Features and volume of the newborn's stomach

The structure and function of the newborn's stomach

The size of the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract are formed in the womb. However, during pregnancy, all nutritional components enter the body through the blood. That is why the stomach is not stretched and has a small volume. It begins to work fully only at the moment when the first portion of food enters it.

After birth, babies have a well-developed facial apparatus. Thanks to this, they can fully realize the sucking reflex. It is inherent in them from their very development. Thanks to him, the instinct of self-preservation is also fulfilled. At the first stage, food enters the mouth and then travels down the esophagus for further digestion.

Main functions of the key digestive organ

In the stomach, food is mechanically ground into a semi-liquid pulp, chyme.

It is affected by gastric juice, in which enzymes break down substances, mainly proteins, but the primary processing of fats also occurs here.

Partial absorption of some substances occurs in the stomach: water, salt, sugar and some other carbohydrates.

Then the chyme enters the duodenum in small portions, where further breakdown and absorption of valuable substances occurs.

In the middle of the last century, scientists noticed that after resection (reduction) of the stomach, patients developed anemia. The search for the causes of this phenomenon led to the discovery of the Castle factor.

This substance is secreted by the parietal cells of the glands of the gastric mucosa. It ensures the absorption of vitamin B12.

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Microbes enter the body from the external environment. Their quantity is partially regulated by salivary enzymes, but not too thorough chewing and other factors reduce the degree of this processing, and microorganisms reach the stomach.

Hydrochloric acid in gastric juice is an unfavorable environment for most bacteria, so their population remains at a controlled level.

The stomach complements the excretory function of the kidneys and lungs. Its role increases in renal failure and respiratory diseases.

According to doctors, the excretion function is ensured by the same parietal cells of the gastric mucosa.

Substances that need to be excreted are first released along with gastric juice into the stomach, and from there they enter the intestines, through which they are removed from the body with feces.

Certain cells in the lining of the stomach produce hormones that regulate the digestion of food and perform several other tasks.

Baby's nutrition in the first days

In the first days of life, colostrum is considered the best nutrition for babies. This liquid has a thick consistency and is produced by a woman’s body during the first three days. Only after this period ends does breast milk begin to appear. Additionally, it should be noted that these compositions differ in the amount of vitamins and minerals. The stomach capacity in the first days of life is small, so colostrum is a more concentrated composition. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve complete saturation of the body.

The main differences between colostrum and breast milk:

This composition has a high calorie content. There is also practically no water in it. Thanks to this, nature managed to increase the content of nutritional components several times. The baby quickly eats up even if a small amount of liquid has entered his body.
Colostrum includes additional components that have a laxative effect. This is necessary for the child in the first days of life. Thanks to the substances, the meconium accumulated there is quickly removed from the intestines. It consists of amniotic fluid that enters the baby’s mouth while it is in the mother’s belly.
The composition contains components that are necessary for good liver function. They help the baby increase bilirubin levels. Thanks to this, the baby feels much better.
Nutrition in the first days of life allows the baby to receive the antibodies necessary for the formation of immunity. They are vital, because they will protect the baby from the negative effects of viruses and bacteria. Immediately after birth, the baby can suffer from any infection that is in its environment. That is why colostrum serves as additional protection.
The components of the composition improve appetite and normalize the production of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. Colostrum has a pleasant taste, which is why children feel an awakening desire for food within themselves. Feeding on the first day after birth has a positive effect on the further regulation of lactation.

Change in stomach volume

The capacity of the stomach increases every day. At this moment, the volume of breast milk produced also increases. Only with a properly organized diet the baby grows quickly and gains weight well. When introducing complementary foods, the stomach should already be of sufficient size for this volume. New foods are not always easy to digest and do not cause a negative reaction in the body.

It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of various developmental pathologies in a child. Quite often they begin their development in the womb. However, they can actively manifest themselves only after the negative impact of certain factors. Against this background, the risk of disruption of the correct formation of the organs of the digestive system increases.

Obstruction is diagnosed in the case of various defects in the structure of individual sphincters. They can only be eliminated through surgery. Otherwise, the situation is life-threatening and can lead to death. After a certain period, adhesions will appear in their place. Such complications must be prevented, because their outcome is unfavorable.

If a baby exhibits pylorospasm or significant narrowing of the sphincter, then he suffers from several dyspeptic symptoms at once. The situation is aggravated by vomiting, which ends with every attempt to eat. Additional examination may reveal bloating and bowel movements. In this case, you should not hesitate to contact a specialist. The child should be examined by a gastroenterologist or surgeon. Most often, the manifestation can be completely eliminated by taking medications. If this option is not suitable for eliminating congenital pathology, then only surgery can help the baby. Otherwise, the baby’s condition will begin to deteriorate sharply.

There are also pathological situations that lead to necrosis of the stomach wall. It is also important to identify them at the first stage of development. During intrauterine development, pathology can also develop, which is diagnosed in case of insufficient nutrition of the walls of the organs. The situation is observed against the background of intrauterine development of the child. It can only be eliminated through surgery.

Beneficial properties of colostrum and breast milk

Colostrum has a number of beneficial properties:

the caloric content and nutritional value of colostrum is much higher than that of milk;

colostrum does not put an unbearable burden on the newborn’s kidneys, since it contains a minimal amount of fluid;
Colostrum contains much higher levels of vitamins and nutrients than breast milk;
Colostrum has a laxative effect and helps quickly clear the baby’s intestines of meconium;
prevents the development of physiological jaundice in newborns;
has a beneficial effect on the baby’s immunity and produces the necessary antibodies to fight pathogenic bacteria and viruses;
Colostrum contains a sufficient amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, which helps the child quickly satisfy hunger;
colostrum contains a sufficient amount of immunoglobulin antibodies that protect the baby’s internal organs from harmful factors;
a sufficient content of leukocytes in colostrum contributes to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses that managed to penetrate the newborn’s body;

The newborn's stomach has a low content of pepsin and hydrochloric acid, which affects the acidity of the baby's gastric juice. In breastfed children, the acidity of gastric juice is reduced, but this does not prevent the immunoglobulin antibodies contained in breast milk from performing their protective function.

