Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Caul

A caul is a thin, filmy membrane derived from the that occasionally envelops the head, face, or sometimes the entire body of a newborn during , often referred to as a "veil" or partial covering. This phenomenon, known as an en caul birth, occurs when the remains intact and unruptured throughout labor, resulting in the baby emerging still encased in a fluid-filled, jelly-like . Such births are exceedingly rare, happening in approximately 1 in 80,000 , and are more commonly observed in premature infants or those from multiple gestations, though the exact causes remain poorly understood. Medically, an en caul birth poses no inherent risk to the mother or baby in most cases, as the amniotic fluid and membrane provide natural protection against birth trauma, bruising, or complications like umbilical cord prolapse, particularly in high-risk or preterm scenarios. Upon delivery, healthcare providers promptly incise the sac to allow the infant to breathe independently, with the baby continuing to receive oxygen via the umbilical cord until this point. While generally benign, potential complications can include respiratory distress if the sac does not rupture naturally, or in cesarean sections, risks such as neonatal anemia, hemorrhage, or sepsis if not managed swiftly. En caul births can occur vaginally by chance or intentionally during planned C-sections to safeguard vulnerable fetuses. Historically and culturally, the caul has been imbued with superstitious significance across various societies, often viewed as an of good fortune, protection from , or a destined path to greatness for the . In maritime traditions, cauls were sometimes sold or traded as charms to safeguard sailors from peril at sea, a practice documented in but unsubstantiated by . Notable figures, including some historical leaders, have been mythically associated with being born en caul, perpetuating its aura of mystique despite lacking . Today, while medical understanding emphasizes its rarity and neutrality, the caul retains a place in popular imagination as a symbol of rarity and destiny.

Definition and Biology

What is a Caul

A caul is a thin, filmy consisting of the , the innermost layer of the , that remains partially attached to a newborn's head or face after birth when it does not fully rupture during labor. This gives the appearance of a translucent or over the infant's features, often described as a delicate, jelly-like covering. The caul is derived specifically from the , the inner layer of the , while the outer adheres to the . Anatomically, the is an avascular, translucent structure composed of a single layer of epithelial cells, a , and underlying stroma containing mesenchymal cells. It typically envelops only the head and face in a partial caul, rather than the entire body, and may retain traces of within its thin layers. This distinguishes a partial caul birth—the more common form—from a full en caul birth, a rarer event where the intact encloses the whole newborn like a sealed , preventing any rupture until after delivery. During , the plays a crucial biological role by forming a protective barrier around the , cushioning it against mechanical , maintaining a , and shielding it from infections through its immune-modulatory properties.

Formation and Types

The , from which the caul derives, begins forming during early human embryogenesis. In the second week post-fertilization, the epiblast layer differentiates into amnioblasts that create the amniotic cavity, initially a small space above the embryonic disc. By the fourth week, the coelomic cavity forms alongside it, but as progresses, the amniotic cavity expands rapidly; by the 12th week, the coelomic cavity has largely disappeared, and the fully encloses the , filled with fluid derived initially from maternal sources and later from fetal urine and secretions. A caul manifests at birth due to the failure of the amniotic membranes to rupture completely during labor, a process typically triggered by and . Normally, the "bag of waters" breaks prior to or during delivery, releasing , but in caul births, delayed membrane separation allows the sac to remain intact or partially so as the crowns and the body emerges. En caul births are primarily associated with prematurity and low (first pregnancies), though the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood. The amniotic membranes may remain intact due to their strength and the dynamics of labor; the intact sac then balloons outward, protecting the newborn from direct exposure during passage through the birth canal. Cauls are classified by the extent and nature of membrane coverage. A partial caul involves only a portion of the adhering to the head and face, often looping around the ears and providing a thin veil-like covering. In an en caul birth, the entire emerges within the unbroken , encasing the body in a fluid-filled that must be manually ruptured post-delivery. A thinner, more transparent variant of the partial caul typically drapes solely over the face without full enclosure. Physiological variations among cauls include differences in membrane thickness (ranging from delicate and translucent to tougher and opaque) and attachment points to the placental margin, which affect rupture resistance; the enclosed amniotic fluid's volume and pressure qualitatively cushion the , mitigating compression risks during birth.

