Hospital Used Up Blood Supply In an Attempt to Rescue Wellness Social Media Figure's Life After Free Birth, Inquest Hears.

A hospital depleted its entire stock of a wellness influencer's matching blood type in a futile attempt to save her life as she experienced massive hemorrhaging after a free birth, a coroner's inquest has been told.

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

The infant was healthy, but Warnecke's state deteriorated quickly and an emergency services was summoned around 4.30am, the hearing was told on Wednesday.

Paramedics discovered the woman looking pale and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the floor near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel the court said.

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

It is suspected she succumbed to complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, Ellyard explained.

The hospital’s supply of her blood group was completely exhausted during medical teams' attempts to stabilize her, the inquest was informed.

The fatality was reported to police, and her husband gave an account to detectives, but Lal declined to cooperate.

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

Choices Around Pregnancy Care

Warnecke chose not to receive any medical care during her pregnancy, including declining scan appointments and consultations with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.

The expectant mother desired to give birth 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, differs 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 official inquest into her passing, the counsel said.

Her thoughts on the medical establishment, the decisions around her birth plan and wider perspectives following the global pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.

Context and Current Inquiry

The court was told that Warnecke was a certified dietary consultant who advocated for a wholesome and “natural” way of life on social media.

It appeared she was deeply influenced by Covid mandates and those concerns influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, counsel said.

In October, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner issued a warning that it was investigating Lal over concerns she was facilitating or participating in home births that could pose a danger to women and infants.

The coroner would be requesting testimony from the doula, as well as from the emergency responders and hospital staff who treated Warnecke, the court was told.

The case will be back before the coroner in the coming months for a procedural update.