The Weight-Loss Jab Epidemic: How Pregnancy Can Turn Women Against Breastfeeding and Themselves
For many women, pregnancy is a time of profound body transformation - not just for their bodies, but also for their minds. The sudden shift in hormonal balance can lead to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt. For some, this can trigger a familiar but damaging pattern: the pressure to lose weight.
Lydia, a 33-year-old mother from Wales, first started thinking about weight-loss drugs during pregnancy. "Everyone was talking about them and the advertisements were everywhere," she recalls, as her baby son naps upstairs. Her pregnancy brought a level of body acceptance she had never known before, but as her due date approached, a familiar feeling of dread emerged.
In Lydia's antenatal class WhatsApp group, conversations turned to feeding, dieting, and weight loss - topics that were once ignored in favor of more positive discussions. Out of six mums, three decided not to breastfeed or gave up early to go on weight-loss jabs, both of which are advised against during breastfeeding due to their impact on milk quality and supply.
The pressure to lose weight can be overwhelming, especially for new mothers. Melanie, a 31-year-old mum of two, has been injecting GLP-1 agonists since January and has lost five stone. While she feels more comfortable going against NHS guidance, she acknowledges the risks involved. "I did a lot of research, read science papers as much as I could understand them and spoke to my husband about it," she says.
The private provider she bought her Mounjaro from asked if she was breastfeeding, which she ticked off without verification. Melanie had also read experiences of other women on Reddit, but acknowledges that large-scale studies are not available for the safety of these drugs while breastfeeding.
Dr. Jan Toledano, a leading women's hormone specialist and founder of the London Hormone Clinic, warns about the potential health risks of taking weight-loss drugs during the postnatal period. "If there's rapid weight loss, this impacts lots of different things: milk production may cease, yes, but also energy levels may decrease," she notes.
Toledano is concerned that the mass marketing of these drugs directly to consumers is interfering with proper medical care for new mothers. "If a woman is reaching for the GLP-1 agonists because they're advertised all the time and everyone's on them, she's not going to see a doctor who understands metabolic changes after pregnancy," which can put them at risk.
The Breastfeeding Network's Drugs in Breastmilk service reports an increase of 145% in enquiries from breastfeeding mothers about weight loss. "GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro are not recommended for use while breastfeeding" says Amanda Da Costa, clinical supervisor.
Melanie has now stopped taking Mounjaro, citing the ease with which postnatal women can get drawn into the marketing of these drugs or omit information to obtain them. "You are quite vulnerable; your hormones are all over the place, lack of sleep and all of that," she says.
Lydia has decided not to take the drugs, opting instead for body acceptance during this critical period. "Ultimately, my child comes before this incessant need to be thin," she says, although she acknowledges that if advised it is safe to do so, she may consider taking them in the future. She resents that, like many women, she must choose between bouncing back and breastfeeding - two societal pressures that can feel insurmountable.
The weight-loss jab epidemic has left a trail of vulnerable mothers in its wake, forced to navigate a complex web of conflicting advice and commercial pressure. As new parents, we must prioritize our health and the well-being of our children above all else.
For many women, pregnancy is a time of profound body transformation - not just for their bodies, but also for their minds. The sudden shift in hormonal balance can lead to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt. For some, this can trigger a familiar but damaging pattern: the pressure to lose weight.
Lydia, a 33-year-old mother from Wales, first started thinking about weight-loss drugs during pregnancy. "Everyone was talking about them and the advertisements were everywhere," she recalls, as her baby son naps upstairs. Her pregnancy brought a level of body acceptance she had never known before, but as her due date approached, a familiar feeling of dread emerged.
In Lydia's antenatal class WhatsApp group, conversations turned to feeding, dieting, and weight loss - topics that were once ignored in favor of more positive discussions. Out of six mums, three decided not to breastfeed or gave up early to go on weight-loss jabs, both of which are advised against during breastfeeding due to their impact on milk quality and supply.
