Forensic phone data shows $6,000 birthkeeper coached client to fear hospitals

Counsel assisting the Victorian coroner presented forensic phone data on Monday that directly contradicts the testimony of birthkeeper Emily Lal regarding the death of Stacey Warnecke. The analysis suggests Lal may face a referral to the Office of Public Prosecutions for perjury.

The inquest resumed after a delay caused by the completion of this digital analysis. Rachel Ellyard, counsel assisting the coroner, stated that the records reveal a structured role for Lal that goes far beyond the informal support Lal described in June.

Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist and wellness influencer, died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital in Melbourne. She suffered a postpartum haemorrhage after giving birth at home. Her family had paid Lal $6,000 to support her throughout the pregnancy.

Ellyard played a recording of a phone call between Warnecke and Lal. In the audio, Warnecke expressed fear of hospital care. Lal responded that Warnecke should be scared of the hospital, describing it as a terrifying place where going inside often represents a failure to handle the intensity of labor.

Lal also told Warnecke that midwives can inadvertently sabotage home births by suggesting hospital transfer when they become exhausted. Lal stated she managed her own energy to avoid subconsciously undermining the birth process. This advice conflicts with Lal’s earlier claim that she never provided medical guidance.

Ellyard argued that the phone evidence shows Lal acted as an expert providing advice, referrals, and supplements. She noted that Warnecke relied on Lal to keep her safe and that Lal’s husband, Nathan, was also indoctrinated into a passive support role.

Lal previously testified that she lacked clinical training and viewed her role as that of a supportive friend. She stated it was not her responsibility to call an ambulance unless specifically asked, even if the client was unconscious. The court heard that Lal declined to return to testify after the new phone data emerged.

During the birth, Warnecke lost up to 1.5 litres of blood and struggled to breathe. Lal asked Warnecke three times if she wanted an ambulance. Warnecke agreed on the third request, but paramedics found her seriously unwell upon arrival. The hospital exhausted its blood supply attempting to save her.

Ellyard stated that Warnecke would have survived had she been in a hospital or attended by a registered midwife. She noted that postpartum haemorrhage is a common and treatable complication in well-resourced settings where women rarely die from the condition. The coroner will deliver findings at a later date.