To think my GP was wrong about breastfeeding and weight loss tablets?

[Tillytollytally]

I went to the GP last week and got onto the topic of weight loss.

I am nearly two years into breastfeeding DD (they lied when they said it makes you lose weight quite the opposite in my case!) as my BMI is now tipping 32+.

The GP said that I would be okay to use the tablets/jabs even though I’m breastfeeding because even though there hasn’t been much research it would be very unlikely that the drugs would pass into the breastmilk in a significant quantity…?!

AIBU to feel a bit uncomfortable about the idea? I’d love to try them but would feel wrong doing it while still breastfeeding.

Sounds like your GP doesn't actually know but decided to reassure you.
I wouldn't risk it.
As someone who tried the jabs for a short time I remember being really amazed at the speed and power with which a lack of any interest in food kicked in. I could literally have given up eating.
You don't want a toddler to lose any appetite like that.
Best of luck @Tillytollytally . I imagine your toddler will ditch the boob soon, can you revisit the idea then?

There is limited safety data on this, it is possibly ok, but personally I wouldn’t until I had stopped bf.

If I had health issues that needed addressing quickly I would stop bf at this stage. Otherwise I would wait until ready to stop bf before starting GLP1s.

The guidance on the medication patient leaflet says not to take Wegovy or Mounjaro whilst breastfeeding. That’s what your GP should really be telling you as anything else is speculation. There isn’t enough evidence to say that it’s safe or that the risk is minimal.

Online pharmacies will ask you to acknowledge that they have told you not to breastfeed and that they would only prescribe to you on the basis that you are not.

I would wait until I’d stopped breastfeeding if I were in your position, just out of an abundance of caution given that it’s easy enough to wait till then.

I absolutely wouldn’t take them while breastfeeding. I lost weight once I’d stopped feeding at 16 months - I think for some people it keeps the weight on.

Im in the same boat, I never lose weight when breast-feeding. I have an 11 month old and want to start wegovy. I know people in America take glp1s whilst breastfeeding but all the advice seems to specify that you absolutely shouldn’t. So unfortunately Im going to try and early wean (even though I don’t want to!) so that I can stop completely just to start the jabs.

This is the best place to get information:

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/recovering-from-illness-and-improving-your-health/#weightlossmedication

Thanks all. As tempting as it is, I know I need to wait. (I did have the jabs before I got pregnant and it was fantastic, and I kept it off for a good six months before I got pregnant!)

But now I’m the biggest I’ve ever been, I am shocked when I see myself in photos. God knows how DH hasn’t mentioned a word about it, thankfully.

I keep on thinking DD will start weaning but no sign yet! She goes through most of the night without it and obviously on her nursery days too, but the rest of the time asks for it throughout the day…!

Have you read the breastfeeding networks research on this? It's really interesting. I wouldn't risk it for a newborn as they have a permeable gut but for an older baby/ toddler I personally don't see the risk. The molecules are very large so only a tiny percentage comes through, and it is then destroyed by the stomach acid (which is why MJ wouldn't work if you drank it!)

Breastfeeding network have a whole host of women who have been in this position and taken it. Plus there is now quite a lot of research into it.

Can you point me in the direction of this please? All I can find that’s relevant is their page on diabetes medication…

and to be clear, the advice appears to be strongly that they don’t recommend taking the drugs for weight loss while breastfeeding.

Here is the screenshot about the updated information on MJ since April 2026.

I also spoke directly to the team (for free - anyone can access it) and they said they've spoken to lots of women in the same position. There are also lots of women publicly taking it and breastfeeding which you can follow etc if you're interested.

I just want to clarify that I'm not trying to convince you to do something you're uncomfortable with - just that the GP wasn't incorrect in their assertion that the molecules are too large to pass through in any meaningful quantity and that if any did it would be broken down to redundancy by stomach acid.

They can't do any trials so to speak on breastfeeding women because that would be unethical. And there is hardly any research on anything to do with breastfeeding toddlers as so few women do so.

When I was feeding DS at age 2 I needed to take valium and some other drug that's absolutely not safe for breastfeeding usually but because he was of an age where his gut isn't as permeable and he wasn't getting his sole nutrition from me the GP, my consultant, breastfeeding network and the local pharmacist all said the limited data they have suggested it would be okay.

So it's very difficult to give a cut and dry answer - taking MJ and feeding a newborn when you only have a few stone to lose would probably not be a good idea as you wouldn't be adequately fueled to make nutritious milk and if any by some miracle survived the stomach acid then their gut would be more likely to absorb it.

If you are feeding a toddler, have five stone to lose etc then it is very likely to be safe as per the updated guidelines. But they won't be able to say for sure until thousands of breastfeeding women start reporting that they've taken it and the impact or lack there of to their babies.

Hi @Mamatriesmounjaro no I completely understand, and that is really helpful, thank you. My little one is almost two! Sadly no longer a newborn haha. I have about 3-4 stone to lose. Breastfeeding has not helped on that front at all. I’ll keep doing some reading and try to track down some of those women you mentioned who are doing this. 😊

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500980/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500980/]]]]

Interesting research! A very small sample size for obvious reasons. Interesting that it states the injection should be used rather than the pills. Hmm! 🤔

Yes, I'm on baby number three breastfeeding until 2 and have never shifted any weight while doing it!

The BFN chat on Facebook is so helpful and understanding/ kind I always find them useful to chat to.

That link is interesting as I'd not read that about semiglutide before, just mounjaro, so good to see there may be more options at some point!

Well, I used semaglutide over three years ago now, Ozempic back in the day! I tolerated it really well and it worked amazingly so I’d prefer to stick with it going forwards!

I’d also not do this when breast feeding, not just for a medication perspective but you need to consume enough cals, even fhough yoire consuming too many now,

as your daughter is a toddler, you can of course chose to wean and go on them, or wait till she self weans,

Agree wholeheartedly with this. But, in fairness, nearly every pharma product states that it shouldn't be taken whilst breastfeeding or pregnant as there is insufficient research / testing to confirm safety. And this will always be the case, as in order to research it, you need to test it on pregnant and breastfeeding women, and no-one wants to take that risk in case the outcome is poor.

The patient information label on mounjaro says that if you are breastfeeding go discuss with your GP before taking which I think is a sensible statement as the circumstances can be wildly different as to babies age, reason weight loss is desired/ needed, health conditions etc. it doesn't say that it's not suitable for breastfeeding mothers because the research indicates that it probably is safe, and as mentioned up thread, they can never ethically test on breastfeeding mothers.

Even antidepressants used frequently on post partum mothers say to consult with your GP if you are breastfeeding - again because they've never been tested but the risk of not taking them may be higher than the risk of taking them.

Medicine and prescribing isn't black and white

There's not enough data yet so I wouldn't risk it