Hospital Depleted Blood In an Attempt to Rescue Health Social Media Figure's Life After Unassisted Birth, Inquest Is Told.

A medical facility depleted its entire stock of a social media health advocate's matching blood group in a vain bid to rescue her as she suffered catastrophic bleeding following a unassisted home delivery, a coroner's inquest has heard.

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

The baby boy was in good health, but the mother's state worsened suddenly 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 yellow and having difficulty breathing as she was seated on the ground near the water birth tub, the coroner's counsel the court stated.

The patient was taken to Frankston hospital but could not be saved.

It is suspected she succumbed to complications following a postpartum haemorrhage, Ellyard explained.

The medical center's stock of her blood group was entirely depleted during medical teams' attempts to stabilize her, the inquest was informed.

The fatality was reported to police, and Nathan Warnecke gave an account to investigating officers, but Lal refused.

As police went to examine Warnecke’s home the next day, they discovered the house had been extensively cleaned by Lal.

Decisions Regarding Pregnancy Healthcare

The woman elected not to receive any form of prenatal care during her pregnancy, including declining scan appointments and consultations with a midwife or obstetrician.

She planned to give birth at home and engaged the doula, who also promoted herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.

A free birth, sometimes called a wild or unassisted birth, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from qualified medical practitioners.

The relationship and communications with the doula will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, Ellyard said.

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

Context and Ongoing Inquiry

The court was informed that the woman was a certified nutritionist who advocated for a wholesome and “chemical-free” way of life on social media.

It appeared she was profoundly affected by pandemic-related restrictions and those concerns influenced her choices during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard added.

In October, the state health regulator issued a warning that it was looking into the doula's activities over concerns she was involved in home deliveries that could pose a danger to women and infants.

The coroner would be requesting testimony 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’s court in March for a further directions hearing.