Odette Bulaong ND
2560 Gerrard Street East, Suite 103 M1N 1W8 Toronto, ON, Canada

Double-tap & share to help me thank all of the naturopathic doctors who have made a difference in peoples' lives. Naturopathic medicine week is March 16-22 Check back here all week for more fun facts about naturopathic medicine

Sending love to all of you who may find today bittersweet for so many different reasons, like those who are: Longing to be Moms & parents Going through infertility treatments Grieving the loss of their angel babies & children gone too soon Amazing Aunties/Titas/Titx (aunt in tagalog) & godmothers/Ninangs/Ninx (godmother in tagalog) who wonder if they'll get their chance to become Moms & parents... Struggling with whether or not to continue their infertility treatments and fertility journey Learning to navigate the world of being childless not by choice Wishing their relationships with their Moms could be different than they are Grieving the loss of their Moms I know it's not the easiest of days for many of you so know that you are not alone. I see you & am sending you love Big thank you to my niece & Ate @justliv.y for the yummy treats today and my beautiful card. Nina loves you xo

Send, save and share this with an infertility warrior you know & love so they know they’re not alone. 1 in 6 couples in Canada experience infertility yet so few people not directly affected by infertility think twice about it CIAW is a great time to change that so people going through infertility know they’re not alone.... Infertility is hard enough to go through, and being able to provide naturopathic fertility support for so many couples during this time, I’ve seen how the pandemic completely amplifies the mental, emotional & physical toll of all of those going through infertility treatments. So if you’re an infertility warrior yourself, I'm sending you ALL the positive vibes to last way beyond this week.

You're getting progesterone tested, but WHEN should you get it done? Some doctors recommend testing progesterone on Day 21, under the assumption most women ovulate on Day 14. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE... Remember, cycle lengths can vary from woman to woman and from month to month in the same woman! Read back a few posts where I explain cycle lengths! We need to take into account the individual woman's cycle lengths & measure progesterone levels when they would be at or approaching their peak This would be approximately midway through the luteal phase for most people - which works out to approximately 7 days after ovulation And YES! I’m working on a post to explain the menstrual cycle phases in the very near future, for those who've asked! SO why not just measure progesterone on Day 21. Well, if someone ovulated later, for example on day 18, then testing on day 21 may not give them enough time for their progesterone to peak This could make you think you have insufficient progesterone levels when you may just not have tested on the correct day! This is WHY.... I work hard to help women understand their cycles better, so I can help identify when they ovulate with more accuracy. Then we typically test progesterone approximately 1 week after that. This way I can better understand if they are ovulating and if we need additional individualized luteal phase support. This timing is especially important if. you have menstrual cycles that are shorter or longer than the normal 28-day cycle, or if cycles are unpredictable. Again, check my post a few posts back for more on cycle lengths if you need to! And REMEMBER . I'm a naturopathic doctor (ND), I'm not your naturopathic doctor, so definitely follow your ND's recommendations and use this info to increase your understanding and improve your ability to communicate to with your ND & your other health professionals. If this was news to you. Drop a in the comments so I know I'm sharing the info you need P.S. Although I spoke about this specifically for those TTC, know that progesterone is IMPORTANT for more than just fertility!

Share the by tagging an unstoppable woman you want to celebrate, thank & support on International Women’s Day! I could not do what I do without ALL of the AMAZING women in my life. I couldn't tag all of you but know I wish I could! Whether you are family, friend, patient, colleague, & women I don’t even know whose work has inspired me:... Thank you to each & every one of you Remember, you are UNSTOPPABLE, so whatever you’ve got in your mind & heart to do: keep on going & know I’m here to cheer you on & help lift you up along the way, if ever you need me Hugs & love y’all xo P.S. Being unstoppable doesn't mean you can't take breaks, in fact I believe that to be unstoppable you must know how and when to take breaks so you can keep being unstoppable.

So proud to see my friend and colleague Dr. de Peiza ND using her voice to raise awareness of the need for more Black naturopathic doctors, as well as the importance of our profession being more accessible to Black people. Representation definitely matters.

I'm gonna leave this here for anyone who needs to read this. Feel free to tag someone who needs to hear this. Thank you @meditatingwithdeandre for my fave relaxing meditation right now & inspiring words from @fitonapp

Since many people have been asking, I wanted to reassure you that YES! I'm still safely able to provide acupuncture and in-person visits alongside naturopathic virtual visits while Toronto has moved into the grey zone/lockdown. Remember, for those appointments that don't require acupuncture or an in-person physical exam, we will be doing a virtual visit and I'll look at bit more like myself, in case you've forgotten what I look like! New patients? Yes! I'm h...ere for you too. I'm doing part of your initial visit virtually to keep the in-person portion shorter to reduce your in-person contact. I know our naturopathic visits have been different than what we're used to, but these changes are in place to keep all of our amazing patients like you, our awesome clinic staff and wonderful city safe during the pandemic. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

