Medical Center Used Up Blood Trying to Save Wellness Influencer's Life Following Free Home Birth, Inquest Is Told.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a wellness influencer's matching blood type in a vain bid to save her life as she suffered catastrophic bleeding following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has been told.

The 30-year-old woman, aged 30, was with her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and an unregulated doula named Emily Lal when she gave birth to her baby boy at her home in Melbourne home on 29 September.

The baby boy was healthy, but Warnecke's condition rapidly declined and an emergency services was summoned around 4.30am, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on this week.

Paramedics discovered Warnecke looking pale and gasping for air as she sat on the floor near the birthing pool, the coroner's counsel the court said.

She was taken to the local hospital but her life could not be saved.

The preliminary finding suggests she died from complications following a postpartum haemorrhage, Ellyard said.

The medical center's stock of her blood type was completely exhausted during medical teams' efforts to save her, the inquest was told.

This incident was reported to police, and her husband gave an account to detectives, but the doula refused.

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

Choices Around Pregnancy Care

Warnecke elected not to receive any health care during her pregnancy, including refusing scan appointments and appointments with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.

She 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, differs from a home delivery with professional support, which involves care from registered medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with the doula will form part of the official inquest into her death, Ellyard said.

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

Context and Ongoing Investigation

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

Evidence suggests she was deeply influenced by pandemic-related restrictions and those apprehensions influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard added.

In October, the state health regulator announced that it was investigating Lal over allegations 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 paramedics, doctors and nurses who treated the patient, the court heard.

This matter will be back before the coroner in March for a further directions hearing.