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The Leaky Boob
The Leaky Boob is a resource centered around baby and toddler feeding and throughout the entire parenting journey run by a lactation educator and parenting and relationship coach.
Check out our sister podcast: For Tits and Giggles.
I hate this phrase: "True low supply."![]()
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What people mean when they say it is there isn't enough milk being produced to adequately feed a baby and the cause is an "intrinsic cause" (i.e. anatomic tissue dysfunction) such as hypoplasia/insufficient glandular tissue or hormone issues.![]()
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But low supply for other reasons is real and legit. Some of those reasons can be addressed and resolved and some can not. Some times it comes down to timing and approach, sometimes nothing changes the outcome.![]()
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Low supply is low supply, whatever the cause. It is stressful, overwhelming, and scary. It is true. Even if the cause of it can be addressed and the issue resolved. When there isn't enough milk and the baby needs to be fed, the issue is real, whatever the cause.![]()
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Which is why seeing an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), the leading credential in human lactation, is so important when there are concerns about milk supply. Understanding the underlying issue and how it may be resolved can change everything.![]()
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But it is still "true."![]()
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When I experienced low milk supply it was certainly very real. It was true. No, it wasn't caused by a insufficient glandular tissue so many wouldn't consider it "true low supply" but for me, with a baby that wasn't getting enough milk, it was very real and I truly wasn't producing enough milk for him for a time. The cause of my low supply was extrinsic.![]()
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The problem was mechanical and anatomical on the part of my baby. As he was my 9th and I had nursed all my other babies with more than enough milk, it was clear that it wasn't that I couldn't make enough milk, the issue was he couldn't remove enough milk which gave my body the signal to not make more milk thanks to something called FIL- Feedback Inhibiter of Lactation that suppresses milk production when the mammary tissue has milk that remains sitting in it and not being removed often enough, meaning the more often milk is removed, the more milk is produced. The solution was addressing the anatomical issues he had that made it difficult for him to latch (in his case it was an underdeveloped lower jaw, frenulum restrictions, and muscle weakness that caused disorganized suckling). ![]()
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Working with the dedicated and knowledgable team at Luna Lactation and Wellness, we came up with a plan to get him the milk he needed and increase my supply and then protect it with regular milk removal (in my case, pumping).![]()
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That experience with low supply was very real for me, seeing my baby struggle to thrive was one of the most real experiences I've ever had.![]()
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It was true to me. In my case it was also something that could be resolved. The cause was external and I was able to make accommodations for that. We would go on to exclusively breastfeed and eventually no longer need to supplement with my expressed milk.![]()
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It was hard not to hear "true low supply" as "the only legit low supply" when what is really being said is intrinsic and unavoidable low supply due to physiological causes related to anatomy or hormones.![]()
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Milk supply can legit be low for other causes.![]()
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Some possible causes of low milk supply could be:![]()
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insufficient glandular tissue![]()
metabolic disorders![]()
PMOS (formerly known as PCOS)![]()
insulin resistance![]()
hormone imbalance![]()
breast reduction surgery![]()
retained placenta![]()
postpartum hemorrhage (low blood volume)![]()
dehydration![]()
inadequate sleep ![]()
some birth controls![]()
limited milk removal![]()
anatomical abnormalities that interfere with suckling (i.e. cleft palate)![]()
rigid feeding schedule![]()
time-limited feeds![]()
feeds too far apart![]()
inadequate latch/poor milk removal![]()
lack of suckling/irregular milk removal![]()
too few nighttime feeds ![]()
bottles/pacifiers being used early and frequently![]()
introducing formula before milk supply is established![]()
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Whatever the cause, when your baby is hungry and needs more milk than you're producing, it is true stress, true fear, true agony. And you deserve true support and help. Whatever the solution is. Nobody deserves judgment or shame or belittling or dismissing, nobody deserves to be dismissed or written off, and nobody deserves to have their experienced questioned as them not trying hard enough.![]()
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For more info on extrinsic and intrinsic low milk supply, see the 2023 study in the comments below and the table from that study in the images here. Images of the graphic from the study and of my baby getting my milk in a supplementing system while I also collected my milk during a fed to protect my milk supply.
