An Overview of Semaglutide
Semaglutide is the main ingredient in prescription drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. These medications work by copying a natural hormone your body makes called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
This hormone helps to regulate your appetite, reduce food cravings, and helps to keep your blood sugar levels stable. It is released into your digestive system when you eat and triggers your metabolism to do its job and start the process of converting the calories ingested into energy. Many times, people who suffer from obesity have underlying issues that prevent their bodies from producing enough of these important hormones. So their metabolism does not work as it should, and they are unable to maintain a healthy weight.
It was originally prescribed to help control type 2 diabetes, but has also been approved by the FDA to be used for weight management.
Many people have shared their weight loss success across social media platforms, which has increased its popularity and piqued the interest of new mothers who want to know if it would be a safe option for them.
What Research Shows Us About Semaglutide Molecules
Many people wonder, “Can semaglutide affect babies?” This is one of the most asked questions that breastfeeding centers have heard over the past year.
Research has also shown us that semaglutide is made up of large molecules, which means the particles are physically bigger than those contained in many other medications. Breast milk is made and distributed through very small channels in the breast tissue, which allow nutrients and certain small substances to pass through, but they block many larger molecules. Because semaglutide has a high molecular weight, it does not easily fit through these tiny openings, so only very small amounts, if any, would be able to pass from the mother’s bloodstream into her breast milk.
Another reason researchers believe that exposure to a breastfed infant is likely to be very low is that any trace amounts that did pass through into the milk would be poorly absorbed by the baby’s digestive system, since semaglutide injections are not easily absorbed when taken orally.
Can You Take Semaglutide While Breastfeeding?
A study published in 2024 tested breast milk samples from eight nursing mothers who were using semaglutide for weight loss. Researchers did not find any trace of the medication in the milk samples collected at twelve hours and twenty-four hours after the injections.
These study results matter because they demonstrate that semaglutide may not pass into a woman’s breast milk in high enough amounts that they can be measured. The research also explained that even under the worst-case estimates, a breastfed baby would only be exposed to a maximum of 1.26 percent of the mother’s dose, which is far below the 10 percent safety limit commonly used as a guide by medical professionals.
Does the Form of Semaglutide You Use Make a Difference to Breast Milk?
The form in which you use semaglutide can make a difference in whether it affects the milk you produce for your baby. Injectable forms of semaglutide do not appear to transfer to breast milk, but unfortunately oral forms do not appear to be safe.
Semaglutide Weight Loss Injections (Ozempic and Wegovy)
Injectable forms of semaglutide were studied and tested, and it was discovered that the medication did not pass into breast milk. The breastfed infants involved in these studies did not show any negative effects of semaglutide. Also, these injectable medications contain only semaglutide and do not include extra ingredients that could transfer into breast milk and be a safety concern.
Oral Semaglutide (Rybelsus)
The oral, or tablet, form of semaglutide that is taken by mouth includes an added ingredient called salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), which helps the body better absorb the medication. This can pass into the breast milk and build up in the baby’s system, so medical experts have strongly advised that nursing mothers who need to use semaglutide only use the injectable form of the medication.
Should I Stop Semaglutide To Breastfeed?
Semaglutide injections may not directly pass into your breastmilk and transfer to your baby, but there are some things you need to consider if you are thinking about using it to help you manage your weight when you are breastfeeding. The biggest concerns with using semaglutide while breastfeeding include:
Your Nutritional Needs
When you are nursing, your body needs extra calories so you can produce nutrient-filled milk for your baby but also provide your body with what it needs to function properly. This means that you need to pay careful attention to eating a healthy, nutritious diet.
Some of the benefits that make semaglutide helpful with weight loss are that it curbs your appetite and it helps you stay feeling full for a longer time. These are great when you are trying to lose weight, but they can be counterproductive when you need to eat enough food to maintain an adequate supply of nutritious breast milk.
Losing Weight Too Fast
Using semaglutide while nursing can cause new mothers to lose weight at a much faster rate than what is considered safe right after having a baby.
Medical experts recommend that nursing mothers lose no more than one to two pounds per week, but mothers using semaglutide can easily go beyond this safe threshold, which could trigger a number of health concerns.
