Postpartum GLP-1 Prescriptions Rose Nearly 24-Fold Among Privately Insured New Mothers, with Breastfeeding Safety Data Still Limited

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The analysis, led by a researcher at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, reviewed insurance claims covering more than 1 million births over seven years. It tracked who was prescribed the drugs, not whether the medications worked. It did not measure safety, side effects, or effects on babies.

For families, the timing matters. The postpartum months are often when new parents are sleep-deprived, feeding an infant around the clock and trying to make decisions about weight, blood sugar, and breastfeeding all at once. The research shows a growing number of women are weighing a medication choice during that window, while safety data for nursing infants remain thin.

The sharpest increase came among women who already had type 2 diabetes. In that group, postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions rose from 2.3% to 16.9%, or about one in six new mothers by early 2025, according to the Schaeffer Center.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes, a form of high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy, saw rates rise from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Among women with diagnosed obesity or overweight, prescriptions jumped from 0.4% in late 2021 to 3.9%, the fastest relative growth of any group.

Since the second half of 2024, women with documented obesity or overweight have accounted for 40% of new postpartum prescriptions. Another 21% had no recorded qualifying diagnosis before giving birth, though most of those women received one, usually obesity or overweight, before starting the drug. Most women who started a GLP-1 did so at least three months after giving birth, and patients are advised to stop these drugs during pregnancy.

The study published in JAMA, titled “Postpartum Initiation of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among Commercially Insured Women in the US,” was led by Sih-Ting Cai of the Schaeffer Center, with co-authors Kosali Simon, Anthony Shanks, and Coady Wing of Indiana University.

“Postpartum is a critical window for addressing metabolic risk after pregnancy, and we’re seeing GLP-1 use explode in this population. Because evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, rising postpartum initiation warrants further study,” Cai said in a statement released by the Schaeffer Center.

Doctors have long viewed the first year after delivery as an important chance to address blood sugar and weight. Pregnancy can unmask diabetes risk, and the CDC notes that “about half of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.”

That makes the postpartum period a logical target for treatment, but it also overlaps with breastfeeding, which brings a separate set of questions that this study was not designed to answer.

The National Library of Medicine’s LactMed database offers some early data. Its semaglutide entry, revised in August 2026, reports that semaglutide was not detectable in the milk of mothers taking the injectable form, and their breastfed infants had no adverse effects. It also says only injectable forms should be used during breastfeeding, because some oral tablets contain an absorption enhancer that may enter milk and build up in infants.

For tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro, the LactMed review says the drug is usually undetectable in breast milk at doses up to 5 mg. However, it advises caution, especially with newborns or preterm infants, until more data are available. These findings come from small numbers of mothers.

This was a claims-based trend analysis, not a clinical trial. It shows how prescribing changed but cannot show whether the drugs improved mothers’ long-term health or affected milk supply or infants.

The study also has a coverage gap. It included only privately insured mothers and excluded those enrolled in Medicaid, which covers about 40% of U.S. births. Prescribing patterns for lower-income mothers may look very different, in part because Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss varies by state.

The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation. Cai disclosed that an immediate family member is employed by Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy.

Cost remains a major barrier. Employer plans differ widely in whether they cover GLP-1 drugs for weight management rather than diabetes, and many require prior authorization or proof of a qualifying diagnosis. Demand has grown nationwide, as MedicalDaily reported in its coverage of a record 40 million Americans now taking the drugs for weight loss.

This study does not change current medical guidance. New mothers considering a GLP-1 drug, or already taking one, should talk with an obstetrician, primary care clinician, or endocrinologist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Useful topics include whether breastfeeding affects the choice of drug or form, how the medication could affect appetite and nutrition while recovering from birth, and what birth control plan makes sense, since these drugs are not recommended during pregnancy. Women with a history of gestational diabetes can also ask when to have their blood sugar rechecked after delivery.

Women who are breastfeeding may want to involve their baby’s pediatrician or a lactation consultant, who can watch for changes in infant feeding and growth. Mothers should seek prompt care for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration, which can occur with these drugs.

Larger studies on breastfeeding exposure are still needed. For now, the takeaway for new parents is practical: these medications are becoming a more common postpartum option, but the decision should be made with a clinician who knows the mother’s health history, feeding plans, and insurance coverage.

Researchers found that the share of privately insured women starting a GLP-1 drug within six months of giving birth rose from 0.08% in early 2018 to 1.9% in early 2025. The findings were published in JAMA on Oct. 1, 2026.

Which mothers were most likely to be prescribed a GLP-1?

Women with type 2 diabetes had the highest rate, with about one in six receiving a prescription by early 2025. Women with obesity or overweight saw the fastest relative growth and have made up 40% of new prescriptions since late 2024.

Did the study show the drugs are safe after pregnancy?

No. The study tracked prescriptions only. It did not measure health outcomes, side effects or effects on infants, and the lead author said evidence on breastfeeding exposure remains limited.

Can women take GLP-1 drugs while breastfeeding?

Early data summarized by the National Library of Medicine’s LactMed database suggest injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide at doses up to 5 mg are usually not detectable in breast milk. The evidence comes from a few mothers, so women should discuss the decision with their clinician and their baby’s pediatrician.

Does this study include women on Medicaid?

No. It included only privately insured births. Medicaid, which covers about 40% of U.S. births, was not part of the analysis.

The National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation supported the study. The lead author disclosed that an immediate family member works for Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy.

What should new mothers do if they are considering a GLP-1?

Talk with an obstetrician or primary care clinician about breastfeeding plans, nutrition during recovery, birth control, and insurance coverage. Do not start or stop any prescription without medical guidance.