To find this desperately sad? TW: freebirth death

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I just feel so sad for her husband and little boy. I also understand why she didn’t want to go into hospital. Feels like women are stuck between a rock and a hard place with childbirth at the moment.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/20/stacey-warnecke-melbourne-influencer-died-freebirth-inquest-ntwnfb

But remember those interventions happen for a reason, think how many more mothers would die if the hospitals didn't intervene.

One dead every 6 mins, WTF, think how much higher that number would be if hospitals weren't able to interven in many parts of the world.

So scary. I was one day away from mat leave and working from home when I stood up and suddenly haemorrhaged. My waters broke and the blood started pouring from me like a bath tap. Thankfully an ambulance arrived very quickly and got me to hospital to induce labour with no further problems, but they could never explain what had happened or why.

My DM also haemorrhaged and almost died in childbirth, but sadly in that case the baby was too small and didn't survive.

I feel very sad for these women and think it's not so much prosecution that is the answer - because that just feeds into the paranoia - but cracking down on the algorithms and online content that promote this behaviour.

Childbirth is still very dangerous even now. You’re a fool to think it’s safe to go it alone, no matter what happened to you in hospitals. It’s terribly sad what happened to this lady but that’s the risk. I know especially in the uk maternity care is getting worse but I’d be dead if it wasn’t for intervention in two of my pregnancies.

A significant portion of intervention is propelled by systemic and institutional failures within the NHS maternity system.

So, do you think someone having a PPH is safer at home or potentially 45 minutes minimum (as it is in our area) from a hospital with a supply of blood and an operating theatre?

All women should have the best experience possible but knowing that doesn't always happen doesn't make freebirthing a safe or sensible option. You can guarantee that when eg Zara Tindall gave birth in the bathroom unexpectedly Mike was on the phone summoning an ambulance while helping her. Who wouldn't be?

I think a lot of doctors are very risk averse, I can see why, they have to live with the minority of cases where something goes horribly wrong but not the higher number of cases where a mother is traumatized by badly handled interventions. It's a completely different perspective to a pregnant woman.

Some reasons I opted for an IM homebirth...

The United Kingdom ranks 21st out of 38 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries in overall patient safety and maternal health according to the Global State of Patient Safety 2025 report by Imperial College London. 1]

Key UK Maternal Safety Data & Rankings
Maternal Mortality Rate: In the 2022–2024 MBRRACE-UK report, the UK recorded a maternal mortality rate of 12.80 deaths per 100,000 maternities (252 deaths), which is about 20% higher than the baseline rate from 2009–2011. 1]
European Comparisons: In comparative European studies, the UK has repeatedly lagged behind peer nations. For example, in an eight-country European study, the UK had the second-highest maternal death rate (9.6 per 100,000 live births), trailing behind Slovakia and roughly three times higher than rates in Norway. 1]
Neonatal Outcomes: In broader infant and newborn safety rankings among 22 comparable OECD countries, the UK ranked 19th. 1]

Leading Causes of Maternal Death in the UK
Direct Causes: Thrombosis and thromboembolism (blood clots) and cardiac disease are the leading direct and indirect medical causes.
Mental Health & Suicide: Psychiatric conditions and suicide account for roughly one-third of maternal deaths, with suicide remaining the leading cause of death occurring between six weeks and one year postpartum. 1, 2]

Disparities and Inequalities
Ethnicity: Black women in the UK face a maternal mortality rate nearly three times higher than White women (32 per 100,000 vs. lower White rates). 1]
Socioeconomic Status: Women living in the most deprived areas experience maternal mortality rates nearly double those living in the least deprived areas. 1]

Would you like more details on specific regional reports (such as England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) or recent NHS safety recommendations?

Imperial College London

Norway leads the world in patient safety – the UK ranks 21st | Imperial News | Imperial College London
Report: The Global State of Patient Safety 2025 (Imperial College London and Patient Safety Watch) ranks 38 OECD countries using maternal mortality, neonatal di...

NPEU

Maternal death rates in the UK 20% higher in 2022-24 than 2009-11 | NPEU
9 Jan 2026 — Maternal Mortality (UK, 2022-2024): 252 deaths (12.80 per 100,000 maternities); overall rate 20% higher than 2009-2011; direct maternal deaths increased 52% (bl...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)

National investigation must redefine maternity care in the UK
The human cost is reflected in maternal and newborn outcomes. Maternal mortality in the UK rose to 9.8 deaths per 100,000 maternities in 2020–22, which is the h...

The Guardian

UK has second highest maternal death rate in eight-country European study | Women's health | The Guardian
Study: Eight-country European analysis (2016–2018) of maternal mortality up to 42 days postpartum. Rates: Slovakia highest at 10.9 per 100,000 live births; UK s...