An art installation of the scent of mother's milk. ![]()
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Eau de human milk?![]()
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This looks so COOL! I would love to see this. Not sure I'd get that close but still, what a neat concept. And there's a pattern for that piece, that's quite the sewing project!![]()
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From @laura_de_coninck on IG:![]()
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Recovery of the Good Object Lost (2020, Damme, scent made in cooperation with @constantsoniaperfumer and @givaudanperfume )![]()
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An olfactory installation exploring our very first object of desire: the mother’s breast and the scent of mother’s milk (a smell we already know from the womb). The moment we realise we do not coincide with the breast, our desire (Objet Petit a) is born, as we spend our lives seeking that same all‑satisfying experience.![]()
The monumental faux‑fur breast releases the scent of mother’s milk when touched: a playful, psychoanalytic attempt to return to that primal moment of symbiosis, comfort, and the earliest layer of memory.![]()
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The scent was created during my internship in collaboration with my mentor, master perfumer @constantsoniaperfumer , and @givaudanperfume Paris. Based on a Scent Trek analysis, we reconstructed the scent in the lab using its identifiable molecules to make a creative interpretation as realistic as possible.![]()
With thanks to Peter De Cupere @olfactoryart , with whom I completed my Master in Olfactory Art (@hogeschoolpxl ) and created the initial distillation, and to the research of Andrea Büttner, shared by @kraftysmellz .![]()
Inspired by the theories of Melanie Klein, Lacan & Freud.![]()
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Thank you @frederik57 for the pattern and @mayapeanuts for the sewing lessons, as I sewed this installation during Covid in my atelier, stuffed with mattress‑foam filling.
testimonials
"If you've ever had a child or been a parent you know what it means to say that each day is a new experiment. There is so much to figure out, and so many self-proclaimed helpful resources. Fortunately, Jessica Martin-Weber, owner/creator/author of The Leaky Boob, has the answers based on science, best practice, and practical advice stemming from her own experiences raising nine children. TLB is a go-to for all people expecting, lactating, raising children, or counseling any of the aforementioned groups. Want advice on speed dial? Check out TheLeakyBoob.com."
Kim Updegrove, MSN, MPH, APRN, CNM, chairperson and Past President of Human Milk Bank of North America, Executive Director at Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin
"I found TLB and Jessica when I was desperately trying to figure out how to keep breastfeeding my eldest, who my lactation consultant still says had the worst latch she has ever seen. Jessica had created something so special-amazing information, a supportive community amidst the mommy wars, content in many different formats for those of us who need to see/read/hear in different ways, and it is no exaggeration to say that her work was instrumental in not just saving that breastfeeding journey (which would extend through 3 years, 18 months of that tandem nursing) but in setting me up for success and support in future journeys, and truly for motherhood as a whole. The down to earth way she writes makes the information relatable and easy to digest and apply. I am forever grateful."
Dr. Jennifer Stone, PT, DPT, OCS, PHC, TPS, HLC
"The Leaky Boob has met a need in the lactating community since its inception. Jessica’s breastfeeding support group is a true pioneer in the online breastfeeding community, offering families exceptional education and unwavering support long before similar pages emerged. Her transparency, authenticity, and heartfelt encouragement create a safe and empowering space where parents feel heard and guided. It’s a shining example of what real, compassionate leadership looks like!"
CHRISTY JO HENDRICKS IBCLC, RLC, CCCE, CLE©, Doula
Hi there!
Jessica and Jeremy Martin-Weber are the dynamic duo behind The Leaky Boob, a trusted resource dedicated to supporting families on their parenting and breastfeeding journeys. As parents to nine children, they bring a wealth of personal experience, humor, and compassion to their work. Together, they have created a safe, inclusive space where parents can access evidence-based information, practical advice, and a thriving community.
Jessica leads with her passion for normalizing breastfeeding and empowering families, while Jeremy provides a supportive voice for partners and caregivers, fostering collaboration and connection. Their shared mission is to celebrate the uniqueness of every family's story and provide resources to help navigate both the joys and challenges of nurturing little ones.
