# GLP-1 While Breastfeeding: What ACOG's New Guidance Says

Source: https://www.dietglp.com/blog/glp-1-while-breastfeeding/
Published: 2026-10-28
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**TL;DR:** On October 23, 2026, ACOG said a GLP-1 can be part of a postpartum plan for some breastfeeding parents, after a shared decision with their doctor. It recommends against GLP-1s when nursing a baby under 28 days old or a preterm baby, says to avoid GLP-1 pills while nursing, and asks for close checks on the baby's weight. Early studies found little or no semaglutide or tirzepatide in breast milk, but effects on milk supply and long-term infant health are unknown. If you and your doctor go ahead, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) helps you hit a daily protein target and protect muscle.

Can you take a GLP-1 while breastfeeding? For years the short answer was "wait until you wean." On October 23, 2026, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) gave a more detailed answer. A GLP-1 can be part of the plan for some nursing parents, but not with a newborn under 28 days old, not with a preterm baby, and not in pill form.

This guide walks through what ACOG said, what each drug label says, and what to plan for if you and your doctor decide to go ahead.

## What ACOG's new GLP-1 guidance says about breastfeeding

ACOG's Practice Advisory is called "Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Pregnancy and Lactation." A Practice Advisory is ACOG's fast format for urgent issues. The lead author, Dr. D. Yvette LaCoursiere, said as many as 1 in 300 women are exposed to a GLP-1 before pregnancy.

On nursing, the advisory makes four main points:

1. **Shared decision-making is allowed.** Ob-gyns may work with a breastfeeding or chestfeeding parent on a postpartum plan that could include a GLP-1.
2. **Watch the baby's weight.** If a GLP-1 is used, the baby's weight gain should be closely tracked with the baby's own doctor.
3. **Not for newborns or preemies.** ACOG recommends against GLP-1s when nursing a baby in the first 28 days of life or a baby born preterm.
4. **Avoid the pills.** Because oral GLP-1s contain changes to help absorption, and there are no safety data on them in nursing, ACOG says nursing parents should avoid oral GLP-1s.

ACOG also says that if a parent does choose a GLP-1, it is wise to pick one with a shorter half-life. A half-life is how long it takes the body to clear half of a dose.

## Does semaglutide or tirzepatide get into breast milk?

The early data look reassuring, but they are thin. GLP-1 drugs are large molecules, which makes it hard for them to pass into milk.

| Drug | Form | What the milk data show | What the label says about nursing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide) | Weekly shot | Small study of 8 women: no semaglutide found at 0, 12 or 24 hours after a dose | No human milk data in the Wegovy label; weigh benefits and risks |
| Wegovy pill (semaglutide) | Daily tablet | Semaglutide below detection, but SNAC and its breakdown products are in milk | Breastfeeding not recommended |
| Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Weekly shot | 11 women, one 5 mg dose: none found in 164 of 171 samples; total under 0.02% of the dose | No data on the baby or milk supply; weigh benefits and risks |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | Daily pill | No human data; found in rat milk at 3 times plasma levels | Not recommended for nursing women |

Source: ACOG Practice Advisory (October 2026) and FDA labels on DailyMed, checked October 28, 2026.

The big gap is what these studies did not measure. ACOG points out that none of them looked at milk volume, milk nutrition, the baby's weight gain or long-term outcomes.

## Why GLP-1 pills are treated differently

The Wegovy pill uses an ingredient called SNAC to help semaglutide get absorbed in the stomach. The label says SNAC shows up in breast milk, and babies may clear it more slowly than adults, so it could build up. Since there are shots without SNAC, the label says not to breastfeed while taking Wegovy tablets.

Foundayo is a different kind of molecule. It is a small, non-peptide pill, and in rat studies it passed into milk at higher levels than in the blood. Its label says it is not recommended for nursing women.

## How long each GLP-1 stays in your body

Half-life matters for two reasons: ACOG prefers shorter-acting drugs if one is used while nursing, and it tells you roughly how long a drug lingers after you stop.

| Drug | Approximate half-life (per label) |
|---|---|
| Exenatide (type 2 diabetes only) | About 2.4 hours |
| Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) | About 13 hours |
| Orforglipron (Foundayo) | About 29 to 49 hours |
| Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) | About 5 days |
| Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) | About 1 week; present for about 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose |

ACOG names exenatide as the shortest-acting option "if indicated." Exenatide is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Which drug fits you, if any, is a call for your prescriber.

## Can GLP-1s affect milk supply or your nutrition?

This is the part ACOG worries about most. GLP-1s cut appetite. Making milk takes extra energy and nutrients. ACOG notes that eating much less could lead to low intake of protein, vitamins and minerals, and it lists a possible change in milk volume or makeup as a real, untested concern.

