Death of Stacey Warnecke linked to unregulated freebirth and Free Birth Society

Consensus Summary

Stacey Warnecke, a 30-year-old Melbourne nutritionist and wellness influencer, died in September 2025 from a massive postpartum haemorrhage after giving birth at home without medical assistance. The unregulated birth attendant Emily Lal, trained by the Free Birth Society (FBS), attended the freebirth and was paid A$6,000 for her services. Lal, who describes herself as a ‘birth keeper,’ refused to call an ambulance twice despite Warnecke’s severe bleeding, delaying critical medical intervention that likely contributed to her death. The coronial inquest into Warnecke’s death is ongoing, with Lal banned from providing health services while authorities investigate her role and the broader risks of unregulated freebirths.

The Free Birth Society, a multimillion-dollar organization founded by Emilee Saldaya, promotes unlicensed birth support through its Radical Birth Keeper School, which has trained 850 ‘radical birth keepers’ worldwide—many with no medical background. A year-long Guardian investigation in 2025 identified 48 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or serious harm linked to FBS-trained attendants across multiple countries. Despite these risks, Saldaya previously claimed in a December 2024 interview that she had ‘never heard of a mother dying in childbirth in the sovereign birth world,’ a statement now contradicted by Warnecke’s death. FBS’s teachings, including the dismissal of medical interventions and the phrase ‘variations of normal’ to downplay complications, have been criticized for promoting dangerous misinformation.

Lal, who had no formal medical training, was personally trained by Saldaya and her business partner, Yolande Norris-Clark. She attended Warnecke’s birth as a ‘supportive friend,’ a term FBS encourages to avoid legal liability. During the inquest, Lal admitted she followed FBS’s ideology, which prioritizes maternal autonomy over medical intervention, even when a woman’s life is at risk. She insisted she would not call an ambulance against Warnecke’s wishes, even if she were unconscious. Lal’s evidence revealed she had previously denied being a doula and claimed her training gave her life-saving skills, despite FBS’s curriculum being filled with scientific inaccuracies. The inquest also heard that Lal cleaned Warnecke’s home after her death, removing blood-stained evidence that could have clarified the severity of her condition.

While both the Guardian and ABC agree on the core facts—Warnecke’s death, Lal’s role, and the FBS’s dangerous practices—they emphasize different aspects. The Guardian highlights FBS’s global reach, its teaching modules, and the ideological extremism of its founders, including claims that gravity may not exist. ABC focuses on Lal’s personal history, her lack of medical qualifications, and the Health Complaints Commissioner’s repeated bans on her practicing. The Guardian also notes that Warnecke’s birth plan included FBS terminology, while ABC underscores the financial and logistical details of Lal’s services, such as the 15 to 20 hours of prenatal support included in the $6,000 fee. These differences reflect broader debates about regulatory oversight and the influence of online birth communities.

The inquest into Warnecke’s death remains unresolved, but the proceedings have already exposed systemic failures in unregulated birth practices. Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner has extended Lal’s prohibition order until September 22, citing ongoing risks to public health. The Guardian’s investigation suggests FBS’s influence extends far beyond Australia, with cases of harm reported in countries including the US, Canada, and the UK. Legal and regulatory scrutiny is likely to intensify, particularly as more families come forward with accounts of deaths or injuries linked to FBS-trained attendants. The case has also sparked broader discussions about the dangers of anti-medical birth movements and the need for stronger protections for women choosing non-traditional birth options.