https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:07:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-640730 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:18:38 +0000 birdieputt 640730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: can you request to see a lactation consultant in your hospital? i saw a LC on day 3 in the hospital and she was really helpful (also calmed me down a bit). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639658 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:28:43 +0000 purrpletulips 639658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Colostrum (at least for me) was really thick and a yellow color, not to be gross but kind of reminded me of thin puss. My milk was much thinner and whiter in color. With DD my "milk" came in about 4 days after I had her (knew this courtesy of itchy/engorged breasts that felt like they were on fire). With DS my milk didn't come in until 9 days after birth. I don't recall being able to pump more than a drop or two of colostrum with either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639656 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:28:10 +0000 mrsjyw 639656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hang in there mama!! </p> <p>i didn't ever see any colostrum, maybe a drop or two when i hand expressed at the hospital. had ds on formula on day 3. then milk came in with a vengeance on day 4/5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639648 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:26:16 +0000 Mrs. Twine 639648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had c-sections with both, and not going through labor can impact the way that your body responds in terms of making milk. <a href="http://www.natickpediatrics.net/?p=196" rel="nofollow">http://www.natickpediatrics.net/?p=196</a> This was a very interesting resource to read, and corresponds with the research I've personally done on the topic. With both of my girls I didn't have anything other than colostrum for the first five days. With my first I had lots less information and support in the beginning and didn't know as much. We supplemented. I wish now that I would have looked into an at-breast supplementer. Medela makes a nice one. That is one thing you could consider trying with the donated BM so that you can practice nursing, have your breasts stimulated to produce milk by the real thing, and your babies can get the colostrum that you have to offer when they are feeding. You might just consider doing this for some feeds; I understand that as a mom of two single babes I have no idea what it takes to nurse twins. You are my hero for doing it. Honestly. Now with Lowly I noticed I had some transitional milk (going from colostrum to BM) around day three. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639608 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:15:17 +0000 keiki_mama 639608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get colostrum until day 4 =( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639533 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:59:47 +0000 hilsy85 639533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had colostrum pretty much right away; my "transitional" milk came in on day 2 or so, and my real milk a day or two later. Newborn tummies are the size of marbles so they fill up on teeny amounts. You're doing great mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639528 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:58:26 +0000 sunshineandsushi 639528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had colostrum right away, but just drops. My milk came in on day 5 after a c/s. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639498 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:52:32 +0000 winniebee 639498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only had a little bit of colostrum on day 1 and 2 (like, drops), day 3 I could pump colostrum (maybe an ounce). day 3 could pump a little more colostrum. When my milk came in on day 4, it was different - I could pump more and my breasts were full. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639479 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:48:59 +0000 WALLAROO 639479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hand expressed colostrum and had maybe a few drops I could give to O in the NICU and breastfed M. They had me supplement M for the first few days. I would say my milk came in on the 5th day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639464 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:45:27 +0000 pl0508 639464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could never squeeze out any colostrum. Don't fret ! My milk came in on day 5 with a vengeance !! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-639432 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:39:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 639432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great job and keep at it! Every drop of that stuff totally helps! </p> <p>Are you using a hospital grade pump? There are lots of tips to try to help pumping. </p> <p>1. Be close to the babies, can you pump sitting next to them in the NICU? If not, have a blanket of theirs or pictures by you.<br /> 2. Take a hot shower or a warm washcloth on your breasts prior to pumping to warm things up.<br /> 3. Do LOTS of breast massage while pumping to help get it all moving and out.<br /> 4. Sometimes you have to pause and then start again to stimulate another let down (don't know if this also applies to colostrum). </p> <p> @Mrs. Blue: Again, hope you and the babies are doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638463 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:03:53 +0000 LittleFox 638463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Colostrum came in before DS was born. Remember that what you pump is not necessarily indicative of what your babies get. Many times a baby is more effective than a pump and some women are able to nurse successfully but don't respond as well to pumping. My milk came in 4 days after LO was born. He lost a little too much weight so I had to supplement initially, but now at almost 3 months we're doing great. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638451 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:23:06 +0000 Mrs. Train 638451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my twins my milk didn't come in for a while. I pumped every two or three hours and feed them the colostrum that I did get. Sometimes it was only a few drops and the nurses told me to wipe it out of the bottle with my finger and let them suck it off so they could get everything. After about 5 days I was getting maybe an ounce a day with all the pumpings (but they may have been getting some when they nursed) At two weeks it came in all of a sudden like @Penny Lane: said, melon boobs . Keep up the good work mom. Keep offering the breast and then pumping. You will get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638444 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:04:45 +0000 autumnlove 638444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never saw any colostrum...not even a drop and my milk came in 9 days after LO was born. I gave birth at a very pro breast feeding hospital but they told me I should supplement with a little formula on the 3rd day. I still nursed but I used a Medela SNS system until my milk came in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638434 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:39:57 +0000 googly-eyes 638434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never saw the colostrum, but milk came in on day 4. I think the colostrum was just so little that I didn't really see it.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638412 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:00:10 +0000 Penny Lane 638412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your body starts making colostrum from like week 20 of pregnancy. I could never manage to get ANY colostrum out. Not even a drop. Milk coming in for me happened all of a sudden at 2.5 days PP. I was starting to worry about whether he was getting anything or not... Then BAM. Melon boobs. </p> <p>I can't imagine dealing with this and NICU babies!! Hang in there, you're doing splendidly! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638410 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:55:01 +0000 birdieputt 638410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: after i delivered my twins, i got colostrum right away - but just a few drops like you. i pumped regularly to increase my supply and then it took about 4 days for my milk to come in. i also supplemented with formula at the hospital. i know it's very hard right now to deal with everything given the lack of sleep and two little ones in NICU - hang in there mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638382 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:31:11 +0000 Ree723 638382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think colostrum is there right away (and I think it's even there before you give birth) but whenever I tried to express some, I could only get a drop or two at most. LO was definitely getting enough food though and when my milk came in three days later, there was no mistaking that the milk was in. </p> <p>Hang in there mama, you're doing a great job and remember, your babies are much better at getting the colostrum out than your hand or a pump! Also, their little tummies are only the size of a marble right now so they only need a few drops of colostrum to be satisfied. Keep up the great work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638377 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:27:08 +0000 Mrs. Bee 638377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i had colostrum right away but only a couple drops. my milk took 4 days to come in with charlie and longer with olive. but with olive i was producing obscene amounts of colostrum (she was in a warmer and then treated for jaundice so i pumped a lot the week she was in the hospital.) with all the pumping i was able to produce a couple ounces of colostrum after a couple days.</p> <p>i can imagine it must be stressful with your little ones in the nicu. just keep on pumping to stimulate your breasts and speed up your milk coming in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-having-colostrum-v-milk#post-638372 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:23:04 +0000 Mrs. Blue 638372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With the babies in NICU, I'm super stressed out (which I know isn't helpful) about having something for them to eat. I'm allowed to nurse each of them, but then they have to have a bottle of donated breast milk after that to help get their weight up. </p> <p>So, I'm wandering when people talk about their "milk" coming in, I always thought they meant breast milk, not colostrum. But, now I"m not sure. I'm right at 48 hours after delivery, and I have pretty much nothing. If I pump or hand express, I'm doing great if I get an actual full drop or two of what I *think* is colostrum. </p> <p>Are you supposed to get colostrum right away? If not, how long did it take for you to get that? </p>