Case of Brantford woman who faked pregnancies and scammed doulas signals need for better screening: groups

WARNING: This article references sexual assault and suicidal ideation, and may affect those who have experienced​ them or know someone affected by them.

The high-profile case of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was rearrested while serving house arrest for faking pregnancies and duping doulas may be unique to the public, but scams targeting workers in the field are more common than people may think, say doula organizations.

Efforts to con these pregnancy-care professionals have been "known for a long time in the doula world," said Robin Elise Weiss, president of DONA International, which has certified over 14,000 doulas in over 50 countries since 1992.

"There are a lot of people who do this … it's common enough that if you've been a doula for more than six months, you've probably gotten one or more of these people who reached out to you."

Weiss spoke in the wake of new charges against Kaitlyn Braun, who was sentenced in February to house arrest for harassment and fraudulently seeking the services of numerous doulas in Ontario between June 2022 and February 2023.

Hamilton police said allegations between April 17 and 18 spurred an investigation into the 25-year-old and it was reported she had "falsely solicited support related to pregnancy and childbirth from unsuspecting victim(s)." 

A doula is a trained professional who supports clients before, during and shortly after childbirth. They also help with grief and trauma around pregnancy loss, but they're not health-care professionals who deliver babies and they don't have access to medical records or equipment.

While doulas have certifications with different organizations, they are not registered with a regulating or governing body.

Weiss said scammers will try to prey on new doulas and they may:

Leanne Palmerston, owner of Hamilton Family Doulas, echoed Weiss's comments.

Palmerston said Braun reached out to Hamilton Family Doulas in 2022, but didn't end up using their services because Braun lived outside of the organization's catchment area and she had asked for discounted services. 

"We dodged a bullet," Palmerston told CBC Hamilton.

A judge sentenced Braun to two years of house arrest and three years of probation after she pleaded guilty late in 2023 to 21 of the 52 charges she faced, including fraud, indecent acts, false pretences and mischief. She also was told she'd have to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and undergo mandatory counselling, was forbidden to contact victims, and banned from using the internet and social media for two years.