Australia’s health and influencer communities are in mourning after the death of Stacey Hatfield, a prominent wellness figure and founder of Natural Spoonfuls, following the birth of her baby boy, Axel. Hatfield, who built a devoted following for her advocacy of toxin-free living and holistic nutrition, passed away on September 29, 2025, just hours after delivering her son at home.
Her husband, Nathan Warnecke, announced the heartbreaking news in a statement shared to her Instagram account on October 19:
“It’s with heavy heart that I share with you the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, soul mate and best friend, Stacey Warnecke (Hatfield),” he wrote. “Stace passed on the 29th September 2025 after successfully giving birth to our firstborn son, Axel, at home. Tragically, shortly after, an unforeseen and extremely rare complication arose and she passed 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.”
Warnecke’s words painted a portrait of love and admiration — for the woman he described as “the light of my life and the reason I got up in the morning.” He reflected on their nine years together, their Maldives beach wedding, and the shared dream that had finally come true: becoming parents.
“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,” he said. “She loved being pregnant and over the last nine 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.”
Hatfield’s brand, Natural Spoonfuls, launched in 2019, helped lead Australia’s growing movement toward cleaner eating and non-toxic living. She later expanded into digital media with a content creation company called Waffl, using her platform to inspire others to live simply, sustainably, and intentionally.
But her passing has ignited a broader conversation about the invisible risks of childbirth, especially among women who opt for home births under the belief that “natural” equals safe. Despite modern advances in prenatal care, postpartum complications remain a leading cause of maternal death worldwide — a reality too often obscured by Instagram’s filtered portrayals of wellness and motherhood.
In a world where influencers like Hatfield become icons of “perfect health,” her death serves as a sobering reminder that nature, no matter how revered, is not always merciful. The ideals of purity and control that underpin much of the wellness industry cannot always protect against the unpredictability of the human body.
A GoFundMe campaign, launched to support Warnecke and baby Axel, has already raised $24,926 AUD of its $28,000 goal, helping to cover funeral expenses, living costs, and childcare needs. The page notes that Stacey’s passing came just two months before the couple’s wedding anniversary — a cruel twist in what was meant to be the happiest chapter of their lives.
As tributes continue to pour in from followers and fellow influencers, Hatfield’s legacy endures not only in her work, but in the child she dreamed of and brought into the world with love. Her story underscores a truth often lost beneath curated feeds and brand partnerships: behind every glossy image of wellness lies a human being — fragile, hopeful, and mortal.
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