When I lecture on the topic of supplementation I use a couple of charts that
I have previously posted on Lactnet and which should be in the archives. The
physiologic capacity of a newborn's stomach on the first day of life is
approximately 7ml, on the second day it is about 13ml, day 3 it is 27ml. I
use these approximations to illustrate the wonderful match between what the
baby needs and the amount of colostrum the mother makes. Hopefully this helps
some people understand that it is not necessary to supplement breastfed
babies until "the milk comes in" or to keep them from becoming dehydrated,
etc.

The very old references are:
Silverman WA. Dunham's premature infants, 3rd edition, Paul B. Hoeber Inc,
Medical Division of Harper and Brothers, New York, 1961, pp.143-144

Scammon RE, Doyle LO. Observations on the capacity of the stomach in the
first ten days of postnatal life. Am J Dis Child 1920; 20:516-538

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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