If you are a new mother considering semaglutide to help eliminate some “baby weight,” but you are still breastfeeding, this article is for you. The number of women who have expressed interest in using semaglutide while breastfeeding has increased by over 500% since 2021, and calls to centers dedicated to breastfeeding safety have reached an all-time high.
Many women have difficulty managing the weight they gained from pregnancy or controlling diabetes, but they want their babies to get the nutrition they need, so this can cause a dilemma. Is semaglutide safe while breastfeeding? Let’s take a look at what we know about semaglutide and how it works.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. It works by mimicking a hormone that your body naturally produces called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which helps control your appetite, cravings, and your blood sugar levels. Semaglutide has shown that it is very effective for weight management and diabetes control, but questions about its safety during breastfeeding have left many new mothers uncertain about whether this is an option for them.
What Research Shows About Semaglutide And Breast Milk
A recent study conducted in 2024 examined breast milk samples from 8 nursing mothers who were using semaglutide weight loss injections and found no detectable levels of the medication in any of the samples that were collected both at 12 and 24 hours after injection.
The results of this study are significant because they suggest that semaglutide may not transfer into breast milk in measurable amounts. The findings of this research also mentioned that, even in worst-case scenario calculations, researchers estimated that a breastfed infant could only possibly ingest a maximum of 1.26% of the maternal dose, which is far below the standard 10% safety threshold used by medical experts.
Some reasons that there is very limited transfer to the infant could be because semaglutide is a large molecule and has a higher molecular weight, which makes it difficult to pass into the breast milk. Also, even if tiny amounts did enter the breast milk, semaglutide injections have very poor oral absorption, meaning the baby’s digestive system would not readily absorb it.
Semaglutide Injections vs. Oral Semaglutide
Not all forms of semaglutide are the same in the way they can affect your breast milk, so it is important for nursing mothers to understand how each one relates to breastfeeding safety.
Injectable Forms
Injectable semaglutide formulations like Ozempic and Wegovy were tested in research studies and showed that none of the drug transferred into the breast milk, and the breastfed infants in these studies experienced no adverse effects. These injectable versions only contain semaglutide without any additional ingredients that could cause issues.
Oral Form
The oral tablet form, being sold under the brand name Rybelsys, contains an extra ingredient that helps the body better absorb the medication, called salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), which may enter breast milk and can accumulate in the infant’s body. Experts specifically recommend that if you are nursing and need to use semaglutide, you should only use an injectable form of the medication.
The Main Concerns With Using Semaglutide While Breastfeeding
Using semaglutide when you are nursing may not directly harm your baby, but there are a few other important things you need to think about when deciding if it is a good choice for you.
Nutrition and Your Milk Supply
When you are breastfeeding, you need to eat extra calories and pay extra attention to ensure you are eating healthy, nutritious foods so your body can produce milk. One of the benefits of semaglutide for those who desire to lose weight is that it suppresses your appetite, so you may not feel hungry enough to eat the amount of food your body needs to have an adequate supply of milk.
Rapid Weight Loss and Nutritional Impact
Semaglutide can cause you to lose weight faster than you would normally after having a baby, and this usually happens because the medication is helping to reduce your appetite and slowing down how fast your digestive system processes your food. This keeps you feeling full longer, but it also may prevent you from eating the number of calories you need to produce enough breast milk for your baby, and it can affect the milk’s nutrient content.
Monitoring Your Nutrition
Breastfeeding mothers who are using semaglutide should be monitored closely to make sure they are meeting their daily nutrient recommendations, and it is also a good idea to supplement with a daily multivitamin recommended by your doctor.
A moderate amount of weight loss, like one or two pounds a week in an overweight mother, should not adversely affect the baby’s growth, but using semaglutide can potentially cause a higher amount of weight loss, so it is important to work with your doctor to ensure you are losing weight at a safe rate but still eating enough nutritious food to benefit your health and impact your milk supply.
Current Medical Guidelines and Expert Opinions on Using Semaglutide While Breastfeeding
There are still different viewpoints around the topic of semaglutide and breastfeeding, and as new research is conducted and new information is available, the guidance towards its usage by new mothers will continue to change.
The information that is included in the manufacturer’s prescribing notes indicates that it is not yet clear if Wegovy or Ozempic passes into human breast milk, and there is no data on the effects on the breastfed baby or milk production. At the time these prescribing notes were created, there had not been any studies.
Expert Opinions
Some medical experts take a more cautious position and advise against using semaglutide while breastfeeding due to the limited amount of safety data, and others have considered the newer research findings and are looking at things on a case-by-case basis.
According to the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding, who is also a pediatrician, the amount of semaglutide in breast milk is likely to be very low, and its poor oral absorption means it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant.
It is recommended that you discuss your circumstances with your doctor and determine together the best way to proceed.
Making an Informed Decision About Semaglutide While Breastfeeding
The choice of whether or not to use semaglutide while nursing is yours to make, but you should be cautious and speak with your doctor about what makes the best sense for you. Some of the things you should consider include:
Is Semaglutide Medically Necessary?
Are you taking semaglutide for diabetes management or weight loss? If you have a medical concern that is being controlled using semaglutide, this will be considered in the risk-benefit analysis you discuss with your doctor.
Are There Other Options?
There are other options like insulin and metformin that have more data and longer safety records that can be used for blood sugar control while breastfeeding. If you are planning to use it for weight management, it may be recommended that you modify your lifestyle to behaviors that promote a healthy weight and wait until you stop breastfeeding to begin semaglutide.
The Age of Your Baby
The risk profile for an older baby who is also eating solid foods is different compared to a newborn who relies exclusively on breast milk. You and your doctor can talk about the pros and cons and make the right decision for your circumstances.
Your Preference and Comfort Level
You may feel that you would rather wait until your baby is weaned before starting on any type of weight loss medication, or you may feel comfortable starting a monitored program using semaglutide based on the most recent research.
There is no evidence that semaglutide directly affects the hormones responsible for milk production, but the concern is more about the indirect effects of the medication on the mother and her milk supply. If you are not eating enough due to your reduced appetite, your milk supply could potentially decrease, and if you are not eating the right types of foods, your milk may not contain as many vital vitamins and nutrients.
Working with your OB/GYN and an expert weight loss doctor like Dr. Okeefe Simmons can help you make the best decision about weight loss while you are nursing and the best strategies for you to use.
Who Can I Speak With About Semaglutide?
Dr. Okeefe Simmons with Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions can answer your questions about semaglutide and other weight loss medications. He and his team also offer alternative weight loss solutions and nutritional guidance.
If you are ready to get your weight under control and improve your health, contact one of the knowledgeable professionals at Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions and set up a consultation to learn more about how we can help you lose weight and reach your goals.
