The baby is steadily gaining weight to stay warm. A whitish coat of a slick, fatty substance called vernix caseosa begins to enshroud your baby and protects the skin during its long immersion in amniotic fluid. It also eases delivery. The baby's swallowing more this week, good practice for the digestive system. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel.
You may want to look into a childbirth education class if you haven't done so already. If you're a first-time parent or want a refresher course, you'll benefit from a structured class either way. No matter what the philosophy behind it, a childbirth class can help prepare you for the rigors of labor and delivery. At 37 weeks, you'll be considered full-term and labor could start any minute, so plan to be done with classes by then.
Be extra vigilant about getting enough iron. Your baby needs it to make red blood cells, among other things. In fact, it's almost impossible for you to get too much from food alone without overeating. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.
