Katie never expected the birth of her second child to be a magical en caul birth, which happens in fewer than 1 in 80,000 deliveries.
“I was expecting my second baby to come early, rather than later, but at day nine past my due date, I had a stretch and sweep and that really got things moving,” recalls mum-of-two Katie Morgan. “The following day, my contractions started and by the afternoon, I was officially in labour and admitted to hospital.”
After not being able to have her preferred water birth for her first child, Katie was really keen to have a water birth for her second child. She was thrilled to find out she was a great candidate for it this time round and was able to labour for the final hour in the water.
“I remember thinking my waters still haven’t broken. I thought maybe they had broken in the shower but I just hadn’t noticed or maybe they’d broken in the bath. Since every birth is a bit different, I just assumed maybe I hadn’t noticed because I was surrounded by water in the bath.”
Unbeknownst to Katie, she was about to have a very special one-in-80,000 rare birth called an en caul birth.
“While I was pushing and his head came out, there was quite an excitement amongst the midwives and they were saying, ‘Quick, come and have a look, he’s still in his sac!’,” says Katie, who lives in Northern New South Wales. “That was why I never felt my waters break, because he was still in his little birth sac.”
What is an en caul birth?
An en caul birth is one of those rare, quietly breathtaking moments in the birth process. Many experienced midwives or childbirth educators might only witness it a few times in their careers: When a baby is born still inside the intact amniotic sac.
The amniotic sac is made up of two delicate foetal membranes. The amnion forms the inner layer, sitting closest to the baby, while the chorion makes up the outer layer. The chorion lies nearer to the uterus, playing a role in forming the placenta. Together, these layers enclose a protective, fluid-filled space that surrounds and supports the baby during pregnancy.
Many women’s “water breaks” naturally during the labour process, where the amniotic sac ruptures, releasing fluid. Sometimes, medical professionals will break the waters to speed up the labour.
In an en caul birth, the waters don’t break. Everything remains beautifully intact. Instead, the baby arrives still in the sac, gently wrapped in a soft, translucent membrane filled with amniotic fluid. En caul births are sometimes called “veiled births” and even “mermaid births” because of how special and rare it is.
It is first noticed as the baby’s head comes out during vaginal delivery. Witnesses of this amazing event will observe that the baby’s head is still encased in the sac. Sometimes, you may even be able to see through the membrane, the baby still connected by the umbilical cord, supported right up until that final transition.
Those able to see an en caul birth often remark that it reminds them of how perfectly designed the birth canal, membrane layers and placenta are, working together in protecting new life right up to the very first moment in the outside world.
Watch Katie recall the moment of the magical en caul birth of her son.
Even rarer en caul births
“A push or two after that,” Katie says about her own delivery experience, “and he was born. As he came out, that’s when the sac erupted. However, when I pulled him up onto my chest, his face was still covered with the amniotic membrane, so he looked a bit funny. The midwives quickly took the membrane off his face and then we were able to see his beautiful little face. It was quite a shock, I really wasn’t expecting to see this membrane over your child and I didn’t know it was possible. It wasn’t until after the birth talking to midwives that I found out how special our birth was.”
While en caul births are rare for vaginal birth, they are even rarer during a caesarean section. During a C-section, the standard practice is a surgical technique that makes a uterine incision to deliver the baby, and very often, it will rupture the sac. However, surgeons may leave the sac intact in order to help cushion a pre-term baby, making it an en caul delivery.
Along with pre-term births, en caul births are extremely rare for a twin pregnancy since they are usually born via caesarean section.
Folklore around en caul births
Across history, en caul births have carried a little extra magic. In medieval times, babies born “in the caul” were thought to be lucky, bring good fortune or be protected for life. Some even believe they may have psychic abilities or that the membrane itself could bring good luck or protection from harm. Sailors once believed it kept them safe at sea and families would preserve parts of the placenta or membrane as keepsakes.
Today, families often describe witnessing an en caul birth as a deeply emotional experience. Some reflect how there’s something about seeing a baby arrive still gently enclosed make them feel incredibly peaceful. The most common advice shared in these moments is simply to pause and take it in before the sac is gently opened.
In birthing centres or hospitals, an en caul birth is treated as a normal but special variation of birth, whether it happens during a calm labour or an assisted delivery. It’s not something dangerous or medicalised, just rare and beautiful. Many midwives call en caul births exceptionally enchanting deliveries.
Katie recalls the first moment she was able to hold her son: “When you’re able to bring that baby up on your chest and hold him for the first time, there’s a massive endorphin hit and there’s nothing for me that has been able to match that moment.”
Holding your brand new squirming baby still wrapped in a translucent membrane is not something you’d expect but terribly unique.
My baby was born still inside his sac
