Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications (e.g., Wegovy or Zepbound) for women who are breastfeeding is generally not recommended. However, this is a highly individualized process and requires shared decision-making with your provider. You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before using GLP-1s when breastfeeding.

Can you take GLP-1s while breastfeeding? The quick answer

Most research suggests waiting until breastfeeding your baby is finished. This is the most current guidance based on available safety data.

GLP-1 medications aren’t specifically approved for use during breastfeeding. Any decision about using GLP-1 medications should be made in consultation with your doctor, especially if you’re a new mother who is breastfeeding. 

Current evidence on GLP-1 medications while breastfeeding

The evidence we have is still small.

For injectable semaglutide, one small human study didn’t detect the medication in breast milk, although levels may have been too low to be detected by the testing tools used.

This limited study can't answer every safety question, especially for newborns or exclusively breastfed babies.

For most other GLP-1 medications, we don’t have strong human data on the levels of the drug in breast milk or how this could affect infants. 

Because of this gap, clinical advice often leans on what we know about how these medications behave in the body and what’s considered possible in theory, rather than large studies in breastfeeding families.

Another important consideration is how GLP-1 medications affect breast milk supply. GLP-1 medications lead to reduced caloric intake, which can affect breast milk supply. For this reason, multiple factors are taken into consideration. For instance, if a breastfeeding mother is planning to wean off breastfeeding in the near future, restarting GLP medication may be reasonable.  

Many providers recommend waiting to restart a GLP-1 until after breastfeeding. If restarting sooner is important for your health, the safest approach is to make a plan with your healthcare team as appropriate.

Your healthcare provider may also offer alternative options to GLP-1 medications, such as metformin, which is generally considered safe in the setting of breastfeeding.

What we do and don’t know about specific GLP-1 medications

Different GLP-1 medications have different amounts of breastfeeding research behind them, so it helps to look at each one separately

Semaglutide while breastfeeding

Semaglutide (Wegovy) is a large molecule, which is one reason experts think only small amounts would be likely to pass into breast milk, based on how the drug is built.

Even so, we don’t have strong clinical research that follows breastfeeding parents and babies over time. 

We do have small early human data measuring semaglutide in breast milk. But it’s limited and doesn’t answer every safety question, especially for newborns or babies who are exclusively breastfed.

Because of these unknowns, the FDA label says to think about the health benefits of breastfeeding alongside your need for Wegovy and any possible effects on your baby, whether from the medication or from your health condition. Any decision should be made in consultation with your doctor.

Tirzepatide while breastfeeding

Tirzepatide (Zepbound) is an even larger molecule than semaglutide, which is why most healthcare experts expect low transfer into breast milk.

But the real-world breastfeeding data is still limited, and we don’t have strong research tracking infant outcomes across different breastfeeding situations. 

A very small study of 5 breastfeeding mothers found that tirzepatide levels in breast milk were extremely low or undetectable, but this is very early, preliminary data.

Because of that uncertainty, the FDA labelling recommends weighing the benefits of breastfeeding alongside the mother's need for Zepbound and any possible effects on the baby. Any decision should be made in consultation with your doctor.

Why is there so little research on GLP-1s and breastfeeding

There are real ethical limits to studying medications in breastfeeding parents. Researchers can't easily ask someone to take a drug if it might affect the health of their baby, especially when safer options exist.

Because of this, drug companies often exclude breastfeeding people from clinical trials. That means new medications can reach the market without solid data on how they affect breast milk or a nursing baby.

With so little direct research, clinical guidelines often lean on what we can reasonably assume from the medication design and its composition, like its size, how the body absorbs it, and how likely it is to pass into breast milk, instead of real-world studies in breastfeeding mothers and babies.

When safety information does show up, it's often from accidental cases. For example, someone who took a medication before they knew it could be a problem, or reports collected through pregnancy and medication registries.

These reports can be helpful, but they’re not the same as large studies designed to answer safety questions.

As a result, many new parents may be left trying to make health decisions without complete information, and they may get different advice depending on which healthcare provider they ask.

It is always best to consult medical guidelines, product labels, and your doctor or other healthcare provider for advice about taking any medication, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Alternatives to GLP-1 medications while breastfeeding

If you’re holding off on a GLP-1 while nursing, there are still supportive, realistic ways to protect your metabolic health during the postpartum period (period after giving birth).

Work with registered dietitians

Postpartum nutrition can be difficult, especially when you’re healing, sleeping in short stretches, and trying to keep up with feeding.

A registered dietitian can help you sort through what your body needs right now without turning meals into another stressful task. Working with a registered dietician can have added benefits for those women struggling with low breastmilk supply, as there are numerous dietary interventions that may help with increasing breastmilk production.

Breastfeeding also increases your need for energy and key nutrients, so overly restrictive eating plans can easily lead to nutrient deficiencies and make it harder to maintain milk supply. 

The goal is a plan that matches your schedule. Instead of focusing on rigid rules, a dietitian can help you build sustainable eating patterns that fit your appetite, budget, culture, and daily reality.

Focus on metabolic health markers beyond weight

Weight can change for many reasons after giving birth, and it doesn’t always reflect what’s happening with your health. A more helpful approach is to track other markers that tell a fuller story.

