Medical Center Exhausted Blood Supply Trying to Rescue Wellness Social Media Figure's Life After Free Birth, Coroner Hears.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's specific blood group in a vain effort to save her life as she suffered catastrophic bleeding following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has heard.

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

The baby boy was in good health, but the mother's condition rapidly declined and an ambulance was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the Victorian coroner’s court was told on Wednesday.

Ambulance officers discovered Warnecke looking jaundiced and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the ground near the birthing pool, the coroner's counsel the court stated.

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

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

The medical center's stock of her blood group was entirely depleted during medical teams' attempts to save her, the inquest was informed.

The fatality was notified to authorities, and her husband provided a statement to detectives, but the doula declined to cooperate.

As police went to examine Warnecke’s home the following day, they discovered the property had been deep cleaned by Lal.

Choices Regarding Prenatal Healthcare

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

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

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, differs from a home delivery with professional support, which includes the assistance of qualified health professionals.

The relationship and communications with the doula will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her passing, Ellyard said.

The 30-year-old’s thoughts on the medical establishment, the choices around her delivery plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a forthcoming hearing.

Context and Ongoing Inquiry

The inquest was told that Warnecke was a certified dietary consultant who advocated for a healthy and “natural” way of life on her online channels.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns influenced her choices during her prenatal period and delivery, counsel said.

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 investigation would be seeking a statement from the doula, as well as from the emergency responders and hospital staff who treated the patient, Ellyard was told.

The case will return to the coroner in the coming months for a further directions hearing.