Rare Caul Birth Photo Shows Infant Still Partially Enclosed in Amniotic Sac

03_07_bottle
A caul birth is a rare sight that occurs in around one in 80,000 births. FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

A couple in Buffalo, New York, were surprised when their daughter Annabelle was born still partially enclosed in her amniotic sac, a phenomenon known as a caul birth. This rare occurrence is seen in about one in every 80,000 births.

Rachael and Nate Burow welcomed their daughter Annabelle on February 21, The Indy100 reported. The little girl was born via Cesarean section, and her father noticed right away that there was something special about her delivery.

Related: Hawaiian coast whale watchers spot placenta in the ocean

"As they started pulling things out of her stomach this bubble comes out and at first I thought it was part of her insides," said Nate, The Indy 100 reported. "I knew it was weird because I had watched the C-section for my son 17 months earlier and I didn't see that."

Related: Can you become pregnant when you're already knocked up? Absolutely, but it's rare

The father explained that though he knew something was different about Annabelle's birth, he wasn't aware of just how special it was until he noticed the reactions of the nurses and doctors in the operating room.

"All of the nurses that were around helping the doctor were getting excited and pointing at it, but I was confused and I didn't know what I was looking at," said Nate.

Luckily, the father captured the moment in a photo, which the couple shared on their Instagram, @astoldbymama_.

Caul births occur when part of the caul, or the amniotic sac, is still enclosed on the infant's head. It is similar to an en caul birth, where the infant is born completely enclosed in its amniotic sac. The caul is harmless and easily removed after birth.

Traditionally, these rare births are considered good luck, How Stuff Works reported. In the past, some believed that being born in a caul made one immune to drowning. As a result, cauls were often saved and sold to sailors as a token to ensure a safe voyage.

Today, the superstition surrounding caul births may be no more, but the event is still a wonder for all those lucky enough to witness.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go