Having a baby can be one of the most exciting, joyful and confusing times of a mother's life. All the choices, all the decisions – and all the hoping that you make the right ones. One choice that is almost always the right one is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not only a good means of giving your new baby a healthy start, but it also offers a time of mother-infant bonding.

This decision is one most mothers make during their pregnancies. But what happens when you learn that you are having more than one baby? More than two babies? Triplets! Can you still breastfeed? And if so, how?

According to the National Vital Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of triplets – or more – rose more than 400 percent from 1980 to 1997. In addition, Mary Lofton, the program coordinator at La Leche League International in Chicago, Ill., says the number of women who breastfeed their babies has also risen from 25 percent in 1971 to 64 percent in 1998. "I think that the number of women breastfeeding will continue to rise as more and more women learn about breastfeeding – the ease, the accessibility and the benefits to the baby," Lofton says.

Breastfeeding one baby takes effort, time and patience. A new mother must learn how to breastfeed and how to deal with any situations that may arise. The same is true for breastfeeding triplets. Just as it takes time to learn the breastfeeding process, it also takes time to adapt to the differences, which are normal, of breastfeeding three babies. Most of the questions or concerns that mothers of triplets have regarding breastfeeding are things such as milk production, feeding patterns and planning of breastfeeding times. By addressing these issues, you will increase your confidence and ease the worry or nervousness that may accompany breastfeeding more than one baby.

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.

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