Having triplets is hard — nobody is denying that. But one of the hardest things about having triplets is having to deal with the perspectives and opinions of everyone else.
Mom Nina Dufrenne remembers the pressures quite well — especially those surrounding nursing and pumping. Since breastfeeding and pumping can both take a ton of time and energy, she was told time and time again that most triplet moms don't choose it as a method of feeding.
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While fed is best — and different situations work for different households — Nina wanted to prove everyone wrong about triplets and breastfeeding. So she made a TikTok video that best describes what her standard pumping and nursing schedule looks like. It's intense, but also phenomenal, and serves as even more proof that women are unstoppable.
After they were born, the triplets were rushed to the NICU, where they were put on ventilators. It was a terrifying situation for Nina, who just wanted to do anything she could to help. "I couldn't touch them," she told Today. "The only thing I could do for them was provide milk. So I think I kind of emotionally attached to it."
So Nina's mom instincts took over, and she worked on pumping. And as her TikTok video reveals, it was a very tough yet rewarding job. Especially since so many people tried to talk her out of it, saying things like her babies wouldn't latch after being on the ventilator. As the video shows, her kids proved everyone wrong.
The video is also a testament to how much misinformation is out there when it comes to multiples. Nina was once told, "Being good bottle feeders will get them out of the NICU faster." But instead of working on that, Nina was determined to provide nutrition for her three children herself, even if it wasn't the easiest solution.
When she learned that milk was the way to best connect with her premature newborns, who arrived at just 29 weeks of gestation, Nina began her routine of pumping around the clock. It's possible that her friends and family were just trying to be supportive, but many of the comments made it seem as if everyone expected her to fail.
"There were a lot of doubters," she told Today. "People said stuff like, 'They probably won't latch because they're on feeding tubes.' But I was determined to try." And try she did. Nina has been successfully feeding her babies for six months. And it seems like she's got the routine down.
Other discouraging comments that Nina heard included, "Your hands are going to be way too full to pump," and from the hospital, "We don’t really see triplet moms successfully breast feed, but you can try." Again, it's likely that these were meant to be encouraging, as some moms put a lot of pressure on themselves after their babies are born.
Her video has been viewed over a million times on TikTok, and it's a great resource for other moms who may be expecting multiples. When it comes to having a baby, we often have a game plan in mind. Nina is a great reminder that even if it seems hard to achieve, that doesn't mean that it's impossible.
"When I was pregnant, I had a hard time finding sources to teach me how to breastfeed triplets. I wanted to show other moms that it’s possible and it can be beautiful," Nina said. And she did just that. Nina reportedly had another obstacle ahead of her aside from the number of children in front of her — she also has polycystic ovary syndrome, which can often affect a woman's milk supply.
"I never imagined being able to feed 3 tiny humans after struggling so badly to make enough milk for my first," she admitted on Instagram. "I've definitely learned a lot about how incredible our bodies are… and even more about how much work it is to be a mom of 4 + a full time buffet to a litter of babies. From the second I open my eyes, it's nurse, pump, prep, feed, wash, nurse, repeat."
But where there's a will, there's a way. And Nina made it clear that to her, it's all worth it. She's also admitted that she knows she has options. "Breastfeeding isn't the 'only' way, or the 'right' way," she wrote. "A thriving baby comes from love, not food. You're a killer mom no matter how you nourish your little one… But conquering a personal goal, especially one surrounded by doubt, is something to be proud of."
"I had to teach myself not to get discouraged," Nina said. "Sometimes I was making more milk then I thought possible, but then the next week I was struggling tremendously. So that freezer stash you saw in the video, came in handy." These fluctuations happen in a lot of moms. Many times, a nursing mother won't openly admit her struggles, but it's important to open up the conversation. What Nina did, and what many other moms do, is hard work.
Feeding triplets can seem like a daunting task, but Nina's video is a reminder that moms can do anything. One day, she might look back and miss this journey, especially since babies grow up so fast. Taking pictures and spreading the word are a great way for her to serve as inspiration to other moms out there.
