Birthkeeper hired by woman who died after freebirth tells inquest she was ‘not there to make a birth safer’

Emily Lal (in grey coat) leaves the inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke at the Melbourne coroner’s court on Tuesday. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP View image in fullscreen Emily Lal (in grey coat) leaves the inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke at the Melbourne coroner’s court on Tuesday. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP Birthkeeper hired by woman who died after freebirth tells inquest she was ‘not there to make a birth safer’ Emily Lal – paid $6,000 to provide freebirth support package to Stacey Warnecke – tells coroner her role was primarily to be a ‘supportive friend’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A birthkeeper hired by a woman who died after giving birth at home has told a coroner that she was “not there to make a birth safer”. Emily Lal gave evidence on Tuesday at the inquest into the death of 30-year-old Stacey Warnecke, who died on 29 September in Frankston hospital after giving birth at home with her husband and Lal present. Warnecke had chosen a freebirth, which meant no trained medical professionals were involved with the majority of the pregnancy, and hired Lal as her birthkeeper. Lal said Warnecke had already made up her mind she wanted a freebirth before contacting her. Birthkeepers have no medical training and operate outside the medical system. During earlier evidence, the court heard that Lal had asked Warnecke three times whether she wanted an ambulance called after she gave birth to the placenta, lost up to 1.5 litres of blood, then began struggling to breathe. Lal said Warnecke had sounded panicked and said: “I don’t want you to leave me.” Warnecke said yes the third time but by the time paramedics arrived she was seriously unwell, having suffered a massive postpartum haemorrhage. Lal said she had asked three times within a five-minute period. Warnecke died in hospital several hours later from related complications. Lal told the coroner, under questioning by the counsel assisting, Rachel Ellyard, that although Warnecke had paid her $6,000 for her full freebirth support package, her role was primarily one of a friend and the money paid was for her time. She said her role was not a medical one, nor was it to override the wishes of the mother and her family. Ellyard asked Lal about her website, which offered services including education, antenatal support, birth attendance and postpartum support, and whether she saw her role as also helping to keep mothers safe. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email “How would I help people stay safe during birth?,” Lal replied. “I don’t think me being there makes the birth more safe.” Asked what the purpose of her birthkeeper role was, she responded: “I’m attending as a friend in a support role.” During a call to paramedics played to the court, Lal told them Warnecke was having difficulty breathing but that the bleeding had stopped. She told Ellyard that while she thought Warnecke had lost more blood