Sarah Treleaven

Caitlin had mentioned to Amy that she was naming her child Eden.

Caitlin had mentioned to Amy that she was naming her child Eden.

While it might sound like a young woman having to deliver a stillborn baby that was conceived through rape could not possibly get more tragic, the truth of this story is devastating in a completely different way.

While it might sound like a young woman having to deliver a stillborn baby that was conceived through rape could not possibly get more tragic, the truth of this story is devastating in a completely different way.

I've reported on a lot of heart-wrenching stories. Social workers who exploited vulnerable kids. Ponzi schemers who stole life savings. I've spent the last year and a half immersed in Caitlin's world. And this is one of the most complex stories I've ever covered. A story that has puzzled psychiatrists and legal systems. A story that contorts moral and ethical instincts.

I've reported on a lot of heart-wrenching stories. Social workers who exploited vulnerable kids. Ponzi schemers who stole life savings. I've spent the last year and a half immersed in Caitlin's world. And this is one of the most complex stories I've ever covered. A story that has puzzled psychiatrists and legal systems. A story that contorts moral and ethical instincts.

and a perpetrator who takes up the valuable time of a stressed and overloaded medical system. A woman who took so much from people whose job is to give. The people you will hear from never want any of this to happen again. But no one really knows what they would have done differently.

and a perpetrator who takes up the valuable time of a stressed and overloaded medical system. A woman who took so much from people whose job is to give. The people you will hear from never want any of this to happen again. But no one really knows what they would have done differently.

For CBC and the BBC World Service, I'm Sarah Trelevan. And this is The Con, Caitlin's baby. Episode one, The Barking Dog. Hour after hour, Amy helps Caitlin with the early stages of labor. Amy constantly on the phone, encouraging, listening, crying, everything and anything Caitlin needs.

For CBC and the BBC World Service, I'm Sarah Trelevan. And this is The Con, Caitlin's baby. Episode one, The Barking Dog. Hour after hour, Amy helps Caitlin with the early stages of labor. Amy constantly on the phone, encouraging, listening, crying, everything and anything Caitlin needs.

Here is this lonely young woman, traumatized by a sexual assault that led to a pregnancy. A baby that died in utero at around 32 weeks, and she is now birthing her child alone. She tells Amy and Katie that her family has abandoned her, that they blamed her for the rape and didn't support her decision to keep the baby.

Here is this lonely young woman, traumatized by a sexual assault that led to a pregnancy. A baby that died in utero at around 32 weeks, and she is now birthing her child alone. She tells Amy and Katie that her family has abandoned her, that they blamed her for the rape and didn't support her decision to keep the baby.

In fact, Amy says that Caitlin told her all sorts of intimate things, which isn't unusual for doulas.

In fact, Amy says that Caitlin told her all sorts of intimate things, which isn't unusual for doulas.

Caitlin has been in labor for nearly 40 hours. And Amy was hardly sleeping, hardly eating.

Caitlin has been in labor for nearly 40 hours. And Amy was hardly sleeping, hardly eating.

Amy is sick, so she can't meet Caitlin at the hospital. And Amy's friend and doula partner, Katie, is at work.

Amy is sick, so she can't meet Caitlin at the hospital. And Amy's friend and doula partner, Katie, is at work.

Finally, after what felt like a lot more work than it should have, Amy convinces Caitlin to call a car.

Finally, after what felt like a lot more work than it should have, Amy convinces Caitlin to call a car.