Triplet moms who BF- how did you do it??

melissaRW27

I really want to breastfeed my triplets when they arrive, but I'm just not sure how this will work. Did you BF 2 together, then BF the 3rd after? Did you pump and store, so that you could rotate BFing 2, while bottle feeding breastmilk to the 3rd?

If you did a combo of BF and pumping, how did you get your supply up enough? and how did you time pumping so that you didn't interfere with milk supply when the babies were hungry?

 I have a feeling some of this will be total trial and error once they come, but any advice to help me a develop a working plan before they come would be awesome.

Thanks!

eyelovemascara

I'm not a triplet mom, but I do remember reading quite a lot of advice for triplet breastfeeding in "Mothering Multiples"--just thought you might want to check it out in addition to the advice you get on this board.

jalaiaa

No direct advice, but wanted to echo PP reference of Mothering Multiples. Also wanted to say that I had a friend who successfully EBF triplets for 6 months, so it can be done. She said that she felt like a dairy cow, but it was worth it.  I'm not quite sure of her routine. 

nikinikinine

I third Mothering Multiples. 

Also jennandtonica EBF'd her trips for a full year. She has a blog, i believe it is www.jennandtonica.com.  

pea-kay

good luck! i know there are triplet moms that have, so it's definitely possible. my milk never came in, so it wasn't an option for us. i hope you have better luck at it.

afwifestrecker7706

Only 1 of mine was able to latch I pumped till 2 days ago when had to stop so I can start some meds I need very bad. The one who latched got a bottle so I would pump every 3 hours after they ate and then put it in fridge or freezer. Good luck I would just be sure you are ok if they can't breast feed I know it is possible but very hard and not all babies born early can do it. Not to say you can't do it at all. 

PianoPlayingSarah

There are some triplet moms who have been successful.  My babies wouldn't latch and I wasn't producing enough by pumping.

Jenandtonica

Thanks, Niki! Here's a post I wrote entirely about BFing my triplets: https://jennandtonica.com/2011/05/so-you-wanna-know-about-breastfeeding-triplets/ (sorry it isn't clicky - apparently google chrome hates tb)

My trio are 14.5 m/o, and I'm still breastfeeding/pumping. In a nutshell, I breastfeed someone (all 3 first thing, then either 1 or 2 for the remaining 3 feedings) for each feeding and then pump after each feeding. What I pump goes in bottles for feedings 2, 3 and 4 of the day.

Honestly, supply is a total crapshoot. I have PCOS and was blessed with being on the oversupply (if I had a singleton - I make just enough & sometimes a bit more for triplets) spectrum (nearly 50/50 PCOSers are low-supply or high-supply). I don't know how much that comes into play, but I will also say I work my boobs like they're cheap hookers. They say BFing is supply-demand, so I demand and demand and demand from them.

Check my blog's Breastfeeding SOS section for some supply tips and tricks, too. And feel free to shoot me an email if you have questions! jennandtonica at gmail dot com 

MontyMrs

pea-kay:

good luck! i know there are triplet moms that have, so it's definitely possible. my milk never came in, so it wasn't an option for us. i hope you have better luck at it.

Same here - good luck.   

MuseumMaven

I'm not a triplet mom, but I do EBF my twins.  Another vote for reading "Mothering Multiples."  And I would also advise that you find a lactation consultant and start working with them before the babies arrive so you can get some tips and already have a relationship established.  I credit my LC with being able to nurse my boys.