The pressure to lose weight can be overwhelming, especially for new mothers. Melanie, a 31-year-old mum of two, has been injecting GLP-1 agonists since January and has lost five stone. While she feels more comfortable going against NHS guidance, she acknowledges the risks involved. "I did a lot of research, read science papers as much as I could understand them and spoke to my husband about it," she says.
The private provider she bought her Mounjaro from asked if she was breastfeeding, which she ticked off without verification. Melanie had also read experiences of other women on Reddit, but acknowledges that large-scale studies are not available for the safety of these drugs while breastfeeding.
Dr. Jan Toledano, a leading women's hormone specialist and founder of the London Hormone Clinic, warns about the potential health risks of taking weight-loss drugs during the postnatal period. "If there's rapid weight loss, this impacts lots of different things: milk production may cease, yes, but also energy levels may decrease," she notes.
Toledano is concerned that the mass marketing of these drugs directly to consumers is interfering with proper medical care for new mothers. "If a woman is reaching for the GLP-1 agonists because they're advertised all the time and everyone's on them, she's not going to see a doctor who understands metabolic changes after pregnancy," which can put them at risk.
The Breastfeeding Network's Drugs in Breastmilk service reports an increase of 145% in enquiries from breastfeeding mothers about weight loss. "GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro are not recommended for use while breastfeeding" says Amanda Da Costa, clinical supervisor.
Melanie has now stopped taking Mounjaro, citing the ease with which postnatal women can get drawn into the marketing of these drugs or omit information to obtain them. "You are quite vulnerable; your hormones are all over the place, lack of sleep and all of that," she says.
Lydia has decided not to take the drugs, opting instead for body acceptance during this critical period. "Ultimately, my child comes before this incessant need to be thin," she says, although she acknowledges that if advised it is safe to do so, she may consider taking them in the future. She resents that, like many women, she must choose between bouncing back and breastfeeding - two societal pressures that can feel insurmountable.
The weight-loss jab epidemic has left a trail of vulnerable mothers in its wake, forced to navigate a complex web of conflicting advice and commercial pressure. As new parents, we must prioritize our health and the well-being of our children above all else.
Just read about how pregnancy can turn women against breastfeeding and themselves 
is not worth it, especially with weight loss jabs... they're a recipe for disaster 
this is so sad 
... i mean, what's up with society? pregnancy is already a time of huge change in your body and mind, but now they're pushing these weight-loss jabs on new moms too 
? it's like, can't we just focus on healing and bonding with our babies for once? 
breastfeeding is supposed to be all about nourishing and caring for our little ones, not about trying to fit into some unrealistic beauty standard 
. and what really gets me is that these drugs are advertised as if they're safe for breastfeeding... 
but it's clear that's not the case! 
it's like they're being forced to choose between taking care of their baby or trying to get back in shape 
and honestly im so sick of the glp-1 agonists being marketed to new moms like they're some kinda magic solution 
Melanie sounds super brave for speaking out about her experience and i hope more mums do the same 
i'm so sorry for all the new mums out there who are feeling overwhelmed & forced to make tough choices 
my fave doc @lydiatoledano is speaking truth! 
we need to prioritize our health & wellbeing as mums, not just for ourselves but for our babies too 
. and can we talk about how hard it is for new mums to balance breastfeeding with getting back into their pre-pregnancy body? like, my body will be over here trying to recover from giving birth and they're out there stressing about losing weight 
This is super worrying! The fact that 3 outta 6 mums in Lydia's antenatal group were like "forget breastfeeding, let's get on weight loss jabs instead" 
. We need better support for new mums, not more pressure to conform to societal beauty standards 
and btw can we pls prioritize breastfeeding & body acceptance over weight loss 
. The fact that these women are being bombarded with ads for weight-loss drugs is just unbelievable 
. Can't we just focus on supporting new mums in their breastfeeding journey and helping them find healthy ways to cope with the physical changes of motherhood? 
I think we need more awareness about the risks of these meds, especially when it comes to milk supply & overall health. And what's with the lack of regulation around these ads? It's like they're preying on new mums who are already feeling anxious about their bodies 
breastfeeding should be prioritized over a temporary number on the scale, especially when the consequences for baby can be so severe 
