Doctors Urge Crackdown on Unassisted Births After Influencer’s Death

Stacey Hatfield died after a reported freebirth at her Melbourne home on September 29. (GoFundMe)

Health professionals across Australia and New Zealand are urging the federal government to outlaw unassisted home births after a series of tragic deaths, including that of Melbourne influencer Stacey Hatfield.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Australian College of Midwives issued a joint statement calling on Health Minister Mark Butler to work with state and territory governments to restrict doulas from offering any form of clinical care during labour or birth.

Freebirths — births without a registered healthcare professional such as a midwife or doctor — are typically conducted at home. Some women choose to have a doula present for emotional or physical support, though doulas are not medically trained or licensed to provide clinical care.

The medical colleges want all states and territories to adopt South Australia’s model, which bans anyone who is not a registered midwife or medical practitioner from providing medical care during labour, childbirth, or placenta removal. Under the proposed framework, doulas who breach the law could face fines of up to $30,000 or up to 12 months in jail.

A spokesperson for the Australian College of Midwives said the consequences of freebirths can be devastating. “Every woman has the legal and ethical right to make informed decisions about their labour and birth care, however birthing without a regulated health practitioner, such as a midwife or doctor, can lead to preventable death,” they said. “Every death is a tragedy, and it is distressing for all health professionals to bear witness to this.”

Dr Nisha Khot, president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said personal choice must be balanced with safety and accountability. She added that harmonised national laws would help “boost safety and confidence in births.”

The debate intensified after Australian influencer and doula Emily Lal, known online as “The Authentic Birthkeeper,” was banned from offering birthing advice after being found in breach of the health code of conduct. Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner Bernice Redley alleged Lal “facilitated and/or participated in home births which may put both mothers and babies at risk.”

“I want to remind all Victorians that anyone providing health services must do so safely, ethically and within the limits of their training and qualifications,” Redley said.

The investigation into Lal began shortly after the death of influencer Stacey Hatfield, who died following a postpartum haemorrhage after giving birth to her son, Axel, at home. Hatfield, known online as Natural Spoonfuls, had built a large following for her toxin-free lifestyle and natural health content.

“It was her life’s biggest dream to be a mum. She did it. On her terms, exactly the way she always dreamed of doing it,” her husband Nathan Warnecke wrote in a tribute post.

Reports have since linked Lal to Hatfield’s freebirth.