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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.

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!

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.

I can't imagine dealing with this and NICU babies!! Hang in there, you're doing splendidly!

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.

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!

I could never squeeze out any colostrum. Don't fret ! My milk came in on day 5 with a vengeance !!

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.

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!

I had c-sections with both, and not going through labor can impact the way that your body responds in terms of making milk. http://www.natickpediatrics.net/?p=196 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.

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.