Birthkeeper faces charges over pregnant woman's death in home birth

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 04:56 · Archive

A birthkeeper who charged a pregnant woman $6,000 has been told she could face criminal charges after the woman died from complications during a home birth.

Stacey Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist and wellness influencer, died in September 2025 from a postpartum haemorrhage several hours after giving birth to her son Axel at home. Birthkeeper Emily Lal was present during the birth. Warnecke, who was seven weeks pregnant at the time, had paid Lal $6,000 to support her through pregnancy and childbirth. Unlike midwives, birthkeepers have no clinical training and operate outside the medical system.

At the inquest in Melbourne, counsel assisting the coroner played a phone call between Warnecke and Lal recorded in January 2025. In it, Warnecke asked Lal whether she would reassure her during labour, saying 'Am I dying or am I right?' She told Lal she was 'petrified to go to a hospital' and did not want tests. Counsel assisting said the phone evidence 'sharply contradicted' earlier evidence from Lal that she was hired primarily as a supportive friend and that payment was mainly for her time, not for medical advice.

Counsel assisting told the court that Lal saw her role as encouraging clients to be 'strong enough to resist the temptation to seek medical help during labor' and to avoid going to hospital. The coroner has been told Lal could face criminal charges over the death.

How it is being reported

• Birthkeeper who allegedly ‘groomed’ pregnant women to fear hospital could face criminal chargesVictorian coroner hears Emily Lal told Stacey Warnecke that her ‘condition and mindset’ needed to be ‘solid’ to avoid a hospital birth A birthkeeper who allegedly “groomed” pregnant women to fear hospital could be referred to prosecutors to face potential criminal charges, a Victorian coroner has heard. Stacey Warnecke died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital in Melbourne after giving birth at home and suffering a postpartum haemorrhage with birthkeeper Emily Lal by her side, having paid her $6,000 to support her throughout pregnancy. Continue reading...Guardian World · 26 Oct, 04:29
• 'Am I dying': Mum-to-be's chilling question to $6,000 'birth keeper' before she died - as inquest is told homebirth guru should face a string of charges over the tragedyStacey Warnecke, 30, died in hospital on September 29, 2025, from complications of a postpartum haemorrhage after giving birth to her son at home without medical assistance.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 03:10

In this story: Stacey Warnecke · Emily Lal · Melbourne · Frankston hospital · Coroners Court of Victoria

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem