Hospital Exhausted Blood Supply In an Attempt to Save Health Influencer's Life After Unassisted Home Birth, Inquest Is Told.

A medical facility depleted its entire stock of a social media health advocate's matching blood group in a futile attempt to rescue her as she suffered catastrophic bleeding following a unassisted home delivery, a court has been told.

The 30-year-old woman, aged 30, was accompanied by her spouse, her husband, and an unlicensed birth attendant named Emily Lal when she delivered her son at her Melbourne residence on 29 September.

The infant was healthy, but the mother's condition deteriorated quickly and an ambulance was called around 4:30 in the morning, the hearing was informed on Wednesday.

Emergency medical technicians arrived to find the woman looking pale and gasping for air as she was seated on the floor near the water birth tub, counsel assisting the court stated.

She was transported to the local hospital but could not be saved.

It is suspected she succumbed to complications following a post-birth hemorrhage, the counsel said.

The medical center's stock of her blood group was entirely depleted during doctors’ attempts to stabilize her, the court was told.

Warnecke’s death was reported to police, and her husband provided a statement to investigating officers, but the doula refused.

When officers went to examine the birth scene the following day, they discovered the house had been extensively cleaned by Lal.

Choices Around Pregnancy Healthcare

The woman chose not to receive any form of medical care during her term, including refusing scan appointments and consultations with a qualified midwife or doctor.

The expectant mother desired to give birth at home and contacted Lal, who advertised herself as a free birth “keeper” on social media.

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

Warnecke’s interactions with Lal will be a key part of the official inquest into her death, Ellyard noted.

Her views on the healthcare system, the decisions around her birth plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will also be examined in a future inquest.

Context and Ongoing Inquiry

The inquest was informed that Warnecke was a certified dietary consultant who promoted a healthy and “chemical-free” lifestyle on her online channels.

It appeared she was profoundly affected by Covid mandates and those apprehensions influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard said.

In October, the state health regulator issued a warning that it was looking into the doula's activities over allegations she was involved in home births that could put mothers and babies at risk.

The investigation would be seeking a statement from Lal, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated Warnecke, the court was told.

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