Breastfeeding triplets: The at-home experience

The unprecedented rise in higher-order multiple (HOM) births and the subseq uent increase in parents who want to breastfeed their babies presents commu nity health nurses (CHNs) with complex challenges. The extraordinary divers ity of the triplet breastfeeding experience once all infants are settled at home is illustrated through findings from a survey of nine mothers of trip lets. Parents revealed how they managed the feedings over the multiples' fi rst year: type of feedings (breast, expressed breast milk [EBM], formula); scheduled and demand feedings; adequacy of milk supply; frequency and durat ion of feedings; consecutive and simultaneous feedings; nighttime with thre e; weaning; effects of breastfeeding on their bodies and well-being; challe nges and stresses; and spousal, family, and health professional attitudes a nd support. A number of strategies that CHNs can utilize are suggested. The se include working with individual families as well as forming partnerships with parents of multiples' support groups, multiple birth associations, in terested health professionals, and the community sector. It is through thes e actions that the accessibility, coordination, and quality of health, mult iple birth education, and social support services can be strengthened and h ealthy public policies implemented which address the unique and enormous de mands experienced by HOMs' families.