health
A US champion of ‘freebirthing’ always claimed there had been no maternal deaths linked to the movement. Is Stacey Warnecke the first?
Guardian investigation exposes full links between a US business linked to baby deaths around the world and Australian ‘birth keeper’ Emily Lal, the central witness at the inquest into the death of a Melbourne wellness influencer
TL;DR
- The Free Birth Society (FBS), founded by Emilee Saldaya, claims no maternal deaths have occurred within the 'sovereign birth world'.
- Stacey Warnecke, a wellness influencer, died from postpartum hemorrhage after a freebirth attended by Emily Lal, an Australian birth keeper trained by FBS.
- A Guardian investigation found extensive ties between Lal and FBS, including personal training by Saldaya and business partner Yolande Norris-Clark.
- FBS promotes anti-scientific views, including questioning the cause of infection and dismissing life-threatening complications as 'variations of normal'.
- Lal, who claims to be a 'birth keeper' or 'supportive friend' rather than a medical professional, did not call an ambulance for Warnecke until three attempts, honoring Warnecke's refusal of medical attention.
- Lal has also been linked to the death of a newborn, Baby E, in 2022, though the coroner made no findings against her personally.
- The investigation highlights how FBS teaches its students to skirt midwifery laws by using terms like 'radical birth keeper' and encourages them to avoid formal contracts.
- Warnecke's death is being investigated, and Lal has ceased attending births following the traumatic experience.
- FBS leaders Saldaya and Norris-Clark have previously dismissed Guardian reporting as 'propaganda' and 'lies'.