Latest news with #TheAuthenticBirthkeeper
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘We can't wake her': Baby dies in home-birthing method promoted by Instagram influencer
A newborn baby died after her mother delivered her using a home-birthing pool hired from 'freebirth' Instagram influencer Emily Lal, a coroner has found. The findings made in the Coroners Court of Victoria say it is 'unlikely' the baby girl would have died had she been born in a hospital setting, or if the home birth had occurred with appropriate midwife support. The mother, referred to as Ms E, gave birth to her child in December 2022. Prior to the birth, Ms E contacted Ms Lal – who operates as The Authentic Birthkeeper on Instagram – to rent a birthing pool to help deliver her baby. The Melbourne-based influencer described herself as being 'disillusioned with the medical system', and held the 'philosophy' that registered midwives were 'complicit in, and contributing to, the harm of women'. There is no suggestion that Ms E chose the birthing method because of promotions made by Ms Lal. The coronial inquest found Ms E contacted the influencer to hire a birthing pool. According to the findings, Ms E said she kept in contact with Ms Lal 'socially' but did not seek any service or advice from the influencer. However, Ms E said she requested to keep in contact with the influencer after the birth to 'conduct a post-partum visit'. Half an hour after Ms E gave birth to her child, she sent a message to Ms Lal saying 'I did it'. She was unable to deliver the placenta until the next morning. The morning following the birth, Ms E realised something was wrong with her baby. Ms E sent a message to Ms Lal at about 8am saying, 'We can't wake her, we aren't sure if she's breathing,' with a picture of the baby, whose face had turned blue. Ms Lal didn't see the message for 25 minutes, according to the inquest findings. Upon seeing the message, Ms Lal made a Facetime call and saw the baby girl. Believing her to be dead, she told Ms E and Mr E to call for an ambulance. Paramedics noted the baby's heartbeat was flatlining and attempted CPR for 30 minutes, but were unable to revive her. Ms E was transported to the Mercy Women's Hospital for treatment. Forensic pathologist Yeliena Baber said had Ms E given birth in the hospital, preventive measures would have been put in place. Dr Baber concluded: 'If Baby E was born in hospital and Ms E had received appropriate antenatal care, it is highly unlikely that Baby E would have died, as she was a healthy baby and her death was caused by the prolonged delivery in a home birthing pool'. She further noted if a trained midwife had been present during the homebirth and prolonged labour, it would be expected they would escalate care to a hospital if 'it was clear that the baby was in distress'. Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald found Baby E's death may have been preventable. In her findings, she said the baby's death was 'unlikely to have occurred if the birth occurred in a hospital setting' and may have been avoided if the 'birth was a planned homebirth with appropriate midwife support'. 'A homebirth is distinguished from a 'freebirth', which is when someone chooses to birth their baby without medical or midwifery assistance,' she said. 'The publicly available information regarding water birth … are not directed at women intending to birth at home with no medical assistance or antenatal medical management.' 'The single consultation with (Ms E's GP) late in the pregnancy provided no real opportunity for education to be given regarding birth options.' Ms Fitzgerald did not make any adverse findings against the baby's parents or Ms Lal.
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Death of freebirther's baby during homebirth ‘preventable', Authentic Birthkeeper Emily Lal actions examined
The death of a baby girl at a Melbourne home in a 'freebirthing' tragedy could have been prevented, the coroner has ruled. Baby E died in December 2022, hours after she was born at home in a birthing pool hired by her parents from an Instagram influencer who opposes medical intervention during pregnancy. The actions of her parents and the influencer, Emily Lal, were the subject of a coronial inquiry, with the findings handed down on Thursday. The newborn's mother, Ms E, fell pregnant aged 41 and did not see a GP or obstetrician for the usual antenatal tests and scans, only visiting one GP during the entire pregnancy for a check-up at 36 weeks. 'Everything was normal, (she) felt fantastic, (she) had no scans and no check-ups', she stated. At 36 weeks, Ms E visited GP Peter Lucas, who examined her and the size, position and heartbeat appeared to be normal. However, Dr Lucas said Ms E rejected an offer of a blood screen and a late pregnancy ultrasound. He claims she told him she'd 'had enough investigations over the course of the pregnancy' but did not tell him how she planned to give birth. This was the only medical consultation she had during the entire pregnancy and there are no records of any antenatal tests or scans. Ms E said she responded to an advertisement for The Authentic Birthkeeper, run by Instagrammer Emily Lal, offering birthing pools for hire. Ms E contacted Ms Lal directly to hire the pool and then stayed in contact 'socially'. Ms Lal posts controversial, anti-intervention content and claims she is 'very disillusioned with the medical system' and that registered