An en caul birth, also known as a “mermaid birth” or “veiled birth”, is when the baby comes out still inside or partially wrapped in the amniotic sac. This happens in only 1 in 80,000 births, making it extremely rare.1 It might look like your newborn is completely gift-wrapped in a soft bubble.
The amniotic sac is made up of two layers of membranes and filled with amniotic fluid which the baby has been floating inside of during the entire pregnancy. Usually when you’re about to go into labor your amniotic sac ruptures – your water breaks. If the water doesn’t break, the baby is born en caul, usually inside the inner layer of membrane or just partially covered.
During birth and right after, baby stays safe, having everything they need inside the amniotic sac, which is then carefully removed by the midwife or doctor. Sometimes a squirming baby, may even break open the amniotic sac on their own. If the sac is already ruptured or only partially covering baby it is easily removed, though more care should be taken if baby is born with the outer membrane still intact.
Midwife Julie Shares the Story of Vera’s En Caul Birth
It was incredible to catch these images right after Vera was born. I loved removing the sac, and unveiling her face. We didn’t know if she was a boy or a girl until she was born. I remember seeing her body inside the sac and it ruptured just enough for me to see her sex as I brought her to my chest. I was shocked and elated to see she was a girl and that it looked as though she was wearing a beautiful cream shawl around her shoulders. This is truly her personality- she is regal in every sense of the word. It made sense to see her veiled crown slide down and rest on her royal shoulders. Vera is an old, wise soul and she looks though every person she meets as if she knows more about them then they do themselves.
– Julie Oates, MSN, CNM
Magical and Spiritual Abilities?
Throughout history, en caul births have been attributed with fame and fortune, even magical and spiritual abilities. In many parts of Europe, the amniotic sac, or “caul” itself held such special fortune, that it was often sold as a token of good luck and protection.2 It was provided to lawyers, needing good fortune in pleading their cases and even as an ingredient in love potions. In Old Nordic beliefs a child born en caul was said to have the special ability to navigate between many worlds and see into the future. As early as the 16th century, some physicians, finding a simple biological explanation, began to scorn any superstitious beliefs associated with en caul births.3
Whether you believe in the magical associations of an en caul birth or not, it is a beautiful thing to behold, so if your little one is born inside a water balloon, consider yourself extra fortunate! They are so rare that most midwives never witness an en caul birth in their entire careers.
My mother was born en caul in 1944. She has insight to future. I have been told by my mom of things she had felt was gonna happen an indeed it did.FYI
Kathy Reed Conley
I too was born en caul in 1962. I also told my family members things that happened as well.
I was born in a mermaid’s purse in 1991 🙂 🧜♀️ Still waiting for my magic powers, but I love this fun fact about my life! It’s so interesting seeing the other comments on here from other en caul babies
My daughter Tamara was born en caul in 1991.
In 1943 I was born with a veil over my face, I have always been a very spiritual person.
I was born October 6, 1969.
I was born en caul. My mother did not want me. She was so young. My grandmother made her keep me. She said I was protected by the veil. I have had a few visions that come to light. Before my 16 birthday I had dreams my mother was going to die. She did 2 months later. I forgive her and I forgive myself. Spent decades blaming myself. I pray to her often.
I was born in 1958, with the en caul across my face also. My Mother called it a veil! I have always felt blessed of God!
I am a 83 year old man and lived with an en caul person,my father till he died at age 47. i was 21 at the time.what a amazing man! he would not profit by his gift although many tried to temp him. he liked everyone but favored the poor. people followed him around and liked being near him. To my knowledge he never read a book but could tell you about any saint that lived. He turned catholic to marry my mother and raised 8 children he had an aura about him that I could talk about forever! On his happy death bed he had frequent visits from saints that were waiting for him. I feel so special to have had several years with a person so loved by God.
My daughter is now 5 years old and was born In water pool en caul, what’s so strange to me is the midwife who had been a midwife for years who I’d never met TIL in labour, in convo had told me about en caul births n said she in her career had never seen or new of anyone in her medical career that had experienced it. I wasn’t interested in what anyone’s convo was around me to be honest as I was in pain and determined to have this second birth with no relief . To her astonishment was that experience and over joyed, for me I was just happy to get to the end of a painful n exhausting time, reading up on the stats later on is wow, she’s amazing like any other child is and I’ll always have a story to tel my future grandchildren x
Wow! The same with me. We joked about it just a few minutes before she was born. And when she came out even the midwifes were taken back. I remember about a 10, 20 second moment after she was born and everyone went quiet. I was wondering what was going on. Then the midwife shouted, she is full en caul! My other half nearly fainted. Thought something had gone wrong! I didn’t get to see it though as the student midwife ripped it open to deliver baby safely. But my little girl is one. And if she gets ill she gets the symptoms that 1 in 40000 will get. I swear she’s gonna beat the odds someday and be Great!
I was born with a veil over my face.
My mom told me that both of her grandmothers were born en caul. She said that they had their faces veiled and when the veils were removed they were lifted up and not torn down, and yes they had the ability to see things into the future.