Medical Aspects

Removal Procedures

The removal of a caul, the remnant of the amniotic membrane covering a newborn's head or face, is a routine postpartum performed by obstetricians, midwives, or attendants to ensure the infant's airway is clear and to facilitate immediate . In standard vaginal deliveries where the caul partially covers the baby, the membrane is gently peeled or slipped away manually using sterile gloves, avoiding any sharp instruments to minimize the risk of to the delicate newborn . This hand-removal is preferred as it is non-traumatic and aligns with general obstetric principles for safe newborn handling. In cases of an en caul birth, where the baby is delivered entirely within the intact , the procedure begins immediately after birth with a careful puncture of the sac to release the , allowing for drainage and subsequent extraction of the . This step is critical to prevent respiratory compromise, as the fluid must be cleared to enable ; once drained, the remaining is then manually removed in a similar gentle manner. The process is typically completed within moments of to support rapid transition to newborn protocols, such as and stimulation. En caul removals may require slightly more caution due to the fuller enclosure compared to partial cauls. Potential complications from caul removal are rare and generally minor, including superficial abrasions to the skin if excessive force is applied or minor infections if sterile conditions are not maintained during the . The use of sharp tools, such as , is explicitly discouraged due to the heightened risk of inadvertent cuts to the newborn, which could lead to or scarring. Conversely, proper manual removal offers benefits beyond safety, such as the option to preserve the intact caul upon parental request for cultural or personal significance, provided it does not interfere with clinical needs. Modern practices emphasize minimally invasive, atraumatic techniques to reduce stress on the . Recent advancements focus on enhanced sterile protocols and training for manual handling, particularly in high-risk preterm en caul deliveries where membrane integrity aids in maintaining fetal temperature until removal. These approaches ensure high safety margins, with no routine need for advanced tools beyond sterile gloves and for fluid clearance.

Prevalence and Epidemiology

Births involving a caul are uncommon in modern , primarily due to routine interventions that rupture the amniotic membranes during labor. Partial cauls, where fragments of the amniotic membrane cover the baby's head or face, are estimated to occur in 1-2% of deliveries when membranes remain intact, though this rate is lower with standard practices like amniotomy. In contrast, en caul births—complete deliveries within an unbroken amniotic sac—are exceptionally rare, with an incidence of fewer than 1 in 80,000 live births globally. These figures are drawn from obstetric reviews and case series, as comprehensive global registries like those from the do not track caul occurrences separately due to their benign nature. Risk factors for caul births are not fully elucidated but are strongly associated with conditions that preserve integrity. Prematurity is a key predictor, as the is more resilient in early , with en caul deliveries disproportionately affecting infants born before 32 weeks or with very (<1500 g). Low (first or few prior pregnancies) and complications such as hypertensive disorders (e.g., in about 50% of cases), fetal growth restriction (25%), , and malpresentation also correlate with higher likelihood. Caul births occur more frequently in vaginal deliveries than cesareans, where surgical access typically breaches the sac, and have been observed in multiple s like twins. No genetic predispositions have been established. Demographic patterns show caul births aligning with broader preterm trends, which affect about 10.5% of U.S. births as of , with similar global rates around 10-12%. They are more prevalent among low-birth-weight infants and in settings without early membrane rupture, though data on ethnic or regional variations remain limited and anecdotal. Recent 2024-2025 obstetric literature, including narrative reviews and health updates, reaffirms the rarity of caul births while emphasizing their safety when managed promptly, with no increased long-term risks beyond underlying conditions like prematurity.

