Birthkeeper may face perjury charges after death in freebirth case
Phone evidence suggests birthkeeper Emily Lal groomed pregnant clients to fear hospitals. This contradicts her sworn evidence.
Stacey Warnecke was a 30-year-old wellness influencer. She died in September 2025 from postpartum bleeding after giving birth at home with birthkeeper Emily Lal, who had no clinical training.
Warnecke paid Lal $6,000 to support her through pregnancy. Phone evidence showed Lal told Warnecke: "You should be scared of the hospital.
It's a terrifying place." Counsel assisting the coroner said Lal's role was to make her clients strong enough to resist seeking medical help during labour.
Lal had testified she was simply a supportive friend offering no medical advice. The court heard Lal asked Warnecke three times about calling an ambulance.
This only happened after Warnecke lost up to 1.5 litres of blood and began struggling to breathe. The coroner may refer Lal for perjury.
A doctor said Warnecke would have survived in hospital.
- Stacey Warnecke, 30, died September 2025
- Death and date
- $6,000
- Fee paid
- Up to 1.5 liters
- Blood loss
- No clinical training
- Lal's training
Why it mattersUnregulated birthkeepers operate outside the medical system with zero oversight. This case shows how they may discourage women from hospital care in life-threatening emergencies.
AustraliaVictoria's coroner is examining whether stronger regulation of birthkeepers is needed to protect pregnant women and newborns.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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