Food influencer dies from severe blood loss after giving birth without medical professionals
A coroner's court has heard the case of an Australian food influencer who died after giving birth following an "extremely rare complication."
The Victorian Coroner's Court found that Stacey Hatfield died from a postpartum hemorrhage or excessive blood loss after delivery on Sept. 29, lawyer Rachel Ellyard said, according to 9News.
Per the media outlet, Ellyard told the court that Hatfield had trust issues with the country's medical system amid COVID-19 vaccine mandates in 2021. It prompted her to refuse healthcare during her pregnancy.
In September, Hatfield opted for a "free birth," or birth without help from medical professionals. She was accompanied by her husband Nathan Warnecke, and birth support worker Emily Lal, also known online as The Authentic Birthkeeper, at the couple's home in Melbourne.
Victoria's Health Complaints Commissioner first investigated Lal in October for "facilitating and/or participating in homebirths which may put both mothers and babies at risk," per an HCC website post. The court alleged Lal cleaned the house by the time police attended to the situation. She has since been temporarily banned from providing healthcare.
Her husband broke the news of her death due to an "extremely rare complication" in October on her Instagram page a month after her passing. She died just two months before their wedding anniversary. Their firstborn survived at birth.
Hatfield became known for promoting a toxin-free lifestyle and foods with natural ingredients on her Natural Spoonfuls website and Instagram page, where she garnered over 20,000 followers.
