Unqualified ‘birthkeeper’ charged $6000 to help with freebirth that ended in mother’s death: inquest
Emily Lal told the inquest that she attended as a friend, and it was not her place to insist on an ambulance.
An unqualified ‘birthkeeper’ charged $6000 to act as a ‘friend’ during a freebirth that resulted in the mother’s death, an inquest has heard.
Melbourne nutritionist and wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke died in hospital after a postpartum haemorrhage, having given birth to her son Axel at home with only her husband Nathan and doula Emily Lal present.
The 30-year-old had paid $6000 to Ms Lal — who owned a business called The Authentic Birthkeeper — to act as a ‘friend’ during the birth on 29 September 2025.
Shortly after giving birth and delivering the placenta, she deteriorated. Nathan Warnecke estimated she had lost around 1.5L of blood.
