Keeping it Together: They got 'Ozempic babies,' then came the side effects.

Women across the country have been bonding online over their “Ozempic babies” − surprise pregnancies while taking weight loss medications, despite being on birth control or having a history of fertility issues. Now, some of them say they’re experiencing intense symptoms such as extreme hunger and rapid weight gain after quitting these drugs cold turkey to protect their baby’s health. 

Hi, I'm Katie Camero, a health and wellness reporter with Paste BN. After my first piece on "Ozempic babies" published and resonated with many people, I decided to dive deeper into these women's experiences.

Although hunger and weight gain are typical during pregnancy, these women say the intensity of their symptoms is unlike that of their previous pregnancies. It’s unclear if pregnancy worsens weight loss medication withdrawal, but fertility and bariatric experts say hormonal changes associated with pregnancy could explain the fierce effects. 

Drug manufacturers recommend women stop taking weight loss drugs at least two months before a planned pregnancy. When a non-pregnant person quits these medicines, doctors typically help them wean off to mitigate side effects, but women who find out they're expecting must stop immediately.

As more and more women become pregnant while taking weight loss drugs, experts recommend they talk to their doctors right away, especially if they’re taking drugs like Ozempic to treat diabetes. 

Here's what happens when Ozempic withdrawal and pregnancy symptoms collide, and why extreme weight gain during pregnancy can be dangerous. And while you're here, check out what else my team worked on this week.