That was me getting my geek on today, learning from the experts so I can brush up on my prescribing skills for hormone health for all of my awesome patients! SO much practical & clinical pearls from amazing naturopathic doctors on how safe prescribing of bioidentical hormones can amplify our naturopathic treatment plans to support my amazing going through: Perimenopause & Menopause PCOS... Heavy periods Fertility concerns & pregnancy Thyroid concerns Mitochondria & brain health concerns If you're interested in how bioidentical hormones may fit into your naturopathic care plan or have Qs - DM me! Did you know that in Ontario, naturopathic doctors need to take extra training and pass an exam do be granted Prescribing Rights to be able to prescribe bioidentical hormones like progesterone, estrogen & desiccated thyroid? I took and passed the exam 5 years ago and ever since then have been honing my prescribing knowledge & skills to best serve my patients effectively & safely. Thank you so much to the OAND and @EndoANP for putting this on for us and of course to the awesome naturopathic doctors who shared their expertise with us: @dramytung @drfionand @holistic_fertility_doctor @christiansonalan @dr.carriejones I am super inspired by you all

Today we remember, honour and thank veterans for their service to our country We take 2 minutes (& hopefully more than that) to pause our lives to reflect on their sacrifice - especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget. In Flanders Fields By John McCrae... In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. From www.poetryfoundation.org

Held for a moment. Loved for a lifetime This is just one candle but joined with all of yours we light up the sky in a Wave of Light to let all of the angel babies know they are forever in our hearts

I got teary-eyed watching & listening to Vice President-Elect @kamalaharris tonight. It filled me with so much hope for little girls like my niece, my cousins' & friends' kids who will be able to grow up seeing a black & South Asian woman who is also the daughter of an immigrant be the Vice President of ... Representation matters. You can do anything girls. Never forget that. #repost Vice President-Elect @kamalaharris

A huge thank you I hope will brighten up the day of all of you AMAZING teachers out there! Thank you for all you have always done & continue to do for your students - especially in today's challenging world Happy Teacher's Day Now it's your turn! Show some love to your fave teachers by tagging a teacher who brightens up your day

Today we recognize & honour the families who have lost their angel babies to: Miscarriage (early pregnancy loss) Stillbirth (late pregnancy loss) Infant loss... For too long these families have had to endure their grief in silence to make others feel comfortable, but I'm hopeful with the growing resources available that more people will feel supported in their losses. You are not alone. Here are some of my favourite resources for those who have gone through pregnancy loss & for those who want to understand how to support those who have gone through pregnancy loss better: PAIL Network @sunnybrookhsc (Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness) @drloreejohnson @ihadamiscarriage @stillstandingmag @miscarriagehopedesk If you have pregnancy loss resources you'd like to share, feel free to tag them below And be sure to check my feed later for the Wave of Light.

Missing the usual long weekend fam jams but learning to find joy & gratitude for the little things : The shining sun Gorgeous autumn leaves Air hugs & virtual hugs... Big or little, let me know what you're thankful for below So thankful for each & every one of you, my friends & sending love to you & yours this long weekend

A huge thank you I hope will brighten up the day of all of you AMAZING teachers out there! Thank you for all you have always done & continue to do for your students - especially in today's challenging world Happy Teacher's Day Now it's your turn! Show some love to your fave teachers by tagging a teacher who brightens up your day

Happy PKD Awareness Day friends A huge virtual hug to every person with PKD living their life to the fullest. You inspire me! PKD = polycystic kidney disease, a life-threatening genetic disease that can cause NUMEROUS cysts (as in too many to count) to form on kidneys (and other organs like the liver). The cysts can grow so large that they end up enlarging the kidney, preventing this crucial organ from working the way it should Approximately 40- 50% of people with P...KD will experience kidney failure - meaning they will need dialysis or a transplant in order to live. Sadly, many of my family have died from this genetic kidney disease but fortunately, many have been blessed to live well with kidney transplants and I’m extremely grateful and celebrate that & them today #BulaongBrigade Common symptoms of PKD include: High blood pressure Back or side pain Increased abdomen size due to enlarged kidneys and sometimes enlarged liver too. This may sound only cosmetic but it can make it pretty difficult to eat, breathe and move your body in the way that you want. Sometimes your abdomen can enlarge so much that you look like you're pregnant when you're not - and for some strange reason, people feel comfortable asking you if you’re pregnant. PSA: It is NEVER wise to ask someone if they're pregnant because they may not be and you could be pointing out a symptom that is part of a health condition they are struggling from! It makes both of you feel pretty bad, so please STOP asking people if they’re pregnant. Let them bring it up! The good news is that many people with PKD can live their life well & to the fullest without developing severe symptoms or needing dialysis/transplant. That is my hope for everyone with PKD To learn more about PKD and possible treatment optionsfollow @endpkd - a Canadian non-profit organization that works tirelessly to help find a cure for PKD. If you have more questions about PKD, comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them! Please consider sharing this post to help us create awareness about PKD and let people with PKD know they’re not alone.

