Can you take a GLP-1 postpartum?

Weight loss after pregnancy can be tricky, both emotionally and physically. Juggling sleep, nutrition, exercise, and caregiving? Talk about pure overwhelm! So, it makes sense to consider getting help from a GLP-1 postpartum, but is that safe?

It’s generally not recommended and not considered safe to take a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (aka GLP-1) like Wegovy or Foundayo during pregnancy, but can you take a GLP-1 after having a baby? That depends. There’s no official guidance on taking a GLP-1 for postpartum weight loss. 

Let’s dive into the safety, side effects, and considerations of taking a weight loss medication after giving birth, including what we know about taking a GLP-1 while breastfeeding.

The answer depends on your individual health, whether you’re breastfeeding, and shared decision making between you and your healthcare provider. 

It’s important to consider your starting weight and overall health needs. GLP-1s for weight loss have been studied and approved for significant slimdowns — not for those last few stubborn pounds of pregnancy weight some may experience. 

There are pretty specific criteria to determine who’s the right fit for a GLP-1 or similar drug (we’ll share a brief overview of those criteria below). 

But here’s a quick TL;DR: Even if you fit the medical criteria for a GLP-1 prescription, there hasn’t been enough research on GLP-1s in postpartum women to know for sure if it’s safe. We still don’t know how GLP-1s impact postpartum hormonal transition or recovery after giving birth.

So, is postpartum GLP-1 use safe for you? With the current lack of evidence-based guidelines, the answer requires a detailed risks-versus-benefits conversation with your healthcare provider.

Get started

Who are GLP-1s right for?

Before speaking with your provider about whether GLP-1s are right for you after having a baby, it’s a good idea to understand who they’re meant for in the first place. Here’s a brief overview:

Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and Foundayo (orforglipron) are approved for weight management in people with:

• Obesity — aka, a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher

• Overweight (BMI of 27 or higher) along with a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol

Wegovy is also approved for adults with certain forms of fatty liver disease and lowering the risks of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke in certain at-risk populations with overweight or obesity. Zepbound is also approved to treat sleep apnea in people with obesity.

You might be curious about other drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). While these drugs are sometimes used off-label to help with weight loss, they are both approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. (Ozempic is also approved to reduce cardiovascular and kidney-related risks in people with diabetes.)

We don’t know for sure. Since research is limited, many experts tend to recommend postponing GLP-1 use until your baby has weaned.

Here’s what we know:

• GLP-1 shots. There’s limited data on injectable GLP-1s, such as the Wegovy shot and Zepbound, during breastfeeding. Animal studies suggest the medication may pass into breast milk, but a very small human study found it didn’t. Data on infant outcomes and milk production are still limited.

• Oral GLP-1s. The FDA advises against breastfeeding while taking the Wegovy pill because one of its ingredients has been shown to pass into breast milk. Foundayo is also not recommended for nursing women.

So, can you take GLP-1 pills while breastfeeding? No. Can you take weight loss shots while breastfeeding? Maybe. Some early human milk data on semaglutide and tirzepatide are reassuring, but the lack of solid research on GLP-1s while breastfeeding underscores the importance of weighing the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

There is no official guideline on how soon you can start a GLP-1 after giving birth. But childbirth is a major medical event — in the case of cesarean delivery, a major surgery. It’s best to wait until your body has recovered before discussing weight loss with your healthcare provider.

If you’re not breastfeeding, your healthcare provider may consider starting you on a GLP-1 after the initial postpartum recovery period and follow-up, but there is no fixed timeline. 

In general, the postpartum period begins immediately after delivery and is often defined as the first 6 weeks after birth. However, recovery varies, and some postpartum changes may continue for 24 weeks or more for some women. If you’re breastfeeding your baby, many providers may recommend waiting with GLP-1s until after weaning.

It’s important to get personalized medical advice about how or when a GLP-1 might fit into your postpartum weight loss journey. Most women lose about 10 pounds immediately after giving birth as the  body gets rid of extra fluid, and many lose half of the weight gained during pregnancy by 6 weeks postpartum.

Weight loss and postpartum recovery timelines are highly individualized. It’s important to give your body some time to recover, then speak with your provider about the best plan of action for losing weight if necessary. They may recommend trying a weight loss medication, along with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Research on postpartum GLP-1 use is very limited. But based on what’s known about GLP-1 medications and postpartum recovery more generally, there are a few potential risks and side effects postpartum women should know about.

