We hadn't originally planned to get pregnant in 1984 but I was unable to get a job after moving to Australia. I was studying externally for my degree at the time so we thought we'd bring forward our plans for another baby. We planned that I would finish my degree and my teaching quals during the pregnancy and while the baby was little and then my mother-in-law was going to look after while I worked. I had no trouble getting pregnant and, although the morning sickness seemed to last all day, we had no idea that there were three babies growing inside me.

Our blissful ignorance lasted until the 26^th week. My doctor was worried about my size and was sure my dates were wrong so he sent us off for an ultrasound. We were thrilled to see evidence of two babies on the screen but our joy was shortlived. The technician went off and got her superior. He had a look and told her he thought she was mistaken. This puzzled me as I could clearly see the two babies side by side and the amniotic sacks but, unknown to me, the technician thought she had seen too many arms and legs. After some more scans it was confirmed, there were three babies not two. I was horrified, it was a disaster. I was struck dumb (most unusual for me) but my husband could not stop talking (even though he had turned as pale as the white walls around us).

I know now that these feelings are not uncommon but they were exacerbated by my ignorance and it did not help when the first specialist we visited told us that if the babies were born that week they would all die. Needless to say we found another doctor.

It was the search for a new obstetrician that led me to the Australian Multiple Birth Association, a support group for families of twins, triplets and higher multiples. This group saved my sanity more than once! They loaned me heaps of informative books and leaflets and put me in touch with another mother of triplets. I settled into the third trimester with a pile of literature, new friends and instructions to get plenty of rest. It was the longest and most uncomfortable time of my life.

Every time I visited my obstetrician he never expected me to make the next appointment but I told him I was not going to have these babies until my mum arrived from England. He had laughed but she went on two of my antenatal visits after she arrived! The power of positive thinking!

Then the day arrived and their life began at 5, 6 and 7 minutes after midnight in the early morning of 18^th June 1985. 3 perfect babies, delivered by Caesarean section (one was transverse so the doctor didn't want to risk a vaginal delivery) I didn't see them arrive but my husband, three doctors and several nurses did. I had to wait for 12 hours before I met them out in their new world.

I was not really prepared for how small they were but all the staff at the hospital kept telling me they were big for triplets, Matthew was 5lb 14oz, Rachel was 5lb 10oz and Hannah was 4lb 9oz. They were soon out of the humidicribs except for Hannah, who probably would have been OK too, but they were worried about her ability to retain her body temperature, so she amused herself getting around the humidicrib on her own!!

We were given half of a 6-bed ward to spread out in as we felt a private room would be too small. I was happier being among other mothers as well. I don't know that they were happy being with me though especially the lady in the next bed whose single baby was smaller than my two biggest!

We had all sorts of visitors as we were a real novelty, sometimes this was OK but sometimes we just wished for peace and quiet. We were ready to go home after two weeks but stayed in hospital for an extra week to practice breastfeeding without help.

I was very lucky to have an excellent medical team who supported my wish to breastfeed the babies. For the first couple of days they were fed through a tube with expressed milk until I was feeling a bit more energetic, then I started feeding them in the nursery. Although the hospital had a wonderful U shaped pillow donated by the Multiple Birth Association I was unable to use it at first as it was just too heavy so we just used lots of ordinary pillows. Many people have asked me how I managed to breastfeed three babies. I suppose there were some important factors that contributed to my success.

1. Supportive medical practitioners

2. Supportive family

3. Previous breastfeeding experience

4. DETERMINATION

I felt very strongly that I had to do this for my babies as they were going to miss out on the sort of one on one experience that single babies get.

So how did we organise it?

1. The babies were fed by semi-demand. Whoever woke first was fed then the others were woken. If two babies woke at once I would feed them together then wake the third.

2. When feeding two babies I would have their bodies under my arms and their heads to each breast. One baby was fed in the normal hold.

3. As each baby finished feeding a helper would change nappies and put the baby back to bed. During the day I had several different helpers at home but at night it was always my husband.

I was able to feed my triplets until they were 18 months old (actually Matthew went to 19 months) and they thrived. They have always been very healthy and have had no weight problems so it was definitely worth it.

The organisation of breastfeeding routines was like everything else when they were babies. We had to have a simple routine and stick to it as much as possible and also be prepared to accept whatever help we were offered.

Last Revised: 28th August 1999