Stacey Hatfield: Melbourne wellbeing influencer dies after home birth had ‘extreme complications’

A Melbourne-based nutritionist and food content creator has tragically died following the homebirth of her first child, due to what has been described as an “unforeseen” and “extremely rare” medical complication.

Stacey Warnecke (née Hatfield) was a savvy businesswoman and advocate for holistic living. She founded Natural Spoonfuls in 2019, a business focused on recipe development and low-tox living, and later launched Waffl, a creative platform dedicated to food content creation.

She passed away on September 29 shortly after giving birth to her son, Axel.

Her husband, Nathan Warnecke, shared the heartbreaking news with Stacey’s followers on Sunday.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I share with you the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, soul mate and best friend, Stacey Warnecke (Hatfield),” he wrote.

Nathan explained that shortly after Stacey gave birth, “an unforeseen and extremely rare complication arose,” and she passed away after being transferred to hospital.

“Hospital staff were amazing and did the utmost to help, but ultimately nothing could be done despite their best efforts.”

Nathan and Stacey had been together for nine years and were just two months shy of celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

“She was the light of my life and the reason I got up in the morning. Words can’t do justice to how devastating this is for myself and everyone that knew and loved her,” he wrote.

“She was the most beautiful, loving, caring, hardworking, disciplined, intelligent and trustworthy human being I’ve ever known.”

Nathan added that it was Stacey’s “biggest dream” to become a mother.

“She loved being pregnant and over the last 9 months told our son she loved him every day. She held Axel when he was born, nursed him, saw that he was a boy, and loved him.”

“If there’s one thing that I can try and reconcile in this horrible time is that her last moments on earth were the happiest I’ve ever seen her,” he wrote.

A fundraiser has been launched by a close relative to support Nathan and Axel in the wake of the tragedy.

“On a day that should have been the happiest day of their life, the unimaginable occurred,” the statement on GoFundMe reads.

“Now, Nathan has a newborn baby and is left to navigate life from here as a single father. The challenge to provide all that a young child needs without his soulmate is a daunting one whilst dealing with such a tragic loss.”

At the time of reporting, almost $4000 has been raised from 39 donations with a goal of $16,000.

Stacey’s best friend also shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.

“Stacey once told me how excited she was to see Nathan become a dad. She knew he would be gentle, devoted, and full of love. And she was right,” she wrote.

“Seeing Nathan step into fatherhood and witnessing firsthand the bond he shares with Axel is pure magic. Stacey is there with them—in every cuddle, every smile, every quiet moment of love.”

The latest ABS data from 2023 reveals that approximately 0.7 per cent of births in Australia were planned homebirths, which is about 2081 births.