Cultural Significance

Folklore and Superstitions

In various folk traditions, the birth of a en caul—covered by the amniotic —was regarded as an of good fortune, with the caul itself believed to confer protective qualities on its bearer. This likely originated in medieval , where the rarity of the phenomenon (occurring in fewer than 1 in births) amplified its perceived mystical significance, leading to associations with innate and safeguards. Among sailors, the caul held particular value as a against drowning, a peril central to maritime life; seafarers often acquired them through purchase or loan, preserving them in frames or glass objects to carry aboard ships. These beliefs extended to attributions of psychic abilities, such as the capacity to locate underground water sources—earning caul bearers the moniker of "water witches"—or to predict weather shifts and bountiful harvests. In Irish and broader Celtic lore, children born with a caul were thought to possess "second sight," an extrasensory perception enabling visions of future events or the unseen world. African-derived traditions, particularly in African American folklore, similarly viewed the caul as a spiritual endowment, granting prophecy, healing talents, or direct communion with ancestral spirits, often marking the child as a conduit between realms. Rituals surrounding cauls emphasized preservation to maintain their potency; midwives would carefully remove and dry the , sometimes transferring it to before framing it as a family heirloom. In 19th-century , cauls were commonly sold in maritime communities, with advertisements in newspapers like the Mercury listing prices from 30 shillings to four guineas—equivalent to several weeks' wages for a common —reflecting demand during eras of heightened sea travel and warfare. Owners lent them to voyagers or wore them as amulets against evil forces, ensuring safe passage or victory in perils. The enduring mystique of cauls stems from their medical rarity, which perpetuates even as modern routinely removes them at birth, severing traditional ties to these beliefs. Recent examinations, such as those by the Museum of Cambridge in , highlight how these superstitions persist in heirloom practices and oral histories, underscoring their psychological role in warding off existential fears like or misfortune despite scientific explanations.

Historical and Regional Variations

In ancient Roman texts, the caul was regarded as a potent amulet with medicinal and protective properties. This reflects broader Greco-Roman beliefs where the caul symbolized divine favor or protection, akin to offerings to , the goddess of luck, and was sometimes preserved or sold as a against misfortune. During the medieval period in , caul beliefs evolved to intertwine with notions of the , often linking the phenomenon to or prophetic abilities. Texts and from the era portrayed children born with a caul as marked by otherworldly gifts, such as warding off evil or divining the future, though this could also invite suspicion of in grimoires and ecclesiastical records associating such births with demonic influences or herbal magic. By the , these ideas persisted, with cauls valued for defending fertility and harvests against malevolent forces, including witches, as documented in European treatises on omens and charms. In the 18th and 19th centuries, naval traditions prominently featured cauls as safeguards against , a peril central to seafaring life. Sailors and captains frequently purchased dried cauls from midwives, believing they conferred immunity at sea; advertisements in newspapers, such as a 1835 Times listing for one at 10 guineas, attest to their market value, with ship logs recording their presence aboard vessels for protection during voyages. This practice extended to colonial contexts, where frontier settlers and mariners adopted similar views, treating cauls as luck charms to ensure prosperity and safety in harsh environments, influenced by transatlantic . By the , beliefs in the caul's powers declined sharply with the rise of scientific and standardized birth practices, which routinely removed and discarded the membrane, diminishing its cultural role in Western societies. However, traces persist in contemporary , with recent ethnographic work noting revivals in and communities that reframe the caul as a of innate amid modern interest in ancestral customs.