1st great daughter recently born “en caul”. Had never heard term b/4. Looked up and read about. Most interesting! And fascinating! Nothing but good.
I was told that, l was born with veil all over my body .lt it a good thing or bad please l need to know, ls giving me sleepless night since l knows about it.
thembisilejohn76@gmail.com
Please don’t worry. I was born en caul and feel special. We are just different and that’s good. Many of us are gifted in different ways. I have talent in art and healing.
My Grandmother was born with the veil over her. I believe it does give some insite into the future. For me being her Grandson, & My Father being a her son. What seems to come to both of us is the prediction of death of family members just a few days before. Sometime followed by a dream, but not always. I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse. Just my experience and opinion.
My son was born in december or 2014 in the amniotic sac
My son was born in his sac june 2014 as well I was so shocked
My 7 year old daughter was born with the caul. She is tough as nails, strong willed, and has many amazing qualities. I explained to her that she is very special being born with a veil. I would not be surprised if she has certain abilities my other children may not have.
I was born in the sack in Hackensack meridian health ocean medical center in brick New Jersey on 12/30/98
I am was born with the helmet as they said back then, my mom had no idea what that meant and freaked out when they showed me to her. She has been freakout with me since then hahaha. Yes I have the ability to see the unseen and I received my calling to serve when I was only 24yrs old.
Cathy, my name is Kristin and I was born on Easter Sunday with a veil that lasted for 3 days. I started reading my mother’s romance novels at the age of 3 out of sheer boredom. I’ve always made good grades in school without studying and I was put into gifted classes. I can see the unseen as well and I make predictions accurately, sometimes by just joking around. Do you know of anyone that I can speak to about my gifts that might be able to help me deal with this. I’m becoming more and more introverted and I feel like I’m losing myself since I lost my husband and brother 19!months apart. Both were only 35 years old. Any direction that you can lead me in would be greatly appreciated. You know what it’s like to be the outsider- I never really fit in and I don’t want people to think that I am weird. Please help me. I want to know what to do. When will my calling be?
Hi Kristen,
Firstly I’m so sad to hear of your losses. 😔 It is always hard for the ones remaining on this plane (though it’s bliss for those who transcend it). I wish for your husband and brother to travel well.✨
I was born with the amniotic sac fully intact and like many of us here am “different”, intuitive and interact with various frequencies of consciousness most people don’t know exist. What yo are seeking will actually FIND YOU. Do some searches online, sure-it will help to open your energy channels and create space for you to connect with some answers, but ultimately you will be led by the energetic attraction of what you seek to its location. You and that which you seek are one, you just need to match frequencies. If this doesn’t make sense or resonate with you, I’d start looking for things like “fine-tuning intuition”. There are endless books, YouTube videos and resources. (Just start googling.) I would just lovingly caution you to be wary of most “spiritual practitioners” offering their services. There are a lot of predators and bullshitters pretending to have “gifts”. They don’t need credentials to be spiritualists so often use this to their advantage.
Anyway, I hope this is helpful. Wishing you peace and comfort on your path. 💗
Sincerely,
Jenni
I was born with a sac covering my whole body I maturing 17 now some weird things happened to me before but I moved past them strangers open up to me about thier life problems etc it can sometimes be overwhelming when I feel others energies but I love helping people
May the person reading this have an amazing day
I was born en caul my father told me that he had to rip the sac to get me out and also he said the sac was polka dot in colour .I was born at one of the small islands in the Philippines.I believe about what they say about our capabilities of reading people and predicting the future.I am strong-willed and also extremely lucky .
Me also I was born with the caul on the face and don’t know why I can’t understand in 2014 of April that was Sunday morning before 5am I woke up I see the Bible of my roommate that’s the first time I read the Bible I was born Catholic I never read bible as we don’t have bible also so I feel amuse while reading it so I wake her up I asked her we go to church and she said yes so we both go to Sacred Cathedral in Suva Fiji coz we used to work there before while going up on the stairs I don’t know why but I feel something different cuz of my goosebumps and when I wash my hands I closed my eyes and talk to the Lord I am here Lord suddenly I see green sword it’s like a light I don’t understand why I see that green sword since then started I see alot of visions including Jesus riding the white horse in a darkness and I see him like a light it’s very difficult to understand why I see visions like that and most of the times now like I feel I have second sight coz I’ve been seeing things that is going to happened like my great grandma before she died I saw the grave and we are having feast then I saw my great grandmother she was hugging me so tight that was early morning around before 5am last Thursday I woke up and prayed then after lunch I get to talked my grandmother over the phone I told her that she can rest now I know she’s tired and feeling weak already and I asked her to accept Jesus Christ to be her Saviour before she left on this earth and she heard me then after that after 3hours my uncle called me up and told me that my grandmother passed away already and I have the feeling that she’s the one kept my veil because she lived for so long she is 105 years old to live long like that is very blessed and lucky.
My mom was born with a veil in August 1914 in Oklahoma on American Indian Reservation land. There was a flood, bridge washed away, no Dr could get there so my grandfather delivered his daughter. His wife told him how to remove the veil. It was just on her face & attached like a mask. He cut it & buried it as my grandmother instructed him.
