Birthkeeper hired by woman who died after freebirth tells inquest she was ‘not there to make a birth safer’

A birthkeeper hired by a woman who died after giving birth at home has told a coroner that she was “not there to make a birth safer”. Emily Lal gave evidence on Tuesday at the inquest into the death of 30-year-old Stacey Warnecke, who died on 29 September in Frankston hospital after giving birth at home with her husband and Lal present. Warnecke had chosen a freebirth, which meant no trained medical professionals were involved with the majority of the pregnancy, and hired Lal as her birthkeeper. Lal said Warnecke had already made up her mind she wanted a freebirth before contacting her. Birthkeepers have no medical training and operate outside the medical system. During earlier evidence, the court heard that Lal had asked Warnecke three times whether she wanted an ambulance called after she gave birth to the placenta, lost up to 1.5 litres of blood, then began struggling to breathe. Lal said Warnecke had sounded panicked and said: “I don’t want you to leave me.” Warnecke said yes the third time but by the time paramedics arrived she was seriously unwell, having suffered a massive postpartum haemorrhage. Lal said she had asked three times within a five-minute period. Warnecke died in hospital several hours later from related complications. Lal told the coroner, under questioning by the counsel assisting, Rachel Ellyard, that although Warnecke had paid her $6,000 for her full freebirth support package, her role was primarily one of a friend and the money paid was for her time. …