midwives are 'complicit in, and contributing to, the harm of women'. On her Instagram page Ms Lal says she provides 'support, guidance & education to prepare you to own your birth', not medical advice. Ms E went into labour on December 27, 2022. Her partner filled the birthing pool she had hired from Ms Lal and she spent the entire day and night in the pool, with Ms E occasionally leaving the pool to go to the toilet. The water was emptied and refilled on the morning of December 28. This is the only time the water was changed. About 10pm, feeling that the birth was imminent Ms E asked her partner to get in the pool with her and assist in the birth. The baby girl was born about 10.30pm. Ms E did not deliver the placenta and the cord was not cut. The couple then went to bed with the baby. When she woke the next morning Ms E tried to deliver the placenta but could not. Sometime between 6.30am and 7.30am she noticed something was wrong with her baby. Ms E claimed she sent a message to Ms Lal and during a subsequent FaceTime call Ms Lal saw the baby and advised Ms E to call Triple-0. But Ms Lal told the Coroner the only contact she had with Ms E was when she hired the pool and when she attended the home after emergency services arrived to attend to Baby E. But she gave a different story to a staff member at Mercy Hospital in Melbourne and to police. In these conversations she revealed she had received messages from Ms E immediately after the birth saying 'I did it' and then another just before 8am on December 30 stating 'we can't wake her, we aren't sure if she's breathing' and a picture was sent at 8.10am in which the baby's face was blue. Ms Lal didn't see the messages for 25 minutes. She then made a Facetime call and saw the baby, which she believed to be deceased, and told the parents to call an ambulance. An autopsy on the baby determined her cause of death as neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration and chorioamnionitis 'secondary to prolonged labour in a home birthing pool'. Chorioamnionitis is a maternal infection that is transmitted vaginally and the reason that pregnant women undergo antenatal Group B Streptococcus testing. Forensic Pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber found that the baby had probably been in distress for some time before her death. Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald found the baby girl's death was preventable and the circumstances of the birth occurring in the birthing pool contributed. 'It was unlikely to have occurred if the birth occurred in a hospital setting, and it may also have been avoided if the birth was a planned homebirth with appropriate midwife support. 'The birth of Baby E was a planned freebirth with an absence of antenatal medical management.' However, she did not identify any specific prevention opportunities. She recommended government health authorities update their guidelines on water birth safety. The coroner made no adverse findings against Ms and Mr E or Ms Lal.
West Australian
6 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Death of freebirther's baby during homebirth ‘preventable', Authentic Birthkeeper Emily Lal actions examined
The death of a baby girl at a Melbourne home in a 'freebirthing' tragedy could have been prevented, the coroner has ruled. Baby E died in December 2022, hours after she was born at home in a birthing pool hired by her parents from an Instagram influencer who opposes medical intervention during pregnancy. The actions of her parents and the influencer, Emily Lal, were the subject of a coronial inquiry, with the findings handed down on Thursday. The newborn's mother, Ms E, fell pregnant aged 41 and did not see a GP or obstetrician for the usual antenatal tests and scans, only visiting one GP during the entire pregnancy for a check-up at 36 weeks. 'Everything was normal, (she) felt fantastic, (she) had no scans and no check-ups', she stated. At 36 weeks, Ms E visited GP Peter Lucas, who examined her and the size, position and heartbeat appeared to be normal. However, Dr Lucas said Ms E rejected an offer of a blood screen and a late pregnancy ultrasound. He claims she told him she'd 'had enough investigations over the course of the pregnancy' but did not tell him how she planned to give birth. This was the only medical consultation she had during the entire pregnancy and there are no records of any antenatal tests or scans. Ms E said she responded to an advertisement for The Authentic Birthkeeper, run by Instagrammer Emily Lal, offering birthing pools for hire. Ms E contacted Ms Lal directly to hire the pool and then stayed in contact 'socially'. Ms Lal posts controversial, anti-intervention content and claims she is 'very disillusioned with the medical system' and that registered midwives are 'complicit in, and contributing to, the harm of women'. On her Instagram page Ms Lal says she provides 'support, guidance & education to prepare you to own your birth', not medical advice. Ms E went into labour on December 27, 2022. Her partner filled the birthing pool she had hired from Ms Lal and she spent the entire day and night in the pool, with Ms E occasionally leaving the pool to go to the toilet. The water was emptied and refilled on the morning of December 28. This is the only time the water was changed. About 10pm, feeling that the birth was imminent Ms E asked her partner to get in the pool with her and assist in the birth. The baby