Hospital Used Up Blood In an Attempt to Save Wellness Social Media Figure's Life Following Unassisted Birth, Inquest Hears.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's specific blood group in a futile bid to keep her alive as she experienced massive hemorrhaging after a so-called "wild" birth, a court has been told.

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

The baby boy was well, but Warnecke's condition rapidly declined and an emergency services was summoned around 4:30 in the morning, the inquest was told on Wednesday.

Ambulance officers arrived to find Warnecke looking jaundiced and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the floor near the birthing pool, counsel assisting the court said.

The patient was taken to the local hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

It is suspected she died from severe complications after a post-birth hemorrhage, the counsel said.

The medical center's stock of her blood group was completely exhausted during medical teams' attempts to save her, the court was told.

This incident was reported to police, and her husband provided a statement to detectives, but the doula declined to cooperate.

When officers went to examine the residence the next day, they discovered the property had been thoroughly cleaned up by Lal.

Choices Regarding Pregnancy Care

Warnecke opted not to receive any prenatal care during her term, including declining ultrasounds and appointments with a midwife or doctor.

The expectant mother planned to give birth at home and engaged the doula, who described herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.

A free birth, also referred to as a birth without medical attendants, differs from a home delivery with professional support, which includes the assistance of registered medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with Lal will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her passing, the counsel said.

The 30-year-old’s beliefs 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 forthcoming hearing.

Context and Current Inquiry

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

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

Earlier this year, the state health regulator 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 the doula, as well as from the emergency responders and hospital staff who treated the patient, the court heard.

The case will be back before the coroner in March for a further directions hearing.