• Depression: Postpartum depression and mood changes are common, and anyone with mood symptoms should discuss them with a provider before starting a new medication. Some studies have linked GLP-1s to depression and anxiety in people with obesity. 

• Hormone shifts: GLP-1s work by mimicking natural hormones that regulate hunger and metabolism. Research is unclear on whether GLP-1s might disrupt the significant hormone shifts that happen after giving birth.

• Inadequate nutrition: GLP-1s suppress appetite. That can make it hard to get all the nourishment you need at a time when your body is recovering from childbirth, needs energy for late-night feeding sessions, and may be producing breastmilk.

• Effects on birth control: If you’re trying to prevent another pregnancy, know that research shows tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound) may diminish oral contraceptives’ effectiveness. Foundayo’s prescribing information also mentions this risk.

• Side effects: There’s no research on whether common GLP-1 side effects like nausea, diarrhea, or constipation hit postpartum women harder. Still, they might be more inconvenient when caring for a baby.

Again, always consult a healthcare provider for personalized medical advice about whether GLP-1s are right for you — postpartum or otherwise.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions are increasing, so you’re not alone in considering trying one. But everyone’s postpartum weight loss journey is different, and GLP-1s may not be appropriate in your situation. 

It’s important to remember that GLP-1s aren’t a quick fix. They’re a commitment in several ways:

• Lifestyle changes. GLP-1s are meant to be used along with diet and exercise. 

• Consistent, long-term use. It can take months to ramp up to the full GLP-1 dosage. And though clinical trials showed nearly 21% weight loss from Zepbound, it took 72 weeks of consistent use. 

• Continued maintenance dosing. GLP-1s are intended to be long-term weight management treatments. Stopping too soon can halt weight loss and generally leads to weight regain. 

The postpartum period involves a lot of adjustments. Adding a new medication to the mix isn’t right for everyone. Of course, if you’re struggling to lose weight and have obesity, overweight and a weight-related condition, or diabetes, a GLP-1 postpartum may be worth discussing with a licensed healthcare provider.

If you are struggling to lose baby weight and want to know if you’re a candidate for a GLP-1, start by scheduling an appointment with your healthcare provider or using an online platform, such as with Ro’s qualified providers.

During your consultation, be prepared to discuss your health history, medical conditions, medications, and weight loss goals. GLP-1 eligibility often requires one of the following:

• A BMI over 30

• A BMI over 27 plus a weight-related condition

• Type 2 diabetes

• Other conditions like cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, or sleep apnea in the case of certain medications

Your provider may also order a hemoglobin A1C test, which measures blood sugar control.

If you qualify, your healthcare provider will recommend the best GLP-1 for you and discuss next steps, including insurance coverage. (You can also use Ro’s free GLP-1 Insurance Checker).

A Ro membership is just one way to access the full range of GLP-1 medications, along with ongoing support. The process starts with an online visit, after which a Ro-affiliated healthcare provider will determine which medication (if any) is right for you.

See if you qualify

Can you take a GLP-1 postpartum? Possibly, so long as your healthcare provider thinks it’s right for you and prescribes it. Can you take a GLP-1 while breastfeeding? Limited research says “no” for GLP-1 pills and “maybe” for GLP-1 injections.

Here’s the takeaway:

• There haven’t been enough clinical studies on the safety and effectiveness of postpartum GLP-1 use. We don’t have any evidence-backed guidelines on exactly whether or when it’s safe to start a GLP-1 after giving birth.

• Taking an oral GLP-1 while breastfeeding is not recommended. Wegovy tablets contain an ingredient which can enter human milk. For Foundayo, there is no human breastfeeding data yet, but animal studies suggest the medication may pass into milk.

• The risk of injectable GLP-1s while breastfeeding is unknown. Small studies suggest semaglutide is not detectable in milk and tirzepatide is usually undetectable or very low when used in certain doses, but the issue remains understudied.

• Talk to a healthcare provider to weigh the risks versus benefits. Because research is so limited, it’s important to have a detailed discussion with a provider familiar with your medical history, health condition and goals, and breastfeeding habits.