I agree with this quote from @artisticnd To ALL of my amazing naturopathic colleagues, if you haven't registered yet for the Systemic Racism Panel, there's still time! It's TONIGHT at 7-9 pm. Sign up link below! And please tag any NDs who may not have registered yet! Free for #OAND members & only $20 for nonmembers this is a MUST to start providing a united front against racism in our profession, our homes, our communities and worldwide I'm looking fo...rward to listening to & learning from the speakers and then getting to work as a member of the OAND Anti-Racism Working Group Here's the link if you still need to sign up! Let me know if I'll "see" you there! https://oand.org/events-education/events/

This was waiting for me at clinic yesterday - right on time for #pregnancyandinfantlossawarenessmonth Thank you Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network (PAIL Network) for ALL you do to help families get through such a difficult time. If you're not familiar with the PAIL Network which is based out of @sunnybrookhsc make sure you visit their website (in pic!) for resources, support group info & commemorative events like the upcoming #internationalwaveoflight on October 15 fo...r Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, that my family and I have been participating in since 2015 You can so get your own kit there with the beautifull pin & buttons you'll see me wearing in clinic this month to help raise awarness of supporting our families through pregnancy & infant loss. Let me know below if you've heard of PAIL Network before

October is Prenancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month & I'll be sharing info I hope will help #shatterthestigma surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. People never quite know what to do or say when it comes to death & loss. It makes people uncomfortable, I get it. And when it's death of an infant - especially an unborn infant - people get even more uncomfortable. I get it. But I ask you - with only love & the intention of fostering more love - who do you think is ...more "uncomfortable" - you or the person you know who's experienced such a devastating loss? Don't worry about not knowing what to say or saying the right thing, just start by acknowledging their loss, their baby and you'll be surprised at how much that can help. Sending love to everyone with angel babies always in their heart.

Guess who's taking over the @naturessignature page tomorrow Make sure you tune in to their stories & IG feed all day for #hormonehelp tips for fertility, crazy periods & even hot flashes!! I'll be sharing here too, so as always, turn on your notification for my stories and feed so you don't miss a thing! "See" you then! Thanks Nature's Signature for inviting me to take over your page - can't wait!

Thank you to everyone who supported the Bulaong Brigade in our first ever virtual Walk to End PKD today! Your generosity helped our team raise $1980 for critical PKD research & awareness so thank you so much. While I wish the entire Bulaong Brigade could've all walked together as a team, this virtual walk made us cherish all of our past PKD Walk memories & look forward to when we can walk together again as a team, safely. Still, we had fun Zoom walking together in Aja...x, Richmond Hill, Mississauga & Etobicoke! And special shout out to Bulaong Brigade in Pickering & Poconos, Pennsylvania who also got their walk on today For those who have asked, there is still time to donate! Simply click the link in my previous post to reach our team fundraising page. For more pics of our virtual walk today, find me on IG @odettebulaongnd And on behalf of the Bulaong Brigade, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your generosity, love & support.

Doing IVF is not easy on the regular. And during a pandemic? Well, obviously even more necessary precautions to take. So just wanted to send some extra love & positive vibes to all of my patients and all people going through IUI, egg retrieval, IVF fresh or frozen embryo transfers, donor egg IVF and the many other cycle monitoring and testing that comes along with assisted reproductive techniques. All of you inspire me so much & I'm rooting for you all. If you're on your fertility journey & weren't aware of how naturopathic medicine and acupuncture can help support all of the above fertility procedures (& are in Ontario) feel free to PM me to set up a 15 minute complimentary fertility chat with me.

With only 2 sleeps before our first ever virtual PKD Walk I want to say a huge Thank You to everyone who has already supported the Bulaong Brigade at such a financially uncertain time for so many. We truly appreciate your help in funding research so no one will have to experience the full effects of PKD (polycystic kidney disease). We'll miss walking as the full team and with all of the other amazing teams this year but for everyone's safety are happy to participate in... the virtual walk! If you would still like to donate to this worthy cause & our team, here is the link for super easy online donations. No donation is too small & every dollar means the world to us. Thank you for all of love & support, The Bulaong Brigade xo

How do you like my new look? It's been about a month since I've been back doing in-person visits again & I'm happy to report: The therapeutic connection does not change even though I look like this! . . .... I'm so thankful I'm able to be able to provide acupuncture safely to provide support for: Natural fertility cycles IUI Egg retrieval/IVF cycles Frozen embryo transfers for my non-fertility patients: Balancing your periods Minimizing hot flashes Of course, telepractice appointments are always available so we can easily & safely review your: Cycles/identify ovulation & fertile window Supplement needs for egg quality & hormone balance & uterine lining Nutrition for egg quality & hormone balance Stress coping plan I'm here for all of it & so grateful to be working with all of my patients again - you inspire me! Let's do this! Online booking now available to make scheduling your appointment easy-peasy!

