The rollercoaster ride of parenting triplets starts with those first shocking words from a doctor when he or she says, "Looks like you're having triplets." From that moment, life as you knew it changes and will never be the same again. The glorious pregnancy you dreamed of will be wrought with anxiety, discomfort and unique challenges, and the first few years after the triplets are born will be a myriad of emotions, chaos and fatigue. The best ways to manage the stress and changes related to parenting triplets is to find excellent support groups like The Triplet Connection and Mothers of Supertwins or resources and books from other parents of triplets who have been through it and understand.

The best book I found to help parents prepare for and live through the whirlwind of triplets from pregnancy through the first three years is Raising Multiple Birth Children, A Parents' Survival Guide by William Laut, Sheila Laut and Kristin Benit. William and Sheila Laut are the parents of triplets and use their own experiences and learnings as well as contributions from many other triplet parents to create an essential survival tool for parents of twins and supertwins (meaning triplets or more). Chapter titles like "Congratulations, and Fasten Your Seat Belt!" and "Will They Ever Sleep through the Night?" immediately show readers that the authors understand and can provide helpful advice.

The book is broken down into chapters chronologically from pregnancy to the first six months and second and third years. The challenges of parenting triplets change significantly throughout the first three years of the babies' lives, and the sectioning of this book makes it easy to find what you're looking for at any stage. William and Sheila Laut also spend a lot of time addressing issues that only another triplet parent could understand by providing a guide for what new parents will need after the babies are born and tips for traveling with three babies (even the smallest errand is a challenge) as well as adjusting to life as an instant family. Furthermore, the Lauts tackle several sensitive issues including responding to inevitable questions from complete strangers such as, "Are they natural?"

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the countless ideas, tips and suggestions provided not only by the Lauts but also by other parents of twins and supertwins. These tips and ideas are presented as sticky notes throughout the book (just like the yellow stickies most of us have all over our computer or desk reminding us of countless little things we have to do). In fact, I think one of the best tips I got from Raising Multiple Birth Children was directions to make powdered formula in bulk each day. While this may seem strange for parents of a singleton baby, it is a lifesaver to parents of multiples. Additionally, the Lauts provide wonderful resources related to support, recommended reading, discount programs and more. Raising Multiple Birth Children is an essential book for anyone expecting triplets or more.