A senior clinician took the unprecedented step of reporting a 'birthkeeper' to police on the same day one of her clients died following an unassisted home birth in Melbourne. This action, taken by Associate Professor Shyaman Menon, executive director of medical services and clinical governance at Bayside Health Peninsula, was driven by concerns for public health and safety, despite there being no legal obligation to do so.
The incident concerns the death of 30-year-old wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke, who passed away on 29th September at Frankston Hospital. Warnecke had paid Emily Lal, who described herself as a 'birthkeeper', approximately £3,100 (A$6,000) to support her 'freebirth' at home, without the involvement of any clinically trained staff. Birthkeepers operate outside conventional medical systems and lack formal medical training, advocating for pregnancy and birth without professional clinical intervention.
During the inquest, Lal stated her role was not medical and did not involve ensuring Warnecke's safety. She described her involvement primarily as that of a friend. Warnecke gave birth to her son shortly after 3 am, followed by the placenta approximately 20-25 minutes later, at which point she experienced a bleed. She subsequently became short of breath and panicked, with Lal initially suggesting she might be suffering a panic attack.
It was later confirmed that Warnecke had suffered a massive postpartum haemorrhage. Frankston Hospital's director of obstetrics and gynaecology, Nisha Khot, informed the inquest that such haemorrhages are treatable and fatalities are exceptionally rare when women give birth in hospital or with a midwife present at a home birth. Despite Warnecke later stating she was bleeding, Lal reportedly told her she was not, after looking between her legs. Khot highlighted that internal bleeding can occur, and visible blood is just one of many signs clinicians are trained to identify.
Warnecke arrived at the hospital approximately two hours after giving birth, by which time she had suffered multiple cardiac arrests. Lal had reportedly asked Warnecke three times if she wanted an ambulance, only making the call after Warnecke explicitly said 'yes' on the third occasion. Clinical staff, concerned by Lal's language which seemed to indicate a level of knowledge beyond that of a layperson, prompted Associate Professor Menon's report to the police. Lal informed the inquest she did not provide a statement to police as she was not legally required to.