Notable Examples and Media

Famous Individuals

Throughout history, several notable figures have been claimed in folklore and traditional accounts to have been born with a caul, often attributed with endowing them with extraordinary luck, prophetic abilities, or protection in perilous situations. One of the most prominent examples is (356–323 BC), the Macedonian king renowned for his military conquests across Persia and beyond; ancient legends suggest his birth involved an intact amniotic membrane, interpreted as a sign of divine favor that contributed to his undefeated record in battle and rapid empire-building. Similarly, (742–814 AD), the Frankish ruler who unified much of and was crowned , is said in medieval traditions to have been born en caul, linking this rarity to his reputed prophetic insights and successes in warfare and governance. Other figures from folklore include the poet (1788–1824) and Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), both associated with caul births symbolizing destiny and leadership. In more modern times, (1856–1939), the Austrian founder of , was reportedly born with a caul covering his head, which his mother Amalia viewed as a positive omen foretelling great accomplishments, aligning with beliefs in enhanced or for such births. This attribution is echoed in psychohistorical analyses, where the caul is seen as reinforcing family expectations of his destined intellectual prowess. Verification of these historical claims remains challenging due to the absence of contemporary medical records and reliance on later oral traditions or secondary narratives, which often blend fact with symbolic embellishment to explain the individuals' remarkable achievements. Anecdotal 20th- and 21st-century examples include artists and performers who self-identified as caul bearers, crediting the phenomenon with creative inspiration or survival in high-risk endeavors, such as sailors invoking the caul's legendary protection against drowning during voyages. In recent years, public figures have shared en caul birth stories of their children, highlighting the event's rarity (occurring in approximately 1 in 80,000 deliveries) and perceived auspiciousness without formal verification; for instance, actor Mahershala Ali's daughter was born en caul in 2017, described by the family as a miraculous and intact delivery. Likewise, reality TV personality Audrey Roloff's third child, Radley, arrived en caul in November 2021, with the parents noting its extreme rarity and sense of wonder, though no long-term attributed benefits have been claimed. More recently, in September 2025, Filipino actress Coleen Garcia welcomed her second child en caul, describing the delivery as quick and painless. These modern accounts, often shared through media interviews, underscore ongoing cultural fascination but face similar evidentiary hurdles as historical ones, lacking independent medical corroboration beyond family reports. In literature, the caul frequently appears as a symbol of fortune and insight. In ' David Copperfield (1850), the protagonist narrates his birth with a caul, which his mother auctions off in newspapers for fifteen guineas to superstitious buyers believing it wards off . Similarly, in ' Ninth Ward (2010), the young protagonist Lanesha is born with a caul, granting her the ability to see spirits and connect with the world. More recently, Morgan Jerkins' Caul Baby (2021) centers on a family whose caul possesses healing properties, exploring themes of generational and within Black communities. In film and television, depictions of caul births often highlight their rarity and mystical aura during dramatic scenes. A notable example occurs in the series Chicago Fire (Season 11, Episode 20, 2023), where firefighters assist in an emergency delivery of a baby born en caul, still fully encased in the , emphasizing the procedure's delicate nature. Such portrayals draw on to underscore protection and otherworldly significance, though full en caul births remain rare visual spectacles in media. Music and art have romanticized the caul through evocative titles and motifs tied to folklore. Irish guitarist Cian Nugent's album Born with the Caul (2013) references the phenomenon's traditional association with luck and destiny, blending ambient folk sounds to evoke a veiled, prophetic quality. In visual art, historical paintings like those in maritime collections depict cauls as talismans, influencing modern illustrations in graphic novels that adapt birth myths for themes of veiled perception. Thematically, the caul in symbolizes destiny, , and safeguarding against peril, often blending historical superstitions with narrative tension. It represents a "" between worlds, as seen in fictional caulbearers who possess or immunity to harm, reflecting cultural beliefs in its protective powers. This persists in contemporary works, where it underscores characters' fated paths amid uncertainty.

