I'm posting this fully worried that I'll get flamed:

One of the things I like to say to a mom of mults is that, generally 
speaking, what occurs in nature, even if it's rare, such as twins or 
triplets, can be sustained by the body. That's true even if the babies were 
conceived with medical assistance. If nature can produce them and give them 
to you, than you can do it. Any more than three, though, and my limited 
experience and education tells me that a full, exclusive supply will be 
difficult to sustain. In the only case where I've encountered a mother who 
had more than three babies, I went into the routine that begins with "What 
are you trying to achieve by breastfeeding your children?" and eventually 
suggested strategies that included things like an SNS so that the closeness 
and intimacy of breastfeeding is preserved AND we are sure that the babies 
are getting enough.

I'm big on pep talks and common sense. I want women to believe they can do 
this and not put obstacles in their way. I've found that this line of 
thinking often works with a mother of mults. Then I hand her off to one of 
my former co-Ls, who had twins and lived to tell the tale.

Like Karen Gromada, an expert on mults whom I hold in the highest esteem, I 
worry about PPD in moms of mults, especially if using Reglan to increase 
milk supply.

A little digression in a related vein: I will never forget an article I read 
about the McCaughey septuplets when they were first born: the author took 
the time to note that Mom was pumping and that breast milk was being fed to 
some of the premies. I really don't know how long her commitment to nursing 
lasted, given how much formula was thrown at them (and a minivan, and 
diapers, and all that stuff).

I just want to put in a little plug of gratitude for this list, its mothers 
and the incredible wealth of wisdom we find here. Thank you all!

Natalie Rawlings
LLLL Plantation, FL

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