Dr. Emily LeBlanc ND - Bluebell Natural Medicine

09/03/2026

Miscarriages are unfortunately quite common - with an estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in loss. Most losses occur quite early in the pregnancy, sometimes before we even find out we are pregnant.

I want you to know that if you have experienced a loss, it is not your fault at all.

I also want you to know that you are not wrong for wanting answers when you have experienced one loss after another.

Although we sometimes do not ever have the answers as to why a miscarriage happens, we do know that some common causes (like APS, Hashimoto's, celiac disease, or hyperprolactinemia) are testable and treatable. We do not know what we do not test.

If you are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, you deserve a practitioner who is willing to dig deeper for you and doesn't brush you off.

Sending you so much love 🤍

09/01/2026

September is PCOS Awareness Month 🫶

Here are 5 things I wish every woman with PCOS knew:

1. Your period is a vital sign.
Irregular, absent, or heavy periods can tell us a lot about what's going on with your hormones, ovulation, and overall health. Your cycle is worth paying attention to.

2. And on that note… PCOS is so much more than just “irregular periods.”
PCOS is a complex hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect ovulation, blood sugar regulation, skin and hair, fertility, and long-term health. And it can look very different from one woman to the next.

3. “Just lose weight” or “here's the pill, come back when you want to get pregnant” is not comprehensive PCOS care. Full stop.
Women with PCOS deserve individualized care that considers their symptoms, metabolic health, menstrual cycles, fertility goals, and long-term health - not just a number on the scale.

4. PCOS doesn't disappear once you're no longer in your reproductive years.
We still care about blood sugar. We still care about metabolic health and fatty liver disease. We still care about cardiovascular risk.

PCOS deserves attention throughout a woman's lifetime, not only when she's trying to get pregnant.

5. Having PCOS does not automatically mean that you will struggle with infertility, or that IVF will be your only option. 🤍
PCOS can affect ovulation and fertility, but many women with PCOS conceive naturally or with relatively simple fertility support.

PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of certain pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which is another reason I love helping women understand and support their health before and during pregnancy.

What PCOS-related topics would you like to learn more about this month? 🌼

And if you're looking for individualized support for PCOS, hormones, or fertility, I offer naturopathic care in Antigonish and Pictou County, as well as virtually across Nova Scotia. 🤍

🩷 bluebellnaturalmedicine.janeapp.com

08/07/2026

40% of women who experience excessive blood loss consider it to be normal.

One of the negative consequences of having a heavy bleed (besides its impact on overall quality of life) is its significant contribution to iron deficiency.

Low iron stores can lead to chronic fatigue, hair loss, and worsened mood.

It's not normal to have to wear both a tampon AND a pad or else you will leak. It's not normal to have to change your super tampon/pad every hour. It's not normal to be passing clots the size of a loonie.

You don't have to struggle with a heavy bleed every month. There are solutions & you deserve to feel good in your body. 🫶

07/03/2026

We've got some new neighbors at 27 Water St! New owners have taken over Sea Glass Coffee House - and they are opening TODAY - just in time for the Pictou Lobster Carnival! ❤️🦞☕️🎡

Be sure to stop in for some amazing coffee, tea, or treats if you are in the area! We are so lucky to have them right below our office ☺️



Sea Glass Coffee House

As promised, here is our schedule for the Lobster Carnival Weekend!🦞☕️

We are so excited to open our doors tomorrow and welcome you to our cozy corner of Pictou!

Our New Menu will be posted shortly!
Stay tuned!

-Angela

07/01/2026

I speak to so many moms in my practice who have been surviving (not thriving) on an empty tank and feeling so depleted, all day long. 🪫

When I ask when was the last time they had bloodwork done, including ferritin (iron), they say not since their pregnancy. 3, 4, 5 years ago. No one has bothered to check since.

