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Home › Articles › Multiples › Is Three a Crowd?

Is Three a Crowd?

Breastfeeding Triplets!

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Do I Have Enough Milk?
One of the most common concerns for mothers of triplets who wish to breastfeed is whether or not they will be able to produce an adequate amount of milk for the babies. For most, adequate milk production is not a problem. When breastfeeding, the demand for the mother's milk will determine how much is produced. If the babies place a higher demand by nursing more or more often, the milk production changes to that level to meet the needs of the baby.

"Put simply, the supply meets the demand," says Carol Huotari, a certified lactation consultant for La Leche League International. "The breast milk will be produced as it is needed, and if it is needed for more than one baby, it will be there. As long as there is good breastfeeding management going on, and the babies are attaching properly, or the mother is pumping her breasts enough, then she can rest assured that she will be able to adequately supply enough milk for her multiples."

How Do I Feed Them?
Another common concern for breastfeeding triplets is the pattern of feeding the babies. Should the babies be fed at the same time, one on each breast (with one waiting), or should they be alternated? According to La Leche League, this depends mostly on the mother and the babies themselves. "Because the mother with triplets or multiples has so many demands on her time, she is going to be adept to finding what works for her," Huotari says. "While they are small it is a lot easier and less time consuming to nurse multiples simultaneously. As they get older and they express their individuality, they may not like that. A mother may begin breastfeeding one way, such as simultaneously, and end up doing something different. She needs to know her babies and do what works for her family."

With the assistance of a pillow hat surrounds the upper body under the breasts, mothers can feed two babies at once, with one waiting in the wings. This is an excellent way to allow bonding between the mother and the babies and between the babies, too. However, as the babies grow and become more active, they may begin interacting with each other more than the mother would desire.


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