My vent...

RobinR91

So I don't lose my cool in front of family. Triplets pose challenges challenges I welcome but still challenges. Breastfeeding triplets pose challenges. Specifically, my let down and their hunger cues have been so out of whack lately. I think it's cause they're going longer in between feeds and my body hasn't caught on? But it's resulted in screaming angry
Babies that I have to quit and bottle feed with ebm. Which I have little of. No frozen stash. I feel so stressed to provide nutrition and the stress only prevents letdown further. I'm close to switching to EP or formula. I feel the joy has been taken out of feedings and replaced with angry baby. Something I really don't want to see. Off to cry now. Thanks for reading.

zombiemommy

I switched to EP and supplementing with a couple ounces of formula per day for this exact reason at 3.5 weeks. I was breastfeeding them and they were howling, probably cuz they were hungry and I was dry at night, and then I'd cry cuz I felt like a failure. Since I started pumping, I have to say that all three of us seem happier and less tense. And they're still getting almost exclusively breast milk, so I'm very happy with it.

I have no clue how you exclusively breastfed trips for so long, btw. You're pretty hardcore.

RobinR91

.I have no clue how you exclusively breastfed trips for so long, btw. You're pretty hardcore.

In no way did I mean to mislead you! I am not exclusively breastfeeding. There aren't enough hours in the day literally, I tried. I breastfeed one kid every 23!hours, the other two get bottles every 2 to three hours, so they are on the breast every third feed. Except for when I forget whose turn it is like today and my little baby J missed her turn. Another fail. Lol.

eP sounds great to me tonight.
Thanks. I am thinking this is the most realistic option and they are still gettig BM so I don't see the drawback. All the LC I've talked to and much of the literature talks about how breastfeeding is better than EP EBM but I can't find any data on why.

and I snorted at being called hardcore! I'm in tears, sobbing through eating oatmeal while wrapping Christmas gifts in pajamas with dried spit up On them at 2;45am. I think that's the opposite if hard core!

Reilly626

Wow I only have twins and couldn't breastfeed due to medical issues, but I just want to give you guys credit for doing so with triplets you are amazing! I don't think you are failures for changing to formula or pumping. I give you credit! I'm tired feeding just 2 formula. Anyway good luck and merry merry!

CourtneySue

you are amazing to get this far even!!!  I BF & pumped with no formula for the twins for 3 months & it was SO tough! You have triplets meaning there is a child without a boob!! That is awesome! Whatever happens hold your head high!

mirnb

Congrats on what you've done this far!  I had many nights like you are having and I only had 2 to feed!  I eventually went to pumping more often but for me it made my supply go down and by 3 months I went to all formula....although I was disappointed it turned out to be for the best....the boys both had colic and I was so extremely run down and tired...once I started pumping and eventually all formula I was able to get more rest and feel more like myself again....whatever you decide you have done a great thing for your babies and don't feel like a failure!

Going_from_Miss_to_Mrs

Hi Robin,

I have been thinking of you and wondering how you are doing being that our triplets are so close in age!

I am exhausted but so happy to have 3 healthy babies at home.  We have company staying at our house over the holidays which is overwhelming, getting in the way of my privacy, and helpful all at once!  

I give you lots of credit for continuing to nurse.  I tried it for about a week after we left the NICU but the babies would get so frustrated, and while they were trying to nurse I would think about how after they are done I still have to pump, make the bottles, feed and change all 3 and repeat! So I quickly stopped nursing and exclusively pump.  The good news is that the babies have yet to have any formula but I am barely keeping up and have to pump all the time in order to meet all their feeding demands.  It is exhausting! I rented the Medela Symphony hospital grade pump and it works great but I think my lack of sleep is really started to impact my supply.  My supply is sadly going down as their demand goes up.I can really relate with your frustration,  I am putting so much pressure on myself to keep up, and it is really getting in the way of spending more quality time with the babies.  I also hate that when I am pumping I am so secluded from the babies since I am pumping while company is here and can't really carry 3 rock and plays into the office, every time it is time to pump.  I am now just rambling and commiserating with you now, but my point was to tell you that you are doing great, and any breast milk however you get it to them is wonderful!