Can you take Ozempic while breastfeeding?
In this article
What's the lowdown?
It is recommended to stop Ozempic at least 2 months before getting pregnant or starting to breastfeed
The Breastfeeding Network (1) and most experts do not recommend using Ozempic while breastfeeding as there is not enough research to support its safety
This means there is not enough safety data to know whether taking a Ozempic can cause harm to the baby
Some preliminary research has found that the amount of Ozempic that passes into breastmilk is basically nothing, which COULD mean it is safe for Ozempic breastfeeding but we’re going to need more data before we can recommend it
Can you take Ozempic while breastfeeding: What we know (and don’t know)
So, you’ve just had a little bundle of joy, you’ve got into a breastfeeding routine and seeing your little one gaining weight. Now you’re thinking that you want to shed some baby weight. Well firstly, let me stop you right there, you don’t need to lose weight just because society tells you how you should look. Remember your body grew and nourished your child for 9 months and that’s amazing! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Maybe you were on Ozempic before pregnancy and want to restart it for weight loss or blood sugar control or you might have seen it on TikTok and want to give it a try? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty minus the medical jargon.
Has there been any research on taking Ozempic while breastfeeding?
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide. This medication mimics the natural hormone produced by our body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone helps your brain and stomach talk to each other, basically sending ‘I’m full’ signals sooner. It also slows down how quickly your food leaves your stomach (gastric emptying) and helps your pancreas release insulin in a steady manner, keeping your blood sugar levels stable.
A small study in 2024 looked at breast milk from 8 women after they had a dose of Ozempic. The researchers tested the milk at 0, 12 and 24 months for Ozempic and found well … nothing. They also calculated a worse case scenario by working out the exposure of infants to Ozempic in the breastmilk. The maximum exposure projected was 1.26% of the dose of Ozempic given to the mother2. This is far below the standard 10% safety threshold.3
Essentially, even if there had been tiny traces, the calculated amount of a dose the baby would receive was 1.26%, waaaaaay below the 10% level that’s usually considered safe. Sounds promising right? Well, the catch is the study sample was very small consisting only of 8 mums. This is far from sufficient for us to assess the risk to babies.
Interestingly, some brands of oral semaglutide, such as Rybelsus, have different formulations and might contain absorption enhancers like salcaprozate sodium. This means we again do not know Ozempic could enter breast milk and affect babies. So far, research has only been done on injectable forms of semaglutide3.
So… Is it safe to take Ozempic while breastfeeding?
Here is where it gets tricky. Our official advice is We don’t know yet which basically means No its not safe! What we do know is that the study found no semaglutide in any of the breastfeeding mothers but there are still some unknowns. Could Ozempic or the rapid weight loss it induces affect milk supply?
So while the early science might sound reassuring, most doctors (us included) will tell you it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you really are thinking about it, speak to a doctor first or wait until you have finished breastfeeding.
How long should you wait after stopping Ozempic before breastfeeding?
This one we know. Finally, am I right!
8 weeks or 2 months. That’s the ideal amount of time to go cold turkey with Ozempic before it completely leaves your system. Now, you’re in the all clear to get pregnant and start breastfeeding when your baby arrives.
Your body needs time to metabolise (process) the semaglutide drug and pee it out. 8 weeks is the average timeframe for the drug to be completely washed out from the system for healthy non-pregnant adults. It might differ based on ethnicity, BMI and sex. The longer time you can leave between stopping Ozempic and getting pregnant and breastfeeding, the better.4,5
If you stopped Ozempic 2 months before getting pregnant, by the time you get to breastfeeding, you’ll be Ozempic free. But if you started Ozempic after delivery and want to breastfeed, you should consider stopping Ozempic and pumping and discarding breastmilk for 2 months before feeding your little one. If you have started Ozempic while breastfeeding, please speak to your doctor.
Sorry we couldn’t give you better answers. If you want to keep up to date on the latest news when it comes to Ozempic or anything about women’s health, sign up to our newsletter and we’ll keep you in the know!
Dr Fatema Dawoodbhoy
Fatema is currently training in London as an Academic doctor, with a special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about championing women to understand their bodies better and prioritise their health. She understands the importance of clinically accurate articles and has been writing engaging and educative medical content for 5 years.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