References

  1. [1]
    Benefits and Complications of an en Caul Birth - Verywell Health
    Jul 15, 2025 · In a caul birth, a baby is born with part of the amniotic sac or membrane covering their head or face, giving them the appearance of a veil. The ...Missing: biology | Show results with:biology<|control11|><|separator|>
  2. [2]
    What You Should Know About En Caul Birth - WebMD
    Apr 23, 2025 · En caul birth is when a baby is born still inside an intact amniotic sac. Learn more about what causes it, why it's important, and what to ...
  3. [3]
    En Caul Birth: Meaning, Statistics, Significance, and More - Healthline
    Dec 20, 2019 · An en caul birth is when the baby comes out still inside an intact amniotic sac (caul). This might make it look like your newborn is completely gift-wrapped.Missing: biology | Show results with:biology
  4. [4]
    What Is an 'En Caul' Birth? - babyMed
    A caul (Latin: Caput galeatum, literally, "head helmet") is a thin, filmy membrane, the amnion, that can cover a newborn's head and face immediately after birth ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition<|control11|><|separator|>
  5. [5]
    Human Amniotic Membrane and Amniotic Membrane–Derived Cells
    hAM consists of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), basal lamina, and hAM stroma contains human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) and is divided ...
  6. [6]
    Amnion Cell - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
    Amniotic membrane (AM) consists of an epithelium, a thick basement membrane, and an avascular stroma. High concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor and ...
  7. [7]
    Amniotic Sac: Composition, Location & Function - Cleveland Clinic
    The amniotic sac is made up of two layers of membranes called the chorion and the amnion. The amniotic sac is translucent, and you can almost see through it.
  8. [8]
    Biological properties and surgical applications of the human ...
    It has various functions: it protects the fetus from environmental injuries, regulates water, growth factors, cytokines, bioactive molecules, and minerals ...
  9. [9]
    Embryology, Amniotic Fluid - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
    Amniotic fluid surrounds the embryo and fetus during development and has a myriad of functions. Physically, it protects the fetus in the event the maternal ...Introduction · Development · Pathophysiology · Clinical Significance
  10. [10]
    En Caul Cesarean Delivery—A Safer Way to Deliver a Premature ...
    Dec 26, 2024 · En caul delivery is a way of delivering a baby surrounded by the amniotic membranes and the amniotic fluid. (The picture was taken in the ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
  11. [11]
    Emergency Department Pre-Viability Delivery of a Fetus En Caul - NIH
    Feb 17, 2022 · En caul delivery, commonly referred to as “mermaid birth” or “veiled birth”, describes the delivery of an intact amnion. While en caul delivery ...
  12. [12]
    A Rare Package Delivery - The Emergency Medical Minute
    En caul births are defined as a fetus that is delivered completely contained within the amniotic sac and they are rare, very rare.
  13. [13]
    En caul vaginal birth of a second trimester trisomy-21 fetus ... - hjog.org
    Sep 15, 2023 · En caul deliveries, also called 'veiled', are defined as a delivered fetus is completely contained inside the amniotic sac. It is extremely rare ...Missing: childbirth | Show results with:childbirth
  14. [14]
    What to Know About En Caul Birth, When Your Baby is Born in Their ...
    Apr 28, 2025 · When a baby is born "en caul," they are born still encased in the amniotic sac where they grew and developed during pregnancy, amniotic fluid and all.
  15. [15]
    Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth - ACOG
    This Committee Opinion reviews the evidence for labor care practices that facilitate a physiologic labor process and minimize intervention for appropriate ...Latent Labor: Labor... · Routine Amniotomy · Maternal Position During...
  16. [16]
    En Caul Cesarean Delivery—A Safer Way to Deliver a Premature ...
    The term “en caul delivery”, also known as a “veiled birth” or a “mermaid birth”, refers to a way of delivering a baby surrounded by the amniotic membranes ...En Caul Cesarean Delivery--A... · 4. Surgical Technique · 9. En Caul Delivery Of Twin...<|control11|><|separator|>
  17. [17]
    En Caul Birth Explained: Facts and Statistics - Cloudnine Hospitals
    Sep 26, 2025 · An En caul birth is a rare and intriguing phenomenon when a baby is born still within the amniotic sac: a thin, water-filled membrane that ...Missing: definition amnion
  18. [18]
    The caul and its relation to drowning, lawyers and sorcerers
    Feb 2, 2021 · A pervasive belief was that a caul would guarantee that the owner would never drown resulting in cauls being sold for between ₤10 to ₤30 in the seventeenth ...Missing: origins | Show results with:origins
