A Brantford, Ont. woman who admitted to faking pregnancies and defrauding doulas is headed to prison.
Kaitlyn Braun was sentenced Monday to spend the rest of her original sentence behind bars, with another three years added on for her latest deceptions.
The judge accepted a joint submission by the Crown and defence recommending a five-year sentence, despite expressing concern in a previous hearing about Braun’s ability to seek rehabilitation behind bars. The defence, however, argued that it was the sentence Braun wanted.
“The client gave very clear instructions, she can get DBT [Dialectical Behavior Therapy] in the penitentiary,” he told the court. “She wants to just deal with things, wants to start doing her real time and wants to get assistance.”
Original sentence
In December 2023, Braun pleaded guilty to 21 charges. She admitted she contacted multiple doulas, who provide care during and after childbirth, while pretending to be pregnant. Court heard she would often claim it was the result of a sexual assault, and in some cases, acted like she was experiencing a stillbirth.
Braun was sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest in February 2024.
At that time, the judge expressed concerns about his own sentence and cited a mental health assessment which warned that Braun was likely to reoffend. He said he didn’t like how the sentencing submission from the Crown and defence was structured but felt he had to accept it.
New charges
Two months later, in April 2024, Braun reached out to a charitable organization that supports parents in crisis using the name Kate Baker. She claimed to be 19 weeks pregnant with a baby that would not make it full term and spent about 19 hours on the phone with a volunteer.
Ten days later, Braun began texting a Hamilton-based doula. Calling herself Jessica Baker, she claimed to be 21 weeks pregnant and the two exchanged about 600 messages over three days. Braun also signed a $250 contract with the doula but never paid.
Braun was arrested by Hamilton Police on April 30, 2024. She later pleaded guilty to four new charges.
Sentencing reaction
Tracy Robb was the volunteer who spent 19 hours on the phone talking to Braun and told the court how the experience changed her.
“She has lost trust in people,” Justice Joe Fiorucci said while delivering his decision. “She lives in constant fear of being deceived.”
Among those in attendance at Monday’s sentencing hearing in Hamilton were some of the doulas and support workers who were tricked by Braun.
“I’m happy that after he’s gone through all of the information from the past case, plus the new charges, he understands better what we’ve all been through,” explained doula Maighen Stanley.
Amy Perry was not surprised Braun ended up back in court so soon.
“It was super difficult and super predictable,” the doula said. “We knew it was coming. I’m actually surprised it took the full two months that it did.”
Perry was happy with Braun’s sentence.
“It feels like a relief to know that she’s going to be in custody. I think she should have been in custody this whole time.”
“I’m relieved she’ll at least be out of the community for a few years,” added doula Seanna Hayes. “At least we got that much time.”
Justice Fiorucci acknowledged that it was a difficult case but explained that “the nature and circumstances of the breach were egregious.”
“He put a great deal of time into this file,” said Alison Macdonald, Braun’s lawyer. “Because it is very unique. It’s difficult. We can’t find a precedent for this type of behaviour.”
She is hopeful Braun will pursue therapy as she serves out her sentence in a federal penitentiary.
“I think she’s ready,” Macdonald said. “I think she’s had some, I want to say life actualization and insight into herself. I think being in custody and having to deal with all the media and the notoriety and all those things, it weighs on someone.”
The doulas and support workers, meanwhile, continue to do what they love.
“I’m not going to let Kaitlyn Braun ruin my joy, or ruin my heart’s work, or ruin my passion,” said Hayes.
“I am way better prepared for clients now than I’ve ever been,” insisted Stanley.
Both are determined to put Braun behind them as they heal from the hurt and pain she caused.
