..to take Ozempic whilst breastfeeding?

[Mummypig32]

I'm just in the process of weaning my toddler from breastfeeding during the day but realistically ill be continuing to feed at night probably for a while.

I'm utterly miserable about my weight and feel like Ozempic would really benefit me. The only info I cam find says this:

"No information is available on the clinical use of semaglutide during breastfeeding. Because semaglutide is a peptide molecule with a molecular weight of 4113 daltons and is over 99% protein bound, the amount in milk is likely to be very low. Absorption by the infant is unlikely because the drug is probably destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. Until more data become available, semaglutide should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant."

So AIBU and a terrible mother to start taking this whilst still night feeding my toddler?

Wait to wean him. You’ve done so well BF him and you should be so proud, wait a couple of weeks to fully wean then crack on. Not worth the risk and you’ll probably feel guilty otherwise

It won't be weeks though, that's the thing. God knows how long itsngping to take for him to stop feeding at night, it could be a year as I find it impossible to settle him at night without feeding him. I know I'm probably being selfish I just feel like I'd be so much happier if I wasn't always hungry/craving crap food and depressed because I've failed another weight loss attempt. I was reading abput Ozempic on here and was really gutted when I realised breastfeeding might stop me taking it. 😔

If I were you, I'd focus on the night weaning. You may find that when you get a full night's sleep you are less hungry and can drop pounds easily. Hormones are probably to blame for holding the weight to a degree. Can you work with a sleep consultant and get the sleep established?

Don't take the risk, it's not worth it.

I just wouldn't take the risk. It might seem like ages to you but this stage does really fly by so it's not worth risking anything within your control vis a vis your baby's health. There are ways you could try to kick start weightloss in the meantime while you wean.

Breast feeding made me retain my weight. Honestly, friends who could eat what they liked and breast feeling burned off the extra calories were the bane of my life. For me, I stopped feeding and the weight went down. Happened with each of my DC and I've heard of other women saying the same. So I would focus on the night weaning and then move to ozempic if you still feel you need it. I don't think taking an unregulated drug while breastfeeding is sensible although I fully appreciate how you're feeling. Best of luck.

You sound really fed up and like you’re being very hard on yourself about weight loss. It can be really hard making time for yourself to get healthy when you are BF as you’re usually the one up in the night and so are too tired. Also as some have mentioned, weight can stick a bit when you’re BF (I lost weight feeding my first and then with the other two couldn’t shift an ounce!).

Do you reckon you could take it easy on yourself for now? Give yourself some achievable targets that might make you feel in better health rather than focusing on weight loss? Like eating more fruit and veg and/or getting a bit more gentle exercise, more fresh air, while you wean?

Same! I dropped loads of weight relatively easily after weaning.

It would probably be fine but it’s relatively new as a drug so I personally wouldn’t take the risk. And it also might be completely unnecessary if you had the same experience as me and the pp I quoted. Concentrate on the night weaning, it can take as much or as little time as you’re prepared to tolerate, tbh.

Stop breastfeeding. Don't take that crazy medicine.

Forgive my ignorance but isn’t ozempic meant for diabetes? I know it can aid weight loss but it seems quite extreme to go on a medication for an illness you don’t have (unless you are diabetic) solely for weight loss. Especially when it can apparently really affect your bowels.

Massively irresponsible and I can’t imagine anyone would sell it to you if you disclose your breastfeeding. I’m a T1 diabetic who has taken off label weight loss drugs for T2 and would never do this around pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Also breastfeeding affects blood sugar so throwing ozempic into the mix is potentially dangerous.

OK. Maybe it's a stupid idea. Maybe when the breastfeeding reduces more it'll stop me being so hungry slk the damn time. I have no doubt breastfeeding burns calories but I'm obviously eating more than my fair share back again so I've never lost a pound, only gained, and I'm worried I'll just get bigger when I stop breastfeeding if those calories aren't going somewhere!
Feeling pretty desperate!

