A hospital exhausted its supply of a wellness influencer’s blood type in an unsuccessful attempt to save her life as she bled uncontrollably after a free birth at home, a court has been told.
Stacey Warnecke, 30, was with her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and unregulated doula Emily Lal when she delivered her son at her Melbourne home on 29 September.
The baby boy was healthy but Warnecke’s condition rapidly declined and an ambulance was called about 4.30am, the Victorian coroner’s court was told on Wednesday.
Paramedics arrived to find Warnecke looking yellow and struggling to breathe as she sat on the floor near the birthing pool, counsel assisting Rachel Ellyard said.
She was taken to Frankston hospital but could not be saved.
It is suspected she died from complications after a postpartum haemorrhage, Ellyard said.
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The hospital’s supply of her blood type was completely exhausted during doctors’ attempts to save her, the court was told.
Warnecke’s death was reported to police and Nathan Warnecke provided a statement to detectives, but Lal refused.
When officers went to examine Warnecke’s home the next day, they also found the house had been extensively cleaned by Lal.
Warnecke elected not to receive any health care during her pregnancy, including declining ultra sounds and appointments with a midwife or obstetrician.
She wanted to give birth at home and contacted Lal, who also promoted herself as a free birth “keeper” on social media.
A free birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from registered health professionals. There are many publicly funded home birth programs around Australia.
Warnecke’s interactions with Lal will form part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, Ellyard said.
The 30-year-old’s thoughts on the healthcare system, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes following the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.
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The court was told Warnecke was a qualified nutritionist who promoted a healthy and “chemical-free” lifestyle on social media.
It appeared she was profoundly affected by the Covid mandates and those concerns influenced her decision-making during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard said.
Victoria’s health complaints commissioner announced in October it was investigating Lal over allegations she was facilitating or participating in home births that could put mothers and babies at risk.
“Members of the public are encouraged not to engage with Ms Lal in relation to the provision of general health services,” the commissioner warned.
Ellyard said the coroner would be seeking a statement from Lal, as well as the paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated Warnecke.
The case will return to the coroner’s court in March for a further directions hearing.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theguardian.com
