Monicccaover 7 years ago

Caul birth

A caul or cowl birth (from Latin: Caput galeatum, literally, “helmeted head”) is a delivery with a piece of membrane that can cover a newborn’s head and face. The “en-caul” birth, not to be confused with the “caul” birth, occurs when the infant is born inside the entire amniotic sac. The sac balloons out at birth, with the amniotic fluid and child remaining inside the unbroken or partially broken membrane. Birth with a caul is rare, occurring in fewer than 1 in 80,000 births. The caul is harmless and is immediately removed by the physician or midwife upon delivery of the child.