Medical Center Depleted Blood In an Attempt to Save Wellness Social Media Figure's Life After Unassisted Birth, Inquest Is Told.

A medical facility exhausted its supply of a social media health advocate's matching blood group in a futile effort to rescue her as she bled uncontrollably after a so-called "wild" 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 baby boy at her home in Melbourne residence on 29 September.

Her newborn son was well, but Warnecke's state rapidly declined and an emergency services was summoned around 4.30am, the hearing was told on this week.

Emergency medical technicians discovered the woman looking yellow and gasping for air as she sat on the ground near the water birth tub, counsel assisting the court said.

She was transported to the local hospital but could not be saved.

It is suspected she died from severe complications after a massive bleeding after childbirth, Ellyard explained.

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

The fatality was notified to authorities, and her husband gave an account to investigating officers, but Lal declined to cooperate.

As police went to examine the residence the next day, they discovered the property had been deep cleaned by Lal.

Decisions Regarding Pregnancy Care

Warnecke chose not to receive any medical care during her pregnancy, including refusing scan appointments and appointments with a midwife or doctor.

She wanted to deliver at home and contacted the doula, who advertised herself as a advocate for unassisted birth on online platforms.

An unassisted birth, sometimes called a birth without medical attendants, differs from a planned home birth, which involves care from qualified medical practitioners.

Warnecke’s interactions with Lal will be a key part of the coroner’s investigation into her death, Ellyard noted.

Her thoughts on the healthcare system, the choices around her delivery plan and wider perspectives in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will also come under scrutiny in a forthcoming hearing.

Context and Ongoing Investigation

The inquest was informed that Warnecke was a certified nutritionist who advocated for a wholesome and “chemical-free” lifestyle on social media.

It appeared she was deeply influenced by Covid mandates and those concerns influenced her decision-making during pregnancy and birth, Ellyard added.

Earlier this year, the state health regulator announced that it was investigating Lal over concerns she was facilitating or participating in home deliveries that could pose a danger to women and infants.

The investigation would be requesting testimony from Lal, as well as from the paramedics, doctors and nurses who cared for Warnecke, the court heard.

The case will return to the coroner’s court in the coming months for a further directions hearing.