Incredible TikTok Video Shows What It Really Takes to Breastfeed Triplets

Nina Dufrenne heard a lot of opinions about her decision to try breastfeeding her triplets. People told her she'd never sleep again. That her babies, who were born at 29 weeks, would not latch. That parents of triplets typically aren't able to breastfeed successfully.

Breastfeeding a baby is hard. And breastfeeding three preemies? That's incredibly hard, time-consuming, and physically demanding. But Dufrenne was determined to do it.

And despite all the odds, she's triumphed.

The mom shared a TikTok video to celebrate six months of nursing—and it's an incredible look at what nursing multiple infants is really all about. The video is full of shots of Dufrenne pumping, storing milk, delivering it to her babies (who spent 55 days in the NICU and were on feeding tubes for eight weeks), and directly nursing the triplets. As the images flash, comments from others who discouraged her from nursing also appear onscreen.

The comments include things like "your hands are going to be way too full to pump," "we don't really see triplet moms successfully breastfeed, but you can try," and "can they really learn to latch after being on a feeding tube for so long?"

Of course, breastfeeding doesn't work in every situation, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that (fed is best, after all). But Dufrenne's account of nursing three babies at once is such a testament to how incredible parents are—and it gives us a glimpse at just what it takes to care for multiples.

"There's no right or wrong way to feed a baby. I shared my journey to inspire moms to believe in themselves," Dufrenne tells Parents. "We are capable of so much more than the world gives us credit for. I wanted to breastfeed because I love breastfeeding and felt passionate about experiencing that magic with each of my babies. It was definitely a lot of work, but it also brought me a ton of joy."

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), many barriers to breastfeeding can discourage or even prevent parents from choosing to breastfeed. Some of those barriers include workplace and parental leave policies, access to lactation counseling and support, and influence on breastfeeding goals from family and medical practitioners. For parents who want to try breastfeeding or chestfeeding, it can be intimidating to know where to start, which is why having access to support is crucial to breastfeeding success.

To help encourage more hospitals to give new parents the best chances of breastfeeding success, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a breastfeeding report card that shows how each state in the U.S. approaches breastfeeding support. The report card evaluates nurse and doctor competency to demonstrate breastfeeding techniques and hospital-level policies that support breastfeeding families and gives an excellent glimpse into how breastfeeding is supported around the nation.

Dufrenne says she typically nursed two babies per feed, then pumped for the third. And through her experience, she has a strong message for parents everywhere:

"Nursing isn't an all-or-nothing ordeal. I hate the word 'exclusive,'" Dufrenne says. "My babies have taken milk through feeding tubes, breasts, and bottles. I would have given it to them through syringes if that's what helped them thrive. No matter how you feed your baby, if you're doing your best, and your baby is loved and happy, you're an amazing mother. We deserve to hear that more often."

The emotionally uplifting video ends with Dufrenne's three beautiful, smiling babies looking up at the camera and serves as a gentle and loving reminder that breastfeeding isn't always a smooth journey, but there is plenty of room for celebration while watching little ones thrive.