More new US moms are taking GLP-1 drugs

A new study from the University of Southern California shows that prescriptions for GLP‑1 diabetes and weight‑loss medications among American mothers have risen dramatically since 2018. Analysis of insurance claims covering more than one million births found that the proportion of new mothers receiving these drugs grew from 0.8 percent in the first half of 2018 to 1.9 percent by the first quarter of 2025, a 24‑fold increase over seven years.

Most mothers began taking the medication three to six months after delivery. The uptick was strongest among women with type 2 diabetes and those who were obese or overweight before pregnancy, but the rise was also notable among women with gestational diabetes, whose prescription rate climbed from 0.4 percent in mid‑2021 to 2.7 percent in early 2025.

The study is the first to identify the clinical groups driving the trend and notes that the pattern mirrors similar increases seen in Denmark, despite differences in health‑care systems and drug pricing. Researchers point out that while GLP‑1s have demonstrated benefits for many health outcomes, data on their use during breastfeeding are limited.

Experts caution that the safety of GLP‑1 therapy for nursing mothers remains uncertain. Dr. Jyoti Manekar of Georgia’s Northside Hospital notes that little is known about drug excretion in breast milk or its potential impact on infant growth and metabolism. The authors call for further research into postpartum use, especially given the growing number of mothers prescribed these medications.