Researchers highlight a dramatic rise in GLP-1 medication prescriptions among new mothers in the US, sparking concerns over safety during breastfeeding despite rapid adoption for weight management and diabetes care.
Researchers at the University of Southern California say prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs among new mothers in the United States have risen sharply, reflecting the rapid spread of medicines originally developed for diabetes and now widely used for weight loss. In a study published on Thursday, the team found that the share of postpartum women starting one of the drugs within six months of giving birth climbed from 0.8% in the first half of 2018 to 1.9% by the first quarter of 2025, a 24-fold increase.
The analysis, based on insurance claims covering more than one million births, suggests that the rise is not confined to a single type of patient. Women with type 2 diabetes had the highest prescribing rates, but growth was fastest among those who had been diagnosed with obesity or were overweight before pregnancy. The researchers also found that the increase among women with gestational diabetes was especially marked, rising from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% by the first quarter of 2025. Most prescriptions were written three to six months after delivery.
Sih-Ting Cai, the study’s lead author and a scholar at USC’s Schaeffer Centre, said postpartum care represents an important period for addressing metabolic risk, but added that the evidence base for GLP-1 use while breastfeeding remains limited. That concern is echoed by other recent research. A JAMA study of nearly 382,300 pregnancies in Denmark found postpartum GLP-1 receptor agonist use rose from fewer than five cases to 173 per 10,000 deliveries by the second quarter of 2024, with semaglutide-based medicines accounting for much of the increase. Separately, a U.S. retrospective cohort study published in 2024 reported that prescribing of semaglutide and tirzepatide before and after delivery rose steeply between 2019 and 2024.
The wider surge fits a national pattern. California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information has reported that GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss in the state increased more than 34-fold from 2018 to 2023, with Ozempic and Wegovy making up the vast majority of prescriptions in 2023. But the speed of adoption is outpacing the evidence in one of the most sensitive periods of maternal health. The researchers said data on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remain scant, and clinicians continue to advise caution because it is not yet clear how the drugs might affect nursing infants.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
