What It's Really Like Raising Triplets

Raising triplets in the late 1980s was a logistical and emotional marathon that defied the norms of the time — and Linda Torber, the mother of identical triplets Amy, Sophie, and Kate, recounts it all with raw honesty. From the shock of discovering a third baby at 27 weeks to the chaotic birth with 21 people in the operating room, including a janitor leaning on a broom, the story is equal parts harrowing and hilarious. Linda reveals how she was left to manage everything alone — no parental leave, no internet, no support network — yet somehow survived by relying on a tight-knit group of fellow mothers in the hospital and a relentless work ethic. She shares the absurdity of feeding triplets while balancing bottles with her foot, the pressure to breastfeed despite exhaustion, and the emotional toll of being separated from her babies for weeks. What stands out most is how much has changed: from sleeping on the front to back, from Dr. Spock’s rigid rules to instant online advice, and from isolation to community. Yet the core truth remains — motherhood with triplets isn’t about perfection, but about showing up, even when you’re too tired to know who you are anymore.