Can You Take GLP-1s (Ozempic/Zepbound) While Breastfeeding?
- Jennifer Hardy
- May 19
- 4 min read
This question comes from one of the GLP-1 Newsroom readers. She wants to start back up on Ozempic after she gives birth, but can she take Ozempic while breastfeeding?
I decided to do some digging and get all the information in one place to help other moms-to-be looking to rejoin their health program as soon as it is safe for momma and baby.
I am not a doctor, and all decisions should be made with a trusted healthcare provider. We are just providing information here, not encouraging or discouraging the use.
Let's talk about the breastfeeding guidelines for GLP-1 medications.
Find Your GLP-1: What They Say About Breastfeeding on GLP-1s
I went right to the sources for semaglutide and tirzepatide to get this information. Links to the documentation are provided with each answer, and all answers are entered verbatim to avoid missing key points. Feel free to share this with your doctor.
The TL;DR version of the question "Can I breastfeed while taking a GLP-1?" comes down to risk. The data isn't there to support or discourage the use, so erring on the side of caution is preferred.
Here's a breakdown of what each medication manufacturer says about lactation in the fine print.
Ozempic (Semaglutide)
Semaglutide information comes from the maker, Novo Nordisk. From the Ozempic Medication Guide:
"There are no data on the presence of semaglutide in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Semaglutide was present in the milk of lactating rats, however, due to species-specific differences in lactation physiology, the clinical relevance of these data are not clear (see Data). The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for OZEMPIC® and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from OZEMPIC® or from the underlying maternal condition."
"In lactating rats, semaglutide was detected in milk at levels 3- to 12-fold lower than in maternal plasma."
Before using Ozempic®, tell your health care provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
Are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. It is not known if Ozempic® will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk. You should stop using Ozempic® at least 2 months before you plan to become pregnant
Wegovy (Semaglutide)
From the Wegovy Medication Guide:
"There are no data on the presence of semaglutide or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production."
"Semaglutide was present in the milk of lactating rats. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk (see Data). The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for WEGOVY® and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from WEGOVY® or from the underlying maternal condition."
"In lactating rats, semaglutide was detected in milk at levels 3- to 12-fold lower than in maternal plasma."
"Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:" (includes)
"Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if WEGOVY® passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using WEGOVY®."
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Eli Lilly and Company is the patent owner of tirzepatide, which comes in two versions—Mounjaro and Zepbound.
From the Mounjaro Full Prescribing Information document.
"It is not known if Mounjaro will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk."
"There are no data on the presence of tirzepatide in animal or human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for MOUNJARO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from MOUNJARO or from the underlying maternal condition."
"Review these questions with your healthcare provider:" (includes)
"Are you pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed? It is not known if Mounjaro will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk."
Zepbound (Tirzepatide)
From the Zepbound Highlight of Prescribing Information:
"There are no data on the presence of tirzepatide or its metabolites in animal or human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for ZEPBOUND and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from ZEPBOUND or from the underlying maternal condition."
Eli Lilly Pregnancy Exposure Registry
While doing this research, I came across a note on the Zepbound safety information that states this:
"There will be a pregnancy exposure registry for women who have taken Zepbound during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979)."
While there is a website for the Lilly Pregnancy Registry, at the time of this publication, Zepbound was not on the list. However, it's worth checking to see if it is added by the time you get to this article.
Novo Nordisk Wegovy Pregnancy Registry
The parent company of Wegovy also offers the Wegovy Pregnancy Registry. This is for women who are pregnant and obese or those who have taken Wegovy for obesity while pregnant.
Feel free to share this registry link with your healthcare provider or fill out the enrollment questionnaire.
The FDA also has a website where you can search for other pregnancy registries that might be connected to other medications you take.
Check All Meds Before Breastfeeding
Visit the National Library of Medicine and go to the Drugs and Lactation Database to check any other medication and the impacts it might have on breastfeeding.
Just because there's no confirmed link between GLP-1s and breast milk doesn't mean it's risk-free. The data just isn’t there yet. Err on the side of caution and talk to your provider—they’ll weigh the risks based on your specific situation. Whatever you do, don't just assume it's okay to take it.
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