GLP-1’s + Breastfeeding?

Let’s be honest - mixing medications and breastfeeding can be really scary. Everything we ingest, baby ingests- right? Well, that’s sort of the truth. Let’s break down the facts and get to the answer!

Although GLP-1’s are seemingly new, they’ve actually been “on the market” for over 10 years now. Semaglutide and Ozempic, respectfully, are similar medications in that they both reduce blood glucose and stimulate our naturally occurring insulin while also lowering glucagon secretion. When glucose is high we secrete insulin and glucagon is stalled. This slows down gastric emptying and helps reduce food cravings, leading to weight loss. Following me?

Now that we know HOW they work, let’s talk about IF they’re safe.

These GLP-1 medications have a large molecular weight which make it difficult to be absorbed orally. This is the reason this class of medications is injected subcutaneously. So let’s envision it- Mother self injects Ozempic, then her infant breastfeeds…with what we know now- do you think our milk is retaining and passing on much of this medication? No. Remember, large molecular weight means little to no oral absorption.

Now, we need to know a few more facts before making our decision on if these medications are potentially safe for YOU. We know that the breastfeeding Mother needs to intake an additional 500 calories per day since our baby(s) are literally mooching calories straight from us. So, something to consider is - Will your lack of appetite lead to a reduction in your milk production? Now that potential answer is, YES! So although we know that Ozempic and/or Semaglutide don’t actually effect the breastmilk composition, it may however effect the Mother’s supply.

Before starting any medications we always encourage our Mother’s to consult with their primary care physicians and a trusted IBCLC. If you’d like to learn more visit us here.