To Take or Not to Take: How To Navigate Medications, Substances, and Breastfeeding with Dr. Fran
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and this year’s theme from the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action is Create Sustainable Support Systems. This call extends beyond supporting mothers; it’s about nurturing the entire family throughout the feeding journey.
In this episode of the Momcozy Village: Together We Grow podcast, host Lalaina Rabary sits down with Dr. Fran, OB-GYN, mom of three, and powerhouse educator known for her clear, evidence-based health guidance online. Together, they explore one of the most confusing and pressing topics for new parents: medications and substances while breastfeeding.
Dr. Fran explains why so much available guidance feels conflicting and how a historical lack of research has led to overly cautious recommendations, such as “pump and dump.” She breaks down the latest evidence on alcohol, THC, caffeine, antibiotics, antidepressants, anesthesia, and more, giving parents a realistic, science-backed understanding of what is safe, what to avoid, and how to make confident, informed decisions.
Reflecting on her clinical work and her parenting journey, Dr. Fran stresses the importance of treating lactation as part of a parent’s medical history, not an afterthought. The conversation also explores cultural wisdom, the pressures of “doing everything right,” and finding balance between intuition and evidence-based care.
Reflecting on her clinical work and her parenting journey, Dr. Fran stresses the importance of treating lactation as part of a parent’s medical history, not an afterthought. The conversation also explores cultural wisdom, the pressures of “doing everything right,” and finding balance between intuition and evidence-based care.
Episode Highlights
16:49 – Where do cultural wisdom and medicine meet?
20:28 – Questions to ask your OB-GYN about medications and breastfeeding
20:28 – Questions to ask your OB-GYN about medications and breastfeeding
About the Guest: Dr. Fran
Dr. Fran is an OB-GYN, mother of three, and online educator dedicated to sharing accurate, evidence-based women’s health information.
After graduating in 2021, she noticed a wave of inaccurate obstetrics and gynecology content circulating on TikTok. Drawing on her medical expertise and past experience as a content creator, she began posting her own videos to combat misinformation. Within six months, her TikTok audience grew to over 100,000 followers, and by the end of 2024, her combined social media following exceeded one million.
Offline, Dr. Fran practices in western New York, specializing in high-risk obstetrics, hormone management (including PCOS and menopause care), and minimally invasive gynecologic procedures such as laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomies.
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About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow
Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Lalaina Rabary, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.
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Content Disclaimer
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. After that, infants can continue to breastfeed while also receiving complementary foods. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding for as long as the mother and infant desire.