When baby comes, mom gets forgotten about. All of a sudden, visits to the doctor become about how the baby is doing - are they growing enough, eating enough, hitting every developmental milestone. Meanwhile, mom barely has enough energy to get through the day. We can't pour from an empty cup.

Some signs/symptoms of iron deficiency:
🌸Chronic fatigue and brain fog
🌸Pale skin
🌸Shortness of breath and exercise intolerance
🌸Feeling cold all the time
🌸Hair loss (different from regular postpartum hair loss)
🌸Elevated heart rate
🌸Weakness/dizziness

A simple blood test can help us identify & treat iron deficiency. Ferritin is the marker that we typically use to assess for iron deficiency. Ferritin is your storage form of iron and reflects your reserves (what you have in the tank). Levels should be between 60-100 ug/L ideally.

In Canada, anything below 30 ug/L is considered to be deficient. However, many labs have reference ranges between 10-291 ug/L for ferritin. This means that your doctor may not say anything is wrong if your ferritin is 17, but that is significantly low and not optimal.

I test for & treat iron deficiency in my practice every day. There is a strong correlation between low iron levels and postpartum depression. Running bloodwork & treating to reach optimal levels is so important for postpartum maternal health. 🩷

Do you have questions about iron deficiency or postpartum bloodwork? Send me a message - I plan on creating more educational posts soon 🤍🌿

♡ Dr. Emily

📍27 Water St, Suite 203, Pictou NS
📍27 Beech Hill Road, Antigonish NS
💌[email protected]
💻www.doctoremily.ca
🗓bluebellnaturalmedicine.janeapp.com
☎️902-322-3070

06/21/2026

Hey Mamas!👋💕

We know how hard it can be to find childcare so that you can schedule your appointments and make your health a priority.

That's why we've created a "kids corner" in our Pictou office - complete with a comfy toddler couch, coloring and story books, puzzles, and healthy snacks! Special thanks to my sister Sam, an elementary school teacher and amazing mom herself, who donated some of the supplies! ☺️👩‍🏫

You are ALWAYS welcome to bring your kiddos along with you to your appointments 🩷

PS- Our Antigonish office is a little too snug to create a kids corner, but we can still set them up on a comfy chair or treatment table if they are tagging along for your appointment!

See you (& your little one!) in the office soon🥰

♡ Dr. Emily

06/18/2026

🩷💛💜🩵 you're always welcome here 🫶🌈

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate the diversity, resilience, and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Inclusive healthcare means creating environments where patients feel respected, safe, and supported in their identities.

06/11/2026

**Update: it's been booked ☺️

Hello Pictou! 😍☀️

What a gorgeous sunny day 🩷

We are fully booked today & tomorrow, but have an opening for a new patient next week (June 18th at 4:15 pm!). It's our last spot until July 🌊

Book online here: bluebellnaturalmedicine.janeapp.com

06/10/2026

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I am frequently asked this time of year by patients in my office if sunscreen is safe and should be used. ☀️

The science is extremely clear: YES

Skin cancer is not something you want to mess around with - speak to someone who has had skin cancer, and they will tell you.

If you are concerned about certain ingredients in sunscreen, there are so many different options out there that you can choose which one you feel good about using on your skin.

Misinformation can literally be deadly.

I will share some of my favorite sunscreens & self-tanners in a separate post!🏖

♡ Dr. Emily

06/04/2026

Amazing interview from CTV News Atlantic with Dr. Tara Lantz, ND and Dr. Ben Connolly, ND. Have a read or a listen if you are curious about our new regulation status!🩺🌿

“We’ll be able to offer true primary care, but what does that mean? That means antibiotics, that means drugs and medications, being able to prescribe so that you can go to your pharmacist and actually get the medication you need for preventative care,” adds Connolly.

“Being able to do this in our office and do it appropriately is going to absolutely increase the quality of life for our patients,” says Connolly.

We are SO excited to improve primary care for all Nova Scotians 🙌❤️

♡ Dr. Emily