Baby development at 36 weeks

Weight gain accelerates

Your baby is still packing on the pounds – at the rate of about an ounce a day.

Making meconium

Your baby’s shedding most of his downy covering of hair (lanugo), as well as the waxy substance (vernix caseosa) that protected his skin during his long amniotic bath. He swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture called meconium that will form the contents of his first bowel movements.

Breech baby?

Most likely your baby is already head-down. But if not, your caregiver may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version in which pressure is applied to your abdomen to try to manipulate your baby into a head-down position.