Medical Center Exhausted Blood Trying to Rescue Health Social Media Figure's Life After Free Birth, Coroner Is Told.

A hospital completely used up a social media health advocate's specific blood group in a vain effort to rescue her as she experienced massive hemorrhaging after a free birth, a coroner's inquest has learned.

The 30-year-old woman, aged 30, was with her husband, her husband, and an unlicensed doula named the doula when she delivered her son at her home in Melbourne residence on the 29th of September.

Her newborn son was in good health, but Warnecke's state worsened suddenly and an emergency services was summoned around 4.30am, the Victorian coroner’s court was informed on Wednesday.

Ambulance officers arrived to find the woman looking yellow and having difficulty breathing as she sat on the ground near the water birth tub, the coroner's counsel the court said.

The patient was transported to Frankston hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

The preliminary finding suggests she succumbed to complications following a post-birth hemorrhage, Ellyard said.

The hospital’s supply of her blood group was completely exhausted during doctors’ efforts to save her, the inquest was told.

The fatality was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke provided a statement to detectives, but the doula declined to cooperate.

When officers went to inspect the residence the next day, they also found the property had been extensively cleaned by the doula.

Choices Around Pregnancy Healthcare

The woman elected not to receive any medical care during her pregnancy, including refusing ultrasounds and consultations with a qualified midwife or obstetrician.

The expectant mother desired to deliver at home and engaged Lal, who advertised herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on social media.

A so-called "wild" birth, also referred to as a birth without medical attendants, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from registered medical practitioners.

Warnecke’s interactions with the doula will form part of the official inquest into her death, the counsel said.

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

Background and Current Investigation

The court was informed that Warnecke was a qualified nutritionist who promoted a healthy and “natural” way of life on her online channels.

It appeared she was deeply influenced by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns influenced her decision-making during her prenatal period and delivery, Ellyard said.

In October, Victoria’s health complaints commissioner announced that it was looking into the doula's activities over concerns she was involved in home births that could put mothers and babies at risk.

The coroner would be seeking a statement from Lal, as well as from the emergency responders and hospital staff who cared for Warnecke, the court was told.

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