My name is Jennifer and I am a junior in the nursing program at the University 
of North Dakota. For the last week or so I have been watching the site and 
have read and learned many interesting things about breastfeeding. A topic I 
am particularly interested in is mothers of multiples and breastfeeding. 
According to a study I read, the mothers of twins consistently produced twice 
as much milk as a mom who had a single baby and mothers of triplets were 
able to produce up to three liters per day (Fliedel, Shinwell 2006). These 
amounts were proven to be accurate because the babies gained the 
recommended amount of weight.  
 Breastfeeding is especially important for multiples due to their greater 
incidence of prematurity and low birth weight (Leonard 2002). Breastfeeding 
can help avoid any unnecessary complications for these babies. Nurses need 
to give additional support during the postpartum period especially due to the 
fact that often, multiples will be discharged at different times. Another article 
stated that moms of multiples reported giving up on breastfeeding because it 
was physically and emotionally exhausting not because they weren’t producing 
enough milk. One mom reported breastfeeding two babies and bottle feeding 
the third and rotating them with every feeding in order to avoid exhaustion 
(Leonard 2000). Could this rotation feeding be problematic or is it a good 
compromise? Is there any other advice anyone one has for mothers of 
multiples to make their breastfeeding experience successful? Thank you!



Fliedel, Shinwell. (2006). Breastfeeding Twins and High Multiples. Archives of 
	Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition, (91).
Leonard,L. (2000). Breastfeeding Triplets: The at Home Experience. Public 
           Health  Nursing, 17(3), 211-221.
Leonard,L. (2002). Breastfeeding Higher Order Multiples: Enhancing Support 
          During the Postpartum Hospitalization Period. Journal of Human 
Lactation, 
          (18), 386.

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