Can you take semaglutide while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Semaglutide was not detectable in the milk of mothers taking the drug subcutaneously. Their breastfed infants experienced no adverse effects. Some brands of oral semaglutide, such as Rybelsus, contain the absorption enhancer salcaprozate sodium, which may enter milk and accumulate in infants. Only injectable forms of semaglutide should be used during breastfeeding.
Quoted from Semaglutide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised May 15, 2026.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of semaglutide. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Tirzepatide
How much semaglutide gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Eight nursing mothers, who were using subcutaneous semaglutide in doses ranging from 0.25 to 1 mg weekly, donated milk samples at 0,12 and 24 hours after a dose. None of the samples contained any measurable semaglutide (<1.7 mcg/L). The authors calculated that if milk had contained semaglutide at the detection limit, the relative infant dose would have averaged only 1.12%. This does not take into consideration that the drug is poorly absorbed orally, with a maximum bioavailability of 1% in adults.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Eight nursing mothers were using subcutaneous semaglutide in doses ranging from 0.25 to 1 mg weekly. Their infants ranged in age from 4 to 23 months of age and were mixed fed. They were fed breastmilk for 3 to 9 weeks while their mothers were taking semaglutide. All of the infants were reported to have normal growth and development by their mothers.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take semaglutide while breastfeeding?
Semaglutide was not detectable in the milk of mothers taking the drug subcutaneously. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What can I take instead of semaglutide while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Tirzepatide as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does semaglutide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for semaglutide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking semaglutide?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on semaglutide
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.