Nursing a baby while your body is also recovering from the demands of pregnancy and childbirth places huge nutritional demands on your entire system. In fact, every time a woman experiences a pregnancy, the baby takes about 10% of all her stored minerals, and breastfeeding continues to further deplete the remainder of what is stored.
Losing weight too fast can exacerbate this situation and lead to vitamin deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium, which are all critical nutrients needed for postpartum recovery and can lead to chronic fatigue, hair loss, a weakened immune system, mood instability, and an increased risk of experiencing postpartum depression. Many mothers also experience between a 3 to 7% bone loss while they are breastfeeding.
Can You Use Weight Loss Injections While Breastfeeding?
Research has shown us that most women can safely use semaglutide injections while breastfeeding, but their health and progress should be monitored very closely by their doctors to ensure they are meeting their daily nutrient recommendations. Most doctors will recommend a daily multivitamin or other supplements for women who are nursing.
If a woman is overweight, then losing a few pounds a week should not adversely affect the nutrition and growth of her baby, but it is important that the use of semaglutide does not cause weight loss to occur too fast. It is important to be monitored closely under a doctor’s care to make sure your weight loss happens at a safe pace and that you are still eating enough healthy, nutritious food to maintain an adequate milk supply without sacrificing your health.
What Do Experts Think About Using Semaglutide While Breastfeeding?
Experts still have different opinions about using semaglutide while breastfeeding, but as new studies are done and more information becomes available, their viewpoints and recommendations for new mothers may change.
The information in the manufacturer’s prescribing notes was written before any studies were conducted and states that it is not yet known if Wegovy or Ozempic passes into breast milk, and there is no data on how it might affect a breastfed baby or a mother’s milk production.
Some medical experts still would rather err on the side of caution and advise against using semaglutide while breastfeeding due to the limited amount of safety data, and others look at their patients case-by-case and consider the findings of the newer research valid. In fact, a prominent pediatrician who is also the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding stated that “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.”
If you are considering using semaglutide while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about your needs and circumstances and work together to find the best option for you and your baby.
Things to Consider When Deciding About Using Semaglutide While Breastfeeding
You can make your own determination of whether or not to use semaglutide while breastfeeding, but you should be careful to consider your specific situation and circumstances. Some of the things you might want to think about include:
Whether Using Semaglutide Is a Medical Necessity for You
If you have diabetes or another medical condition and you need semaglutide to control it, your options may be limited. Your doctor can help you do a risk analysis and help you make the best choice for you and your baby.
Do You Have Any Other Options?
Look into other solutions and determine if you have other options if you need the medication for blood sugar control, like insulin or metformin, that have more data and longer safety records. Your doctor may recommend that you significantly modify your lifestyle to promote a healthy weight until you stop breastfeeding and begin using semaglutide for weight loss.
The Age of Your Baby
The risks for a baby who is eating solid foods are much lower than for a newborn who is relying totally on your breast milk for nutrition. You can talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of using semaglutide while breastfeeding and make the best decision for you and your situation.
Your Concerns and Preferences
You may choose to wait until you stop breastfeeding until you start any type of medication to help you lose weight, or you may feel totally comfortable using semaglutide weight loss injections while nursing. There is no evidence to show that they will harm your baby in any way, but you need to understand that it may be challenging for you to get the nutrition you need to provide for both you and the baby. You will need to keep a close eye on things and be honest with yourself on how things progress.
If you cannot eat enough due to your reduced appetite, or your milk supply starts to decrease, you need to rethink your plan and do what is best for your circumstances.
Working with your OB/GYN and an expert weight loss doctor like Dr. Angelina Postoev can help you make the best decision about weight loss while you are breastfeeding and provide you with effective strategies that will give you the results you are looking for.
Where Can I Find Out More About Semaglutide?
Dr. Angelina Postoev with MySlimMed can answer your questions about semaglutide while nursing and also help you with alternative solutions and nutritional guidance that can help you best care for yourself and your baby while reaching a healthy weight.
If you desire to get your weight under control and improve your health, contact one of the knowledgeable professionals at MySlimMed and set up a consultation to learn more about how we can help you safely lose weight and reach your goals.
