We studied gastric volume, wall compliance, sensory perception, and recepti
ve relaxation during the first postnatal 80 h in 17 healthy term infants, u
sing a computer-driven air pump and simultaneously measuring pressure and v
olume within a latex balloon placed through the oropharynx into the stomach
. To evaluate gastric compliance, we measured pressures while we infused ai
r into the intragastric balloon at different rates (10, 20, and 60 mL/min)
in random sequence. In all infants, there was a linear relationship between
intragastric pressure and volume to the maximum pressure tested, 30 mm Hg.
Gastric compliance ranged from 0.2 mL/mm Hg to 3.8 mL/mm Hg. Different inf
usion rates had no effect on compliance. We calculated gastric receptive re
laxation by measuring the volume needed to maintain a constant pressure of
10 nim Hg within the balloon for 5 min. Gastric receptive relaxation ranged
from 0.5 mL/min to 54 mL/min. Gastric compliance and receptive relaxation
increased with postnatal age (r = 0.70, p < 0.005; r = 0.79, p < 0.001, res
pectively) and with number of feedings (r = 0.80, r = 0.88, respectively, b
oth p < 0.001). There was no correlation between weight or type of feeding
(breast versus formula) and either gastric compliance or relaxation. In con
clusion, these results may explain the small feedings that neonates ingest
in the first days of life. During the first 3 postnatal d, the newborn stom
ach becomes more compliant and develops more receptive relaxation, associat
ed with a larger volume, capacity.