Breastfeeding a newborn in the first days of life promotes proper digestive process, as the baby receives a small amount of food that is easily digested. Artificial feeding quickly increases the volume of a newborn's stomach

and can lead to improper metabolism in the child’s body. In the process of attaching the baby to the mother's breast, a close connection is established between them, which has a beneficial effect on the baby's health.

Due to certain circumstances, sometimes a mother has to express breast milk and give it separately or even supplement it with formula. What reasons might serve for making such a decision?

the newborn has lost more than 10% of its original birth weight.
the baby refuses or cannot take the breast.
the number of wet diapers and dirty diapers indicates that the baby is starving.
a newborn who develops physiological jaundice is advised to stay under a special lamp.
The baby was born premature and requires intensive care.
long and unhealthy sleep of the child (more than 2-3 hours).

If attempts to breastfeed a newborn are unsuccessful, it is worth expressing colostrum and trying different methods of supplementing with non-sucking objects: from a pipette, from a syringe, from a spoon.
After this, you can again try to give the baby the breast so that he can fully develop the sucking reflex and learn to grasp the breast correctly. If a mother is unable to express enough colostrum to feed her baby, supplementation with donor milk or formula may be necessary. INTERESTING! Staying together between mother and child in the maternity hospital

Physiological facts

For parents without proper experience in handling children, it is difficult to understand whether they are feeling hungry. For example, just a few drops of colostrum can completely quench it. Before giving birth, you should find out how to correctly assess the food needs of the baby. In this case, the capabilities of the body are of no small importance.

It is important to clarify the volume of the stomach in advance. Thanks to this, it will be possible to determine the amount of food that will need to be given at one feeding. Colostrum is high in calories, so it is required several times less than regular breast milk.

On the first day, the child will be able to eat from 5 to 7 ml of liquid per feeding procedure. This volume is visually equal to a small ball. The stomach at this age, in many ways, resembles the shape of a pear or a cylinder, which is turned upside down. As it matures, it will gradually move to an upright position. In this case, only anatomical capacity is of key importance. Against this background, the concept of physiological capacity is formed, which becomes greater every day.

Pediatricians say that adaptation is much easier if during this period the child is fed through breast milk

Immediately after birth, a child's stomach is small, since inside the mother's womb the fetus receives all the necessary components through the placenta and umbilical cord. It should be noted that nutrition through the gastrointestinal tract has a number of features and fundamental differences. However, these bodies need some time to adapt and adapt to changes. Eating colostrum was specifically designed for this purpose by nature. This product is unique in its essence. It contains all the components necessary for the first months of life. Thanks to them, it is possible to fully cover the needs of the child’s body. This does not put excessive strain on the stomach and intestines.

Scientists were able to discover that during the first few days the baby's stomach stretches. However, its walls remain dense, so they can easily squeeze out excess volume. This is why infants often experience regurgitation. Colostrum is the only product that is ideal for the first feedings.

In recent years, scientists have proven the effectiveness of feeding a child on demand. Thanks to frequent feeding of the baby to the breast, it is possible to increase the flow of milk several times.

During the first days of a child's life, the volume of his stomach will increase to 22-27 ml. Outwardly, it looks like a medium-sized ball. Thanks to small and frequent feedings, the baby’s body will be able to receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals. On the seventh day, the size of the stomach is already equal to a ping-pong ball. Now it can accommodate more milk. It is during this period that a transitional version of the fluid begins to be produced in the mother’s mammary glands. Only in the second week of the baby’s life does its stomach become equal in size to an ordinary chicken egg. Scientists were also able to uncover several additional facts about colostrum and breast milk.

Mother's milk is considered the ideal food for a newborn.

These are the undoubted advantages of this feeding method:

Colostrum contains little liquid. Thanks to this, it is possible not to burden the baby’s kidneys, which do not function at full capacity in the first days of life.
Mature milk contains several times less nutritional components than colostrum.
During lactation, the child receives additional components for the rapid and effective removal of meconium from the intestines.
Breast milk contains the necessary components that prevent the baby from developing physiological jaundice.
Colostrum contains a lot of fat, which provides the body with all the carbohydrates it needs. Additionally, it contains antibodies and proteins for the immune system.
Delivers living cells to the gastrointestinal tract.
Helps increase leukocytes and white blood cells.
There is a slight content of peptides in the liquid. These components reduce the body's protective function and impair the production of gastric juice.
Pediatricians say that colostrum does not artificially stretch the stomach. This picture is observed if the child begins to be fed with formula. Against this background, the baby’s risk of developing obesity in the future increases.

Feasibility of supplementary feeding

In what cases is supplementary feeding required:

Due to malnutrition, the baby begins to rapidly lose weight. This figure has already reached 10% of the total volume.
The baby cannot breastfeed due to physiological pathologies. When counting wet diapers, an insufficient number is discovered. The frequency and volume of bowel movements can also be analyzed.
The newborn was prescribed phototherapy to relieve symptoms of jaundice.
There is an urgent need to develop a plan for the survival of a child who is born with a low birth weight.
The mother cannot wake up the child for a long time. His sleep can last more than two hours.

If it is not possible to use an alternative supplementary feeding option, then the baby should be bottle-fed. For this purpose, special adapted mixtures are produced. Their volume is calculated depending on the age of the baby.