Doula Duped by Fake Pregnancy Scam, Inspires Law & Order Episode

In November 2022, doula Katie Nelson was working with Kaitlyn Braun, a woman who had reached out to her claiming to be pregnant. Over the next several days, Nelson provided Braun with virtual support through early labor and postpartum complications. However, Nelson soon began to suspect something was amiss, as Braun experienced "every complication you could possibly experience" and was sending variations of the same photos to multiple doulas.

After investigating further, Nelson discovered that Braun had been faking her pregnancy and manipulating over 50 doulas across the country. Braun was ultimately sentenced to 3 years in jail in February 2024 for her crimes.

Nearly 3 years after her encounter with Braun, Nelson was shocked to see a fictionalized version of her story unfold on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The episode, titled "Feed the Craving," closely mirrored Nelson's experience, down to the details of Braun's fraudulent behavior. While the show's disclaimer states the story is fictional, Nelson found the similarities "so surreal" to watch. She was relieved, however, that the episode portrayed doulas accurately and sensitively.