girl was born about 10.30pm. Ms E did not deliver the placenta and the cord was not cut. The couple then went to bed with the baby. When she woke the next morning Ms E tried to deliver the placenta but could not. Sometime between 6.30am and 7.30am she noticed something was wrong with her baby. Ms E claimed she sent a message to Ms Lal and during a subsequent FaceTime call Ms Lal saw the baby and advised Ms E to call Triple-0. But Ms Lal told the Coroner the only contact she had with Ms E was when she hired the pool and when she attended the home after emergency services arrived to attend to Baby E. But she gave a different story to a staff member at Mercy Hospital in Melbourne and to police. In these conversations she revealed she had received messages from Ms E immediately after the birth saying 'I did it' and then another just before 8am on December 30 stating 'we can't wake her, we aren't sure if she's breathing' and a picture was sent at 8.10am in which the baby's face was blue. Ms Lal didn't see the messages for 25 minutes. She then made a Facetime call and saw the baby, which she believed to be deceased, and told the parents to call an ambulance. An autopsy on the baby determined her cause of death as neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration and chorioamnionitis 'secondary to prolonged labour in a home birthing pool'. Chorioamnionitis is a maternal infection that is transmitted vaginally and the reason that pregnant women undergo antenatal Group B Streptococcus testing. Forensic Pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber found that the baby had probably been in distress for some time before her death. Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald found the baby girl's death was preventable and the circumstances of the birth occurring in the birthing pool contributed. 'It was unlikely to have occurred if the birth occurred in a hospital setting, and it may also have been avoided if the birth was a planned homebirth with appropriate midwife support. 'The birth of Baby E was a planned freebirth with an absence of antenatal medical management.' However, she did not identify any specific prevention opportunities. She recommended government health authorities update their guidelines on water birth safety. The coroner made no adverse findings against Ms and Mr E or Ms Lal. Ms Lal has been contacted for comment.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Death of ‘freebirther's' baby during homebirth preventable
The death of a baby girl at a Melbourne home in a 'freebirthing' tragedy could have been prevented, the coroner has ruled. Baby E died in December 2022, hours after she was born at home in a birthing pool hired by her parents from an Instagram influencer who opposes medical intervention during pregnancy. The actions of her parents and the influencer, Emily Lal, were the subject of a coronial inquiry, with the findings handed down on Thursday. The newborn's mother, Ms E, fell pregnant aged 41 and did not see a GP or obstetrician for the usual antenatal tests and scans, only visiting one GP during the entire pregnancy for a check-up at 36 weeks. 'Everything was normal, (she) felt fantastic, (she) had no scans and no check-ups', she stated. At 36 weeks, Ms E visited GP Peter Lucas, who examined her and the size, position and heartbeat appeared to be normal. However, Dr Lucas said Ms E rejected an offer of a blood screen and a late pregnancy ultrasound. He claims she told him she'd 'had enough investigations over the course of the pregnancy' but did not tell him how she planned to give birth. This was the only medical consultation she had during the entire pregnancy and there are no records of any antenatal tests or scans. Ms E said she responded to an advertisement for The Authentic Birthkeeper, run by Instagrammer Emily Lal, offering birthing pools for hire. Ms E contacted Ms Lal directly to hire the pool and then stayed in contact 'socially'. Ms Lal posts controversial, anti-intervention content and claims she is 'very disillusioned with the medical system' and that registered midwives are 'complicit in, and contributing to, the harm of women'. On her Instagram page Ms Lal says she provides 'support, guidance & education to prepare you to own your birth', not medical advice. Influencer Emily Lal advocates for 'freebirths' without medical assistance. Credit: Unknown / Instagram Ms E went into labour on December 27, 2022. Her partner filled the birthing pool she had hired from Ms Lal and she spent the entire day and night in the pool, with Ms E occasionally leaving the pool to go to the toilet. The water was emptied and refilled on the morning of December 28. This is the only time the water was changed. About 10pm, feeling that the birth was imminent Ms E asked her partner to get in the pool with her and assist in the birth. The baby girl was born about 10.30pm. Ms E did not deliver the placenta and the cord was not cut. The couple then went to bed with the baby. When she woke the next morning Ms E tried to deliver the placenta but could not. Sometime between 6.30am and 7.30am she noticed something was wrong with her baby. Ms E claimed she sent a message to Ms Lal and during a subsequent FaceTime call Ms Lal saw the baby and advised Ms E to call Triple-0. But Ms Lal told the Coroner the only contact she had with Ms E was when she hired the pool and when she attended the home after emergency services arrived to attend to Baby