  19. [19]
    The Caul, an object of sailor's supersitions
    Sep 17, 2019 · A caul was believed by seafarers to protect the bearer from drowning, and these curious items were prized as talismans.
  20. [20]
    Caul: A Sailor's Charm
    Babies born 'in the caul' (when their amniotic sack, or amnion, has not burst and remain intact on the babies head or face like a circular crown)
  21. [21]
    Born With a Veil: The Curious Talisman of the Caul - Burials & Beyond
    Dec 7, 2017 · It has been a long-standing maritime superstition that to be in possession of a baby's caul is to protect oneself from drowning.
  22. [22]
    The weird traditions associated with pregnancy in Irish folklore - RTE
    Apr 24, 2024 · The many superstitions and customs around pregnancy demonstrated a belief that the process could be influenced by unseen forces.
  23. [23]
    [PDF] Culla Mi Gullah, Re-Imagining African American Female Artists and ...
    Jun 8, 2012 · In African American folk traditions, being born with a caul enables one “to possess psychic abilities and the gift of prophecy. It is also ...
  24. [24]
    [PDF] Conjure/Doctors: An Exploration of a Black Discourse in America ...
    The spiritual premium on children born with a caul translated into special talents and regard: they were said to "talk sooner than other children and have a ...
  25. [25]
    Folklore Finds: Lucky Cauls and their Travels
    Aug 30, 2023 · The caul came from a Norfolk child born in 1891 and was borrowed by relatives and friends of the family when they were travelling by sea.Missing: study | Show results with:study
  26. [26]
    19th-Century Maritime Superstitions: Protect Men At Sea
    Jul 27, 2025 · A popular one was a caul. It was believed owning a caul – the membrane that protects a baby in the womb – would protect a seafarer from drowning ...<|separator|>
  27. [27]
    A history of amulets in ten objects - Science Museum Group Journal
    May 1, 2019 · This article analyses ten amulets from the Science Museum collections, and asks what we can learn from exploring these objects' material features and varying ...
  28. [28]
    Female Midwives - Witchcraft, Women & the Healing Arts in the Early ...
    Dec 5, 2022 · Legends abounded regarding the good luck of children born in the caul, and therefore, witches desired it for potions.Missing: omen | Show results with:omen
  29. [29]
    [PDF] caul related superstitions in japan yedo period
    The caul is a talisman, and within the superstitions, it is believed that a baby born with a caul will lead a happy life. In Japan, people believed that the ...<|separator|>
  30. [30]
    Understanding Cultural Persistence and Change - ResearchGate
    Aug 6, 2025 · We examine a determinant of cultural persistence that has emerged from a class of models in evolutionary anthropology: the similarity of the environment across ...Missing: caul | Show results with:caul
  31. [31]
    not all children born with the caul had a good fate - ResearchGate
    ... great leaders. such as Alexander the Great, Charlemagne (Charles the Great). and Napoleon Bonaparte were also born with a caul [4]. Another of our traditional ...
  32. [32]
    11 Fascinating Facts About Sigmund Freud - Mental Floss
    Jun 5, 2018 · She believed the folklore that says cauls herald the birth of a child destined for great accomplishments. 2. HE EXAMINED FROG BRAINS ...
  33. [33]
    Sigmund Freud, Son of Amalia (article) - Clio's Psyche
    The child was born “in a caul” that is, with part of the amniotic membrane on his head and popular belief took this as a sign of good fortune. Amalia ...
  34. [34]
    Mahershala Ali's Baby Was Born Inside Her Amniotic Sac | Us Weekly
    Feb 27, 2017 · Mahershala Ali is celebrating a week full of rare firsts. Not only did the 43-year-old become the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award ...
  35. [35]
    Audrey Roloff Recalls Son Radley's En Caul Birth - People.com
    Mar 9, 2022 · "But at 6:32 am our little (or not so little) Radley was born En Caul," Audrey added. "It's extremely rare - less than 1 in 80,000 births ...Missing: famous | Show results with:famous
  36. [36]
    FAQ: Ninth Ward - Children's Fiction by Jewell Parker Rhodes
    Lanesha, when she first spoke, told me she was “born with a caul.” A caul is a portion of the amniotic sac that sometimes forms a veil over a newborn's face.
  37. [37]
    The Books Morgan Jerkins Read While Writing Caul Baby
    May 14, 2021 · Baby of the Family is about a girl who comes of age in rural Georgia and has the power to see ghosts and tell the future. She also has a caul. ...
  38. [38]
    Cian Nugent & The Cosmos - Born With The Caul - UNCUT
    Rating 8/10 · Review by UncutJan 20, 2014 · Some babies are born with a membrane around their head, it's quite rare, and traditionally it was considered a sign of good luck, that the baby was destined to ...