I am 11 weeks pregnant with triplets and we are very excited. I have so many questions about breastfeeding and registering. What do I need three of and what do I only need one of? Please, let me know if any of you have any advice about these two topics.

Where are you located? I would suggest that you find a local MOST or MOM group so you can get a mentor. That will be your best way to get all your questions answered, because you will have many more...trust me!

As far as breastfeeding, it depends on your specific situation. My trips came home with me 5 days after they were born and even the lactation consultants said the chances of me breast feeding sucessfully with having all 3 home at once was an insurmountable challenge, and they were right. My guys are doing fantastic on formula. On the other hand I belong to a trip moms group where a lot of the trips went into the NICU where you received time and support to pump and a lot of moms did that. The one thing about breastfeeding that seems to be consistent with many is that the babies are too small to feed directly at the breast, and that was true for me as well.

As far as registering I would go to the justmultiples.com website for your triplet specific items. We got our jogger stroller, and triplet feeding table there. The only other Triplet items would be to get a diaper backpack rather than bag. Your arms are already out numbered.

Best of Luck. I loved my triplet pregnancy.

Sincerely,

Kris Craig
GGG 10222009

For big items like swings and things, I'd wait to get multiples AFTER the babies arrive. I know some people who got them from local moms groups in swaps, so that saved money and such. But, your babies may not like it, and then you're stuck with 3. We bought a vibrating bouncy seat, which one daughter never liked - and we'd bought it because she was the screamer and we were told "oh it'll shut her up IMMEDIATELY!" So if we'd had multiples of that, it would have just been a waste!

As for breastfeeding, mine were in the NICU for 6 & 8 weeks, and I pumped because they were born at 30 weeks and couldn't feed yet. My supply ended up dropping, although one of my daughters died so I had that added stress. And, even when they were able to feed, I wasn't comfortable doing it in the NICU because I knew the lactation consultants were going to come in and manhandle me, and I guess after all I'd been through that was the only thing I could control, not letting them touch me! So part of the drop off could have been attributed to me never actually trying to feed them until they came home, and the drop off had already begun.

Amy
Julia, ^Caitlin^ (stillborn due to encephalocele complications) & Gabrielle
30.2 weeks

There was just a similar post on the main board and if you ask on the main board you will get more answers. Here is the link to the post:

http://www.tripletconnection.org/triplet_forum/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=135&topic_id=360542&mesg_id=360542&page=

Shely~ Mom to 1+bbg

I waited until the last minute to get most everything, and still do... you will find items that work, and you'll want three of them, and others that just waste space and energy.

I started with just one crib and lots of tiny onesies, and some bottles and diapers. Car seats too, of course. I even weaned myself down from a dozen Dr. Brown bottles with all their little parts that just piled up in need of washing, to three Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles that got rinsed after every feed so there was no need to wash a whole bunch at once.

As your kids grow you can add the 2nd and 3rd cribs, all the other toys and equipemnt and whatevers. Buying three without being sure of liking even one can get pricey!

A word on carseats... I bought the universal ones that will grow with the boys, but the pull out infant seats sure would have been nice...

Once your babies get to be two months old (adjusted), buy THREE Merry Muscles bouncers. Best money you'll ever spend. Trust me.

Eliza
Mom to Antonio, Amedeo and Marcello
Born at 35.5 weeks

Eliza

Not a list of items, but a list of practices that have worked for us:

* Keep everything in its original packaging and keep all receipts until you actually use the item. We registered for and received three Snuzzlers for car seats, but all three of our babies were over 6# when they left the NICU so they didn't need them. We were able to exchange them. On the other hand, DH ripped open the monitor and tossed the box before finding out one of the two receivers doesn't work, but now we're stuck with it.

* Borrow whatever you can from friends/relatives with kids older than yours. We own one swing and three highchairs, but borrowed a swing, an exersaucer, two bouncy seats, two Bumbos, and a jumper. They'll only be used for a few months and we're not having more kids who will use them later. We bought the high chairs and also three pack & plays because we'll use those items for a lot longer.

* Resist the urge to buy a bunch of cute outfits. Not only will they outgrow them faster than you can imagine, but we hardly ever dress them up in actual clothes. They just hang out in sleepers. For one thing, wrestling them into a onesie, shirt, pants, and socks takes me about 30 minutes that I could otherwise spend playing with them. Plus, no one but me will see them and I'm in my PJ's too. And sometimes the waistbands cause them trouble passing gas.