E. But she gave a different story to a staff member at Mercy Hospital in Melbourne and to police. In these conversations she revealed she had received messages from Ms E immediately after the birth saying 'I did it' and then another just before 8am on December 30 stating 'we can't wake her, we aren't sure if she's breathing' and a picture was sent at 8.10am in which the baby's face was blue. Ms Lal didn't see the messages for 25 minutes. She then made a Facetime call and saw the baby, which she believed to be deceased, and told the parents to call an ambulance. An autopsy on the baby determined her cause of death as neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration and chorioamnionitis 'secondary to prolonged labour in a home birthing pool'. Chorioamnionitis is a maternal infection that is transmitted vaginally and the reason that pregnant women undergo antenatal Group B Streptococcus testing. Forensic Pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber found that the baby had probably been in distress for some time before her death. Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald found the baby girl's death was preventable and the circumstances of the birth occurring in the birthing pool contributed. 'It was unlikely to have occurred if the birth occurred in a hospital setting, and it may also have been avoided if the birth was a planned homebirth with appropriate midwife support. 'The birth of Baby E was a planned freebirth with an absence of antenatal medical management.' However, she did not identify any specific prevention opportunities. She recommended government health authorities update their guidelines on water birth safety. The coroner made no adverse findings against Ms and Mr E or Ms Lal. Ms Lal has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman loses her baby after choosing dangerous 'freebirth' method promoted by Instagrammer
A newborn girl died after her mother delivered her using a home birthing pool hired from an Instagram influencer who advocates for 'freebirths', a coroner has found. Melbourne-based influencer Emily Lal creates content opposing medical intervention during pregnancy, known as 'freebirths', and offers birthing pools for rent. Ms Lal has said she is 'very disillusioned with the medical system' and that registered midwives are 'complicit in, and contributing to, the harm of women'. Ms Lal was cited in a coronial report published on Thursday into the death of a newborn, 'Baby E', in December 2022. The mother, 'Ms E', did not seek regular medical help during pregnancy, attending a GP only at 36 weeks' gestation. She engaged directly with Ms Lal, through her Instagram, 'The Authentic Birthkeeper', from whom she rented the birthing pool she used to deliver her baby. Ms E said she remained in social contact with Ms Lal but did not seek any services or advice from her, other than inquiring about a possible visit after the birth. According to a record relied on by the coroner, Ms Lal recalled Ms E texted her shortly after the baby was born on the evening of December 28 saying: 'I did it.' She did not deliver the placenta until the following morning and gradually became concerned the baby was suffering complications. During the morning, Ms E sent another text to Ms Lal saying: 'We can't wake her, we aren't sure if she's breathing,' alongside an image of the newborn with a blue face. Paramedics were unable to revive the baby, who died on the morning of December 29, but rushed Ms E to hospital for treatment. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration, and chorioamnionitis, secondary to prolonged labour in a home birthing pool. Forensic pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber stated that had the birth occurred in a hospital, preventative measures could have been taken. 'Even if Baby E's condition was poor at the time of her birth, if she had been born at hospital, she would have received immediate resuscitation from trained neonatologists, improving her likelihood of survival,' she said. Coroner Fitzgerald accepted the autopsy findings, stating the use of the birthing pool contributed to the baby's death. 'It was unlikely to have occurred if the birth occurred in a hospital setting, and it may also have been avoided if the birth was a planned homebirth with appropriate midwife support,' she said. The coroner made no adverse findings against the parents or Ms Lal. Ms Lal is not a health professional and her social media profile bears the disclaimer: 'no medical advice'. She has repeatedly claimed it is not her intent to convert anyone to her method of pregnancy and, instead, aims only to express her own opinion. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Ms E relied on any representations by Ms Lal in deciding how to conduct the birth or pregnancy. Safer Care Victoria (SCV) encourages women and families to seek care from trained and registered health professionals during pregnancy. 'In recent years, there has been an increase in freebirths in Victoria and unfortunately, some have resulted in poor outcomes for mothers and babies, such as severe bleeding in the mother or breathing problems in the baby leading to long term health issues or even death,' its website reads. It strongly encourages 'women and families to seek care from trained AHPRA registered professionals, who can provide medical support when needed, helping to ensure the safest possible outcomes for mother and baby.'