My mom started seeing visions @ age 3(or that’s when she started telling her mom about the” beautiful lady with a baby” who came to her when she was playing outside. Then she came without the baby & was crying. Her mom asked what the lady looked like. The lady was my grandfather’s sister who does during childbirth.
Mom saw many visions & signs. It was always a warning to her so she would not be so shocked when people got hurt or died. But she saw the event in detail before it ever happened. She could not “see things in purpose” just what God wanted her to see. She was a very beloved person to all who knew her & lived 102 years & 5 months.
It used to scare me to think about it but when I realized it was a God given gift to use for good & not evil I was very proud that my mom was chosen! Don’t fear the gift just let God use you to help & comfort people. Don’t ever try to see future events to help people profit with money or romance. Just accept what God shows you & you will figure out what to do or say if needed. Some people won’t tell of things to come if it is just sad or misery, unless it can be warned to keep it from happening. Mom used to try to keep people from travelling if she say an accident. My friend didn’t believe her & went anyway. Had a car accident but not hurt bad.
My whole body was born en caul. I feel special, different in a good way, and really quite lucky. I have never seen the future – at least I don’t consciously remember doing so but I do have a strong feeling of deja vu at least once every 4 days at random times, about the randomest things.
I gave birth to my son in my home unexpectedly. My sister suddenly became the midwife who witness my son being born still in the sac. She did not know what she was looking at! She’s like, this ain’t no baby what is that???!! 🤣 she had to pry him out with her bare finger nails she has just cut the night before..
Well, he was a special and loving baby but he suffered from getting several ear infections, fevers, a rare skin outbreak, eczema, had his tonsils and adenoids removed at 3 yo. Now almost 8 years later, he has adhd, anxiety , and can’t stop eating. 😩
After reading this article, I hope that his “special ability” appears soon! Lol
I hope he finds wellnes~ Have you looked into his past? I believed they’re called Akashic Records, although I’m new to learning about these things. Perhaps Cell Memory has something to do with his ailments, if you are looking at it from a past life perspective. 💗
From a natural physiological perspective, it sounds like his body is lacking in some of the vital essentials the body needs to build and repair dna errors resulting in his maladies. I have a chronic illness and after a decade+ of “the slowest living death, ever.” Ha. A physical therapist told me about a nucleotide food supplement with essential amino acids, peptides and proteins to help my damaged body rebuild itself and work out the illness over time. One year into it and incredibly improved. Looking forward to continuing on my path of recovery.
I was born en caul. Definitely relate to not being able to drown and being psychic. I feel when things are going to happen- death, change, happiness. And the Nordic belief of drifting between worlds. That has happened too. It hurts to feel this much. I also remember spirits talking to me and telling me what I came to do in this world. Indigo child, INFJ, green eyes & an old soul 🤍 wouldn’t have it any other way! Sending love to my fellow en caul babies, would be blessed to meet another in my lifetime.
I was born with a veil. And I find myself very wise and I’m good at reading people, reading eyes, reading gestures and accents. I feel special all the time. I can’t talk to anyone except who has high intelligence and who talk intellectual. I feel allergic to Stupid people. I always feel curious about other worlds, Galaxies, skies and I like to know more and more about it.
How are people able to keep the Caul indefinitely? Doesn’t it deteriorate or rot like skin tissue would?
i don’t know
I am 50 born en caul I have sac in a jam jar it looks like a very large crisp apparently when I was born everyone panicked didn’t know what to do with it should of been kept flat .
wow look at that
My daughter delivered an en caul 3 – 9oz boy Easter Sunday in the car on the way to the hospital. He was 9 weeks premature. For such a premature birth and all the potential problems of such an early birth he is doing fabulously. He’ll likely remain in the hospital for 9 weeks but a the rate of his progress he will home much sooner. Staffers are coming from all over the hospital to see the miracle baby and meet the parents.
My daughter was born at 25 weeks and she was a nicu baby also born in the sac. She is still in the hospital but ever since she came nothing but good luck has been coming to our family, our family has grown so much stronger even though I feel like we see each other less because of our baby, I’ve never had more money and I’m not working now, all of our friends are sending random gifts always . But she has a round, red , hemangioma right where a third eye would be. She is also a cancer rising sign which they say is damn near psychic.
I was born with a full boxy veil. My mother said the doctor had to cut it off of me. I found my neive who had left 6 years ago. I “saw”her in a hospital in a.certain hospital. I called and she was being taken into surgery. She was reunited with our family. Mainly i see things related to my mother. But have had instances of seeing people around me. I can smell cancer. I can smell many things. I can feel emotions. I know when people are lying. I have high IQ. I am psychic and empath. I do readings for others. I can feel danger. I dont know how, but i can.
And evidently i cant seem to spell tonight. Lol
My mom has always told me I was born with a veil over my face. Iv never really thought about it. But then I decided to do alittle research myself. But as I can see I’m not so different after all.
Hi, I was born with a veil on March 4, 1967. I see ghosts, I can predict things. I have