All births are unique and special in their own way. But it’s even more extraordinary when a baby is born “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ,” meaning the ᴀᴍɴɪᴏᴛɪᴄ sᴀᴄ remains ᴜɴʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ during the birth, which makes the infant appear to be inside a bubble.

Having an ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ birth is so rare, in fact, that many moms have never even heard of it until it happens to them. A ᴄᴀᴜʟ birth occurs in about 1 in every 80,000 births. Babies who are fortunate enough to be born with their ᴄᴀᴜʟ are said to be lucky and to have a special ᴀꜰꜰɪɴɪᴛʏ for water.

What is an “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ” birth?

So-called “ᴄᴀᴜʟ-ʙᴀʙɪᴇs,” who arrive in the world with parts of the ᴀᴍɴɪᴏᴛɪᴄ sᴀᴄ or ᴄᴀᴜʟ (also called the ᴠᴇɪʟ) still covering their face or body, have it ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ by a doctor, doula, or midwife after the birth. This is sometimes known as being “born with a shirt” or “born with a ᴠᴇɪʟ.”

Being ᴛᴜᴄᴋᴇᴅ in the birth sᴀᴄ during ʟᴀʙᴏʀ and birth helps to protect the baby from ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs and makes for a ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇʀ birth.

While most “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ” babies are born early, experts now suggest that babies ɪɴ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴏꜰ being born ᴘʀᴇᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇʟʏ should be ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ” to give them a gentler start in life and maintain the ᴡᴏᴍʙ-like environment for as long as possible.

1 – This little guy was born partially “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ.”

2 – Pᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ the last of the ᴠᴇɪʟ off this sweet little babe born ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ…she came quite quickly but all was well!

3 – How amazing is an ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ birth? also known as a “ᴍᴇʀᴍᴀɪᴅ birth.” when the baby is born “gift-wrapped” in his ᴀᴍɴɪᴏᴛɪᴄ sᴀᴄ. A midwife is so very lucky to see this in her whole working life as it’s extremely ʀᴀʀᴇ, only 1 in 80,000 births are born ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ.

4 – The ᴠᴇɪʟ that this baby is wearing is part of their ᴀᴍɴɪᴏᴛɪᴄ sᴀᴄ! When babies are born in their sᴀᴄ, it is called an “ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ” birth and is considered in many cultures to be a sign of good luck.

5 – “There are no words that I can use to properly express my birth experience bringing Maeve Juliette into this world. She chose me, I think, because we all needed her. I needed her. She was gifted to us to carry on a name that was given to one of the most beautiful souls I’ve ever known.”

6 – “Whether your babies are earthside or skyside, you are wonderful and deserving.”

7 – “This birth was not only special because he was 1 in 80,000 by being born ᴇɴ ᴄᴀᴜʟ (still in his waters), but because he is ours!”

8 – Loving all the details of this photo…those lips and tiny toes!