Accused of defrauding doulas, a woman says she is ashamed

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Doulas are trained professionals who support women speakers. However, they are not health professionals and are not registered with any regulatory or governance body.

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Kaitlyn Braun, 25, was in tears during her sentencing hearing Wednesday. The Ontarian is accused of having faked pregnancies and defrauding numerous birth attendants. She said she took full responsibility for the “harm and pain” she caused.

Doula or birth attendant?

In French, we will favor the use of the title of accompanying at birth.

People who practice this profession provide support and advice to families during and after pregnancy.

I know that the words I speak today do not undo what I have done and do not automatically create healing. However, I hope that my words, as well as my plan of action, will show that I am a changed person, she said.

Kaitlyn Braun said her time in detention gave her the opportunity to reflect on her actions.

I feel a great sense of shame when I think of the harm and pain I have caused. I never wanted to be the person I became, she said.

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She also said she is willing to participate in any form of therapy and believes she can get more support outside of detention.

Last month, Kaitlyn Braun pleaded guilty to 21 counts, including fraud, indecent acts, false pretenses and mischief, on the 52 she faced.

Kaitlyn Braun was first arrested in March after requesting the& #x27;birth attendants for false pregnancies and stillbirths from June 2022 to February 2023. She also made a false statement to a Brantford police officer in February.

Kaitlyn Braun has been in custody since her arrest. She will receive her sentence on February 14. Other charges to which she pleaded not guilty, including sexual assault, will be dropped at that time.

The publication ban which protected the identity of 17 birth attendants in this case is no longer in force for 12 of them.

During the victims' statements, those accompanying the birth claimed that they had felt violated by the accused. Ms. Braun, handcuffed, looked down the whole time.

In her statement, Seanna Hayes said she was completely drained and demoralized, adding that Ms. Braun was her very first client. Since I have been with Mrs. Braun, I have been afraid of new clients, confided the attendant at the London birth.

Seanna Hayes pointed out that she added a pretense clause to her contract and is no longer offering support virtual or free services.

I now trust less those who seek the support of a birth attendant. This is unacceptable for me who wants to provide the best support to people.

A quote from Seanna Hayes, birth attendant

Kaitlyn Braun made me fear doing the work I'm passionate about. I'm afraid of having new clients and of [feeling a traumatic situation] during a birth, she testified. This crime ruined me.

Another attendant at London's birth, Amy Silva, said she lost about $6,000 from working with Kaitlyn Braun and for therapy fees.

Judge Robert Gee indicated that&# x27;he needed more time to consider the joint proposal from the Crown and defense that Ms. Braun receive a two-year suspended sentence.

If this proposal is accepted, Kaitlyn Braun will be under house arrest for two years. There would then be a three-year probation period during which Kaitlyn Braun would have to undergo therapy.

The Lawyers told the court of Kaitlyn Braun's long history of mental health issues. They notably noted memories of sexual assault suffered in childhood and bipolar tendencies and borderline personality disorder.

Ms. Braun's medical records indicate a history of suicidal ideation and nearly 200 hospital visits between 2006 and her March arrest, Joshua Mociak noted , Crown prosecutor.

With information from CBC