"The months before and after pregnancy can be extremely challenging for women, both mentally and physically, and some turn to GLP-1 medications to cope with weight gain. Here, Kirsty Blake Knox speaks to Irish mothers about their experiences on the drugs and the stigma surrounding them Ciara*, from Dublin, became a first-time mother at the age of 39. She knew she wanted a"
" second baby and was delighted to discover she was pregnant again the day her firstborn turned one. Her pregnancies were, she says, "not kind" to her. She had a depletion in energy levels and diastasis recti - abdominal muscle separation that can occur during pregnancy. As a consequence, and despite having been active all her life, she was advised not to exercise while pregnant."
Pregnancy and the postpartum period can produce significant physical and mental challenges for women. Some women use GLP-1 medications to address pregnancy-related weight gain. One mother experienced depleted energy and diastasis recti during pregnancy and was advised not to exercise despite a lifelong habit of activity. She became a first-time mother at 39 and conceived again when her first child turned one, and described her pregnancies as physically taxing. Physical complications, energy loss and concerns about weight lead some mothers to consider medical treatments, while social stigma around those treatments influences their experiences.
Read at Independent
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