NPEU

Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care
Surveillance: 252 UK maternal deaths (2022-2024); rate 12.80 per 100,000 maternities (20% higher than 2009-2011 baseline). Causes: Thrombosis/thromboembolism (4...

Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership: HQIP

Maternity care: State of the Nation report 2026
Maternity care: State of the Nation report 2026 The programme found that 252 women died during pregnancy or up to six weeks after pregnancy in the UK between 20...

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or a diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

I think if you are low risk, giving birth at home is very safe. I would choose home over hospital each time.

I had my now ex and his mother pressurising me to freebirth when I'd been advised to have a section. I had the section, neither forgave me for that.

I thought that made me risk averse - well, dying in agony with my baby in a fucking field in fucking November adverse - but then I got a job in a hospital.

One of the advantage of digital notes is that nobody is having to work out what you can salvage from a file soaked with maternal blood anymore.

But at least there was no need to get rid of any evidence like this woman's acts with the magically disappearing phone and carpet.

I think... you're dodging the question. I would have thought those books you mentioned reading on unassisted birth would have enabled you to pick the safer site to have a hemorrhage.

I was considered very low risk, so I had home births. The fact that I might have haemorrhaged didn’t make me or my midwife feel I should have given birth in a hospital. I obviously didn’t have any complications either time.

With me it was my mother. I nodded, smiled, and... resolutely refused to have her as a birth partner, no matter how much guilt-tripping came my way.

My mother died before I had children, but I definitely wouldn’t have wanted her there when I gave birth either.

Still dodging the question. And isn't it interesting that despite touting how educated freebirthers are, you yourself chose to have someone there who had the skills to reduce the risk of a hemorrhage in the first place.

Me, I wouldn't freebirth anywhere given the choice, but if some evil genie made me, I'd want to be as close to the hospital as possible. Maybe renting a house next door?

Having a home birth isn't the same as having a freebirth. With freebirths, there is no expert advice available. Some of the freebirth sites are deeply dodgy and give very dangerous misinformation. Sometimes medical intervention is necessary. I can understand you not wanting a hospital birth if you've had a bad experience, but you are not putting yourself and your baby at risk by refusing expert care.

Having a midwife present is very different to a totally unqualified 'birthkeeper' (whether you're paying 6K for the privilege, or not)

This woman said she was there as a 'friend' and none of what happened was her fault or responsibility. Well, maybe if she hadn't been paid for her role that would be the case, but if most people wanted a friend with them in labour, and it happens, they wouldn't be forking out ££££ for it.

Dodgy as fuck but then 'freebirthing' (not homebirthing) is.

I've worked with several women who had stillborns and the NHS was found negligent the guilt and regret they have from trusting them is immeasurable.

If staff shortages are problematic, then how can freebirth be safe without anyone at all?

I can only speak from my own experience. I chose to give birth at home with a midwife. I never wanted a free birth, though I had read books about home births and unassisted births. My second baby was an accidental free birth.

As someone who was born in a 3rd world country where many women genuinely had no option to ever even see a doctor, I find this all baffling. So much moaning and complaining. The moment you are pregnant, you have a duty to your baby. So what if there is intervention? Baby making it out healthy and with a living mother is the no.1 priority.

Play silly games, win silly prizes.

I did some googling earlier and 6000 Australian dollars is around how much you'd pay for a qualified independent midwife (with all the years of training and equipment) to attend a home birth in Australia.

And what did Stacey get for the same fee? A clueless woman who couldn't recognise clear signs of physiological shock from blood loss, and told her it was a panic attack.

I don't know the term for it, but there's a psychological effect to high fees, which means that when potential customers see how much a person charges for their service, they trust that the trader could only be charging that on account of being especially skilled. They don't tend to think, "chancing charlatan", even if they should.

Being in a hospital would stress me out if there was a shortage of midwives the day I gave birth, and just the hospital environment in general. At home, I would feel relaxed even without a midwife (and I was.)

It’s the unnecessary intervention which you can have in hospital that I’m against. It can lead to serious complications. A home birth with a midwife is a very safe option if you are low risk.

Ultimately it sounded like she had a worryingly long labour and a qualified midwife would’ve likely transferred her to hospital for some kind of intervention, so her ‘fears’ would’ve come true in that respect. But the alternative was so much worse

How do people define 'unnecessary intervention' ?

That's baffling to me.
If they intervene and all turns out well people regard it as unnecessary intervention. But if they sit back and watch, and something goes wrong it gets regarded as neglect and inadequate care.

Surely the aim should be for mum and baby to leave hospital without any permanent damage to either of them. And that includes permanent damage to babies left too long in the birth canal and starved of oxygen.