* Do buy enough bottles and/or pumping supplies so you don't have to wash after every feeding. Wait until the babies are home to buy a bunch of one particular kind so you can figure out what they like, but then buy enough for several feedings.

* Get several different kinds of diapers. Each brand has a little different shape and so will your babies. Some brands will fit better than others and there will be other things you like and dislike too, besides just the price.

Mom to GBG born in July 2009 at 30w6d: 3#10oz, 3#12oz, 3#2oz

I am nursing my 3 1/2 week old triplets and know one other mom who does also. Either of us would love to give you advice/encouragement!

annieb.murray@mindspring.com

My BBG babies are 5 months old and I am still breastfeeding all 3. At first I only BF one and the other 2 were fed breastmilk from bottles. I then pumped after each feeding. Then at about 6-8weeks, I starting feeding 2 at a time and then pumping right after, while the 3rd was on the bottle. And at about 4 months I began feeding 2 at a time and then put the 3rd on after and only pumping at 3am. Sometimes I have to give some more in a bottle to the 3rd when I don't quite have enough milk and we always give the 3rd a bottle at the 9pm dreamfeed, just to make sure they are getting enough. At about 4 months also, we began supplementing some of the bottles with 2 oz. of formula and the rest BM because I wasn't quite pumping enough at 3am. The babies are doing great!

Good luck. I hope my message wasn't too confusing.

I don't think there is anything wrong with formula and you have to do what works for you. I actually think BF might be easier as you get good at it. Feedings are quick and efficient because we don't have to be preparing bottles and cleaning up after. I only clean everything, pump equipment and bottles, once a day now and it is so nice.

First congradulations. I have 5 mth olds ggb. I am still nursing them and working full time. My little boy stopped nursing at 4 mths but I just feed him breast milk in a bottle. I have tadem nursed the girls since they were in the NICU. This is a great time saver. You will need a good breast pump. I have the Medela pump n style. I originally had a used one that I burned up in 8 weeks. I have 2 swings which does just fine and actually we used one swing for a long time. We have one johnny jump up and one baby einstein jumper which works wonderful. I do have 3 bouncy seats. I highly recommend. My babies are still in one crib. We have seperated the crib my a board so they can't roll over on each other. We do have 2 other cribs that I know we will use later. When you register don't forget the diapers. I know that this is not a fun gift for people to buy you but you will need them. I hope this helps.

I think I may be the other mom that annie mentioned, ... if you do it my way, you wont buy ANY bottles! ha! I dont' have a single one. I exclusively breastfed my three at teh breast starting at 32 weeks when they were in the NICU. In the NICU they did follow up with a tube feeding, but once the tube was out they never had a bottle. Around six or seven months two started to eat solids but still nursed around the clock. One just had his first bite of real food on Valentines day at almost 11 months! they are all still nursing around the clock, that means two feedings during the night still. I'm okay with that though, I know its more out of habit than anything, but its snuggle time for us.

I can help in any way. I'm pretty die hard when it comes to nursing. Mine have never had a single drop of formula or a pacifier either, not even in the NICU, which was a bit of a fight for me. But, I won!

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My triplets are 5 months. I pumped for the first 3 months, but at two months I had to start supplementing with formula since I started producing less milk. If you are unable to breastfeed at first make sure to pump and keep it up as long as possible; it is hard to take care of three babies and pump, but formula is so expensive-we go through 2-3 big cans/wk which are $25 each. I have about 12 bottles so I don't have to clean & sterilize them so often. I use Dr. Brown and Born Free-you can interchange nipples; I buy the Dr. Brown nipples b/c they are alot cheaper. My babies don't really like the pacifier so I wouldn't buy too many of those until you know. They liked them in the NICU, but only 2 will take one occasionally. I have three bouncers-started with two, but three is a necessity. I have two swings although they did not even like the swing until about 4 months. I love my triple decker stroller-is great that I don't have to take them out of the carseats. I have an overabudance of exersaucers, but my parents took some to there house which will come in handy. I received all but one from other people. Hopefully people will start offering stuff to you. When people found out I was pregnant w/trips, so many people were offering their used stuff. Good luck and take care of yourself.


GBG born 9/28/09 at 33w
Luca ~ 4lb 8oz
Antonio ~ 4lb 13oz
Iliana ~ 4lb

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