A father asks the nurse how the baby can exist in fluid for so long without resulting in some harmful effects on the skin.The nurse's best reply would be:

A soft lanugo hair protects the skin from exposure to the amniotic fluid.

We will apply cream to the baby's skin after delivery to make it smooth and soft.

The baby's skin is covered with a protective fatty substance called vernix caseosa.

There is a thick layer of subcutaneous fat on the baby so the water doesn't harm the skin.