Amniotic fluid contains amino acids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and growth factors. While the concentration of these nutrients is much lower than that found in human milk, the large volumes of amniotic fluid swallowed in utero (up to a liter a day late in gestation, considerably more than the newborn consumes after birth) have a significant impact on growth and maturation of both the fetus and the fetal intestine. Animal studies and limited human observations suggest that swallowed amniotic fluid accounts for about 15% of fetal growth