Melissa Fuller
Birth Mark Doula and Abortion Support Program Manager, Toronto
Specialty: abortion support, pregnancy options, sexual health, French-speaking
Melissa (she/her) is an abortion doula, sex educator, and the Abortion Support Program Manager at Birth Mark. She has been sharing her passion for sexual and reproductive health for over a decade through writing, workshops, and individual support.
Since she can remember, Melissa’s attention has been drawn to the barriers and gaps that make sexual and reproductive health services inaccessible when they’re needed most. Her work now focuses on supporting others as they navigate these barriers to bridge gaps wherever possible.
While completing her master’s in sexology, Melissa had the opportunity to study social stigma as a barrier to accessing sexual health support. Using a qualitative approach to her thesis research, she witnessed the impact of holding a kind, non-directive space for participants to share their experiences and needs without judgement.
Inspired to deepen her ability to hold this space, Melissa trained as a birth doula with MotherWit and as an abortion doula with The Doula Project. She co-founded the Montreal Abortion Access Project (MAAP), a collective of doulas and sexologists who offer abortion information, resources, and free doula support. She has since expanded her skills with training in pregnancy options counselling, sex & pregnancy support, pregnancy loss support, grief literacy. She has also deepened her abortion support skills with Dopo Doulas and Abortion Support Services Atlantic.
Melissa joined the Birth Mark team shortly after moving to Toronto and is proud to be part of an organization that shares her dream of accessible doula care for all pregnancies. She currently supports in-person clients in Toronto, and virtual clients accessing abortion care in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
As a doula, Melissa holds space for others to catch their breath. She views each client as the expert of their own experience and herself as a companion on their journey.
To learn more about Birth Mark’s abortion support or request a doula click here