That might include checking blood pressure and keeping an eye on blood sugar stability, especially if you had gestational diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It happens when your body can't make enough insulin to handle the extra blood sugar that comes with pregnancy. It usually goes away after you give birth, but it can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

Beyond those numbers, pay attention to your energy levels and general emotional and mental health. Sleep quality matters too. Even if good sleep looks different with a newborn, sleep disruption can affect hunger cues and how your body handles stress. Not to mention, sleep plays a significant role in the healing process after birth. Allowing our body to heal following the birth process can also have a dramatic impact on our desire to resume physical activity and exercise.

You can also track health markers that have nothing to do with numbers exactly, like how your body is healing after pregnancy and delivery, how your strength is returning, and whether you're feeling more like yourself over time.

Stay connected with your care team

Ongoing support matters in postpartum care, especially if you’re managing metabolic conditions alongside breastfeeding.

Regular check-ins can help you adjust your plan based on how you’re feeling and what your body is doing.

Your care team can also help you plan a medication restart timeline, so you’re not trying to figure it out alone later. That includes managing related conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or PCOS.

Even if you’re not using medication right now, you deserve care that continues. Support helps you feel steady, informed, and taken seriously throughout the postpartum period.

Managing your metabolic health postpartum (with or without medication)

Postpartum (after giving birth) life can change your body in ways that feel unexpected, and it’s still possible to support your metabolic health during this season with steady, realistic steps.

Understanding postpartum weight changes

Weight changes after pregnancy are common, and weight regain can happen even when you’re doing a lot of things right. 

Hormone levels fluctuate, sleep gets disrupted, routines disappear, and your metabolism may respond differently while your body recovers.

Instead of judging progress by the scale alone, it can help to look at long‑term heart and blood-sugar health. 

Realistic movement after delivery

The best time to return to exercise depends on factors like your type of delivery, any complications, and how your recovery is progressing.

Women should begin with low‑ to moderate‑intensity activities, such as walking, and build up gradually, with attention to pelvic floor and muscle and bone recovery, rather than returning straight to high‑intensity workouts. 

Some women may also develop a condition called diastasis recti during pregnancy, which results in the separation of abdominal muscles. This condition requires guided rehabilitation under the supervision of a trained pelvic floor physical therapist. It is especially important to consult with your healthcare provider for specific exercise guidance in the case of diastasis recti.

Listen to your body’s signals: Pain, heaviness, leaking, dizziness, or increased bleeding can be signs to slow down and get guidance. 

A care team familiar with postpartum recovery and pelvic health can help tailor exercise so that it supports healing while also improving long‑term heart and blood-sugar health.

Sleep and stress management 

Sleep deprivation is a common part of early post-pregnancy life. Shorter or poorer sleep is linked with changes in metabolism, appetite, and the hormones that regulate hunger and feelings of fullness.

Stress is also harder to manage when you’re exhausted and overwhelmed. Reaching out for support is a proven way to protect both your mental and physical health.

Small, realistic changes to your routine, such as brief activity and simple food shortcuts, are often more feasible for postpartum parents and can still support healthier habits over time. 

Your care team should design a postpartum lifestyle and activity plan that acknowledges the time pressures and fatigue, and that fits into your everyday life.

Get the postpartum support you deserve

Navigating new parenthood while also managing your metabolic health is a lot, especially when your body is recovering, and your routine has changed overnight.

The right support comes from healthcare providers who understand postpartum life, breastfeeding, and weight management, and who can help you make a plan that fits your medical needs and your values.

You deserve a judgment-free space, no matter how you feed your baby or what your timeline looks like. 

What knownwell offers:

• Board-certified obesity medicine doctors who understand postpartum metabolic changes and medication timing. They can help you decide if taking GLP-1s while breastfeeding is appropriate. knownwell clinicians can also suggest alternative medications such as metformin to assist with your metabolic health postpartum.
• Registered dietitians who can help specifically with postpartum nutrition (whether breastfeeding or not)
• Personalized care that supports you through the entire postpartum period and that can help you plan for restarting any medication when right
• Insurance-accepted visits (no membership fees or cash-only barriers)
• Judgment-free conversations about breastfeeding, body changes, and what you need to meet your health goals

Ready to get started?

• Virtual visits: Available from home in all 50 states (because leaving the house with a newborn is hard)
• In-person clinics: Boston area, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta area
• Insurance accepted: Most major plans offer coverage. See if we accept your insurance.

Book a visit with the knownwell care team, who will work with you to create a nutrition plan that supports breastfeeding and your overall health.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take Zepbound while breastfeeding?

Taking Zepbound while breastfeeding is generally not recommended. You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before using GLP-1s when breastfeeding.

Can you take Wegovy while breastfeeding?

Taking Wegovy while breastfeeding is generally not recommended. You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before using GLP-1s when breastfeeding.

Can you take semaglutide while breastfeeding?

Most people are advised to wait. A small study didn’t detect semaglutide in breast milk, although levels may have been too low to be detected by the testing tools used. We also don’t have strong long-term safety data yet.

You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before using GLP-1s when breastfeeding.

What weight management options are safe while breastfeeding?

For weight management while breastfeeding, it is best to work with a registered dietitian and focus on things like returning to movement gradually and regular check-ins with your healthcare team.

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