Birthkeeper hired by woman who died after freebirth tells inquest she was ‘not there to make a birth safer’
Summary
A birthkeeper testified at an inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, who died after a home birth without medical professionals. The birthkeeper said her role was to support as a friend, not to make the birth safer or provide medical advice, even though Warnecke experienced heavy bleeding and difficulty breathing.Key Facts
- Stacey Warnecke died on 29 September in a hospital after a home birth.
- She chose a "freebirth," giving birth without professional medical help.
- Warnecke hired Emily Lal as a birthkeeper, who has no medical training.
- Lal said she was there to support as a friend, not to provide medical care or safety.
- Lal asked three times if Warnecke wanted to call an ambulance after heavy bleeding; Warnecke agreed only on the third ask.
- Warnecke lost up to 1.5 liters of blood and had a massive postpartum hemorrhage.
- Lal took a course from the Free Birth Society, which promotes birth without medical help and has faced medical criticism.
- Medical experts say postpartum hemorrhage deaths are rare with hospital births due to quick treatment.
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