Ooo I don't think this would be a good idea OP. For one, if you were unlucky enough to suffer the side effects you would feel like shit. While breastfeeding. A toddler 😬i don't think I would risk doing that to yourself! Breastfeeding can be tiring and toddlers are definitely tiring! Wait until baby is weaned, don't feel too bad about eating all the crap, then have a change up. Good luck!

Honestly, OP, once you might wean and get some sleep you will feel less hungry and more able to exercise and eat healthily. (Grehlin, which is the hormone that makes you feel full is massively affected by lack of sleep). Try that first - everything is better with a good night's sleep (and if you have a toddler night weaning is a really good plan - they don't need it at this stage other than for comfort and that can be substituted with a bit of initial work on consistency and routine).

Apart from the risks to the baby - the sideffects of Ozempic include: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, headaches, vomiting, and depression, for starters. There is a possible increased risk of pancreatitis (extremely painful), as well as pancreatic and thyroid cancer, that is being investigated. It results in a 10-15% weightloss - and most of this is regained within a year of stopping Ozempic use.

Upping one's vegetable intake and getting more physical activity would be a better bet, and no risk to the baby.

Yes I've googled it as well.

If losing weight was as simple as "upping ones vegetable intake and getting more physical activity" everyone would be thin, wouldn't they.

If you Google it, virtually every site advises against it. There’s no way you should risk it.

Charmed, I'm sure.

I think upping vegetable intake, thereby lowering other foodstuffs on the plate and hence calories, is a smarter longterm move while someone is breatsfeeding. I don't expect "thinness" will result. But better health and some weightloss, yes. Porbably as much longterm as taking a dubious substance like this thread is about, and with no health risks attached.

I wouldn’t. And I say that as someone who has been taking Ozempic for over a year. It’s not worth the risk. It’s a relatively new drug really and a lot is still really not known about long term effects etc. I made the decision to take it but I am only affecting myself.

concentrate on night weaning. And WHAT you eat. It’s as much about what you eat as how much. We all eat too much processed foods and carbs. Make sure you are getting enough protein. Make sure you are not thirsty.

Sorry I don't understand what you're getting at with "charmed I'm sure"?! 🤣🤣🤣

I have already said on this thread I've decided against it. There's really no need to pile on and be sarcy about it. I was looking for specific experiences and advice regarding breastfeeding, not an opinion on the medication itself. There are huge threads about how "amazing" ozempic is on mumsnet, so it's not black and white and neither is weight loss especially whilst breastfeeding. It's not simple and you coming on and acting like I just need to eat more salad and making silly "charmed" comment is honestly just unhelpful. Go troll someone else.

As I said, you really are a charmer.

You are also not the first woman on the planet to ever want to lose some weight.

Sorry you found it so offensive to be offered advice - which was not to eat salad, by the way.

Have you got your menstrual cycle back yet? I've breastfed to 18m and 12m and both times lost 2 stone without really even trying within 2 months of stopping breastfeeding. It was like my body was holding on to the weight to make milk or something. I didn't lose a single pound while breastfeeding (probably because I ate like a pig the full time). Wouldnt normally advocate cessation of bf but I feel like if you are the type to hold on to the weight while feeding even taking the risk with ozempic probably wouldn't be all that successful.

mix about 5ml of psyllium husk with 100 - 115 grams of water and then when it's blended in, mix with a yoghurt! It is extremely filling and only adds 10 calories of pure fibre to the calories in the yogurt. You'll be full for much longer than if you'd just eaten the yoghurt.

You can also mix about 3grams of psyllium husk in to a cup of soup before adding the water, it thickens it and makes it more filling. You can have about 10 grams of this stuff a day, easily. I deal with hunger while dieting this way. If you're an hour and a half from your next meal and still hungry have a babybel cheese, 20 grams and about 68 cals and it will fill you up better than a cracker. An egg is filling too but you have to cook that!

I got my grams and mls the wrong way around! obviously i meant 5 grams of psyllium husk with about 100 -115 mls of water. Mix it really well really quickly and then before it 'sets' immediately add the yogurt