Much to the LGBTQ2S+ community. Keep spreading that beautiful pride & loving who you love. #happypride #happyprideweekend #virtualpride #happypridemonth #loveislove

Happy PKD Awareness Day friends A huge virtual hug to every person with PKD living their life to the fullest. You inspire me! PKD = polycystic kidney disease, a life-threatening genetic disease that can cause NUMEROUS cysts (as in too many to count) to form on kidneys (and other organs like the liver). The cysts can grow so large that they end up enlarging the kidney, preventing this crucial organ from working the way it should Approximately 40- 50% of people with P...KD will experience kidney failure - meaning they will need dialysis or a transplant in order to live. Sadly, many of my family have died from this genetic kidney disease but fortunately, many have been blessed to live well with kidney transplants and I’m extremely grateful and celebrate that & them today #BulaongBrigade Common symptoms of PKD include: High blood pressure Back or side pain Increased abdomen size due to enlarged kidneys and sometimes enlarged liver too. This may sound only cosmetic but it can make it pretty difficult to eat, breathe and move your body in the way that you want. Sometimes your abdomen can enlarge so much that you look like you're pregnant when you're not - and for some strange reason, people feel comfortable asking you if you’re pregnant. PSA: It is NEVER wise to ask someone if they're pregnant because they may not be and you could be pointing out a symptom that is part of a health condition they are struggling from! It makes both of you feel pretty bad, so please STOP asking people if they’re pregnant. Let them bring it up! The good news is that many people with PKD can live their life well & to the fullest without developing severe symptoms or needing dialysis/transplant. That is my hope for everyone with PKD To learn more about PKD and possible treatment optionsfollow @endpkd - a Canadian non-profit organization that works tirelessly to help find a cure for PKD. If you have more questions about PKD, comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them! Please consider sharing this post to help us create awareness about PKD and let people with PKD know they’re not alone.

I agree with this quote from @artisticnd To ALL of my amazing naturopathic colleagues, if you haven't registered yet for the Systemic Racism Panel, there's still time! It's TONIGHT at 7-9 pm. Sign up link below! And please tag any NDs who may not have registered yet! Free for #OAND members & only $20 for nonmembers this is a MUST to start providing a united front against racism in our profession, our homes, our communities and worldwide I'm looking fo...rward to listening to & learning from the speakers and then getting to work as a member of the OAND Anti-Racism Working Group Here's the link if you still need to sign up! Let me know if I'll "see" you there! https://oand.org/events-education/events/

Guess who's taking over the @naturessignature page tomorrow Make sure you tune in to their stories & IG feed all day for #hormonehelp tips for fertility, crazy periods & even hot flashes!! I'll be sharing here too, so as always, turn on your notification for my stories and feed so you don't miss a thing! "See" you then! Thanks Nature's Signature for inviting me to take over your page - can't wait!

Doing IVF is not easy on the regular. And during a pandemic? Well, obviously even more necessary precautions to take. So just wanted to send some extra love & positive vibes to all of my patients and all people going through IUI, egg retrieval, IVF fresh or frozen embryo transfers, donor egg IVF and the many other cycle monitoring and testing that comes along with assisted reproductive techniques. All of you inspire me so much & I'm rooting for you all. If you're on your fertility journey & weren't aware of how naturopathic medicine and acupuncture can help support all of the above fertility procedures (& are in Ontario) feel free to PM me to set up a 15 minute complimentary fertility chat with me.

How do you like my new look? It's been about a month since I've been back doing in-person visits again & I'm happy to report: The therapeutic connection does not change even though I look like this! . . .... I'm so thankful I'm able to be able to provide acupuncture safely to provide support for: Natural fertility cycles IUI Egg retrieval/IVF cycles Frozen embryo transfers for my non-fertility patients: Balancing your periods Minimizing hot flashes Of course, telepractice appointments are always available so we can easily & safely review your: Cycles/identify ovulation & fertile window Supplement needs for egg quality & hormone balance & uterine lining Nutrition for egg quality & hormone balance Stress coping plan I'm here for all of it & so grateful to be working with all of my patients again - you inspire me! Let's do this! Online booking now available to make scheduling your appointment easy-peasy!

Much to the LGBTQ2S+ community. Keep spreading that beautiful pride & loving who you love. #happypride #happyprideweekend #virtualpride #happypridemonth #loveislove