Medical Center Depleted Blood Supply Trying to Rescue Wellness Influencer's Life Following Unassisted Birth, Coroner Hears.

A hospital depleted its entire stock of a social media health advocate's specific blood type in a futile attempt to rescue her as she experienced massive hemorrhaging after a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has learned.

The 30-year-old woman, aged 30, was accompanied by her spouse, her husband, and an unregulated doula named Emily Lal when she gave birth to her baby boy at her home in Melbourne residence on the 29th of September.

The infant was healthy, but Warnecke's state worsened suddenly and an emergency services was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the hearing was informed on Wednesday.

Emergency medical technicians arrived to find Warnecke looking pale and struggling to breathe as she was seated on the floor near the inflatable pool, the coroner's counsel Rachel Ellyard stated.

She was transported to Frankston hospital but could not be saved.

It is suspected she died from complications following a post-birth hemorrhage, Ellyard said.

The hospital’s supply of her blood type was entirely depleted during medical teams' attempts to stabilize her, the court was told.

Warnecke’s death was notified to authorities, and her husband provided a statement to detectives, but the doula declined to cooperate.

As police went to inspect the residence the following day, they discovered the property had been extensively cleaned by Lal.

Decisions Around Pregnancy Care

Warnecke opted not to receive any form of prenatal care during her pregnancy, including declining ultrasounds and appointments with a midwife or obstetrician.

She planned to deliver at home and engaged Lal, who also promoted herself as a free birth “keeper” on social media.

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a birth without medical attendants, differs from a planned home birth, which includes the assistance of qualified health professionals.

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

Her thoughts on the medical establishment, the decisions around her delivery plan and broader attitudes in the wake of the global pandemic will also come under scrutiny in a future inquest.

Background and Current Investigation

The inquest was told that Warnecke was a qualified dietary consultant who promoted a healthy and “natural” way of life on her online channels.

Evidence suggests she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard said.

Earlier this year, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner issued a warning that it was looking into the doula's activities over concerns she was facilitating or participating 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 emergency responders and hospital staff who treated Warnecke, the court heard.

The case will return to the coroner’s court in March for a procedural update.