come under scrutiny in a future inquest.

Background and Ongoing Inquiry

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

It appeared she was profoundly affected by Covid mandates and those concerns influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, counsel added.

Earlier this year, the state health regulator issued a warning that it was looking into the doula's activities over concerns she was involved in home deliveries that could pose a danger to women and infants.

The coroner would be requesting testimony from Lal, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated Warnecke, Ellyard heard.

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