Medical Center Depleted Blood Supply In an Attempt to Rescue Health Social Media Figure's Life Following Unassisted Birth, Inquest Hears.

A hospital exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's matching blood type in a futile bid to rescue her as she bled uncontrollably following a unassisted home delivery, a court has learned.

Stacey Warnecke, aged 30, was with her husband, her husband, and an unlicensed doula named the doula when she gave birth to her baby boy at her Melbourne home on the 29th of September.

The infant was in good health, but Warnecke's condition worsened suddenly and an emergency services was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on Wednesday.

Paramedics discovered Warnecke looking pale and gasping for air as she was seated on the floor near the water birth tub, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard said.

The patient was transported to Frankston hospital but could not be saved.

It is suspected she died from severe complications following a massive bleeding after childbirth, the counsel explained.

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

The fatality was reported to police, and her husband provided a statement to investigating officers, but Lal declined to cooperate.

When officers went to inspect the residence the next day, they discovered the property had been thoroughly cleaned up by the doula.

Choices Around Prenatal Healthcare

The woman elected not to receive any prenatal 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 contacted Lal, who advertised herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

A so-called "wild" birth, also referred to as a wild or unassisted birth, is distinct from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from qualified medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with Lal will be a key part of the official inquest into her passing, Ellyard noted.

Her views on the medical establishment, the decisions around her delivery plan and wider perspectives in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.

Background and Current Investigation

The inquest was told that the woman was a qualified nutritionist who advocated for a wholesome and “chemical-free” way of life on her online channels.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those apprehensions influenced her choices during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard 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 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 heard.

The case will be back before the coroner’s court in March for a procedural update.