So if you do start a GLP-1 while nursing, food quality matters more than ever:

- **Protein at every meal.** Eggs, Greek yogurt, fish, chicken, tofu and beans. Our [protein target guide](/blog/protein-target-on-glp1/) shows how to set a daily number.
- **Small, frequent meals** so a slower stomach does not push you to skip eating.
- **Fluids all day,** since nausea and a smaller appetite can make you drink less too.
- **Ask about your prenatal vitamin.** See our guide to [vitamin deficiency on Ozempic](/blog/ozempic-vitamin-deficiency/).

A simple way to keep protein on track is [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138). It gives you one protein target a day and a short workout so you lose fat, not muscle, while your appetite is low.

## Birth control after the baby

ACOG also reminds doctors that GLP-1 weight loss can raise fertility. Nursing alone is not reliable birth control for everyone. Tirzepatide can make birth control pills less effective for a while after starting or raising the dose. Our [Mounjaro and birth control guide](/blog/mounjaro-and-birth-control/) explains the backup rule.

## Questions to bring to your doctor

- Is my baby old enough, and was my baby born full term?
- Would a shot be better than a pill for me while nursing?
- Should I choose a shorter-acting drug?
- Who will check my baby's weight, and how often?
- What signs of low milk supply should I watch for?
- How should I set my protein and calorie floor?

If you are still pregnant or trying to conceive, the advice is different. Read our [GLP-1 and pregnancy guide](/blog/glp1-and-pregnancy/), and note that ACOG now says to consider stopping GLP-1s one to two months before trying to conceive.

## The bottom line

ACOG's October 2026 advice moves the answer from "never" to "maybe, carefully." Shots with good milk data and shorter half-lives look safer on paper. Pills, newborns under 28 days and preterm babies are off the table for now. And because no study has checked milk supply or long-term infant health, close follow-up with your baby's doctor is part of the deal. Never start, stop or change a dose on your own.

Whatever you decide, protecting your own muscle and nutrition helps you and your baby. [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) keeps it simple with one protein target, one 20-minute workout and one Shape Score a day.

## Sources

- ACOG news release, "ACOG Releases New Guidance on the Use of GLP-1s in Pregnancy and Lactation" (Oct 23, 2026): https://www.acog.org/news/2026/10/acog-releases-new-guidance-on-use-of-glp-1s-in-pregnancy-lactation/
- ACOG Practice Advisory, "Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Pregnancy and Lactation": https://www.acog.org/clinical/guidance/practice-advisory/2026/10/use-of-glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-in-pregnancy-and-lactation/
- "Subcutaneous Semaglutide during Breastfeeding: Infant Safety Regarding Drug Transfer into Human Milk" (2024): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11397063/
- LactMed, Semaglutide (NIH): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500980/
- Zepbound prescribing information, DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b
- Wegovy prescribing information, DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b
- Foundayo prescribing information, DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=8ac446c5-feba-474f-a103-23facb9b5c62


## Frequently asked questions

**Q: Can you take a GLP-1 while breastfeeding?**

A: Sometimes, after a talk with your doctor. ACOG's October 2026 Practice Advisory says clinicians may build a postpartum plan that includes a GLP-1 through shared decision-making. It recommends against use for parents nursing a baby in the first 28 days of life or a preterm baby, and it asks for close monitoring of the baby's weight gain.

**Q: Does Ozempic or Wegovy get into breast milk?**

A: A small study of 8 women using injectable semaglutide found none in breast milk at 0, 12 and 24 hours after a dose. The Wegovy label says there are no data on injected semaglutide in human milk, its effects on a breastfed baby, or milk production.

**Q: Is Zepbound safe while breastfeeding?**

A: Safety is not proven. In the label's lactation study, 11 women took one 5 mg dose and tirzepatide was undetectable in 164 of 171 milk samples. The total amount found was under 0.02% of the mother's dose. There are no data on effects on the baby or on milk supply.

**Q: Can I take the Wegovy pill or Foundayo while breastfeeding?**

A: The labels say no. The Wegovy pill label says breastfeeding is not recommended because the absorption helper SNAC passes into milk and may build up in infants. The Foundayo label says it is not recommended for nursing women. ACOG also advises avoiding oral GLP-1s while nursing.

**Q: Does GLP-1 affect milk supply?**

A: No one knows yet. ACOG notes that current studies only look at whether the drug shows up in milk. They do not measure milk volume, nutrition, infant weight gain or long-term outcomes. Eating much less can also affect the nutrients you take in, which is why protein and food quality matter.

**Q: How long after stopping a GLP-1 can I breastfeed?**

A: Ask your prescriber. Clearance depends on the drug. The Wegovy label says semaglutide stays in the blood for about 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose, while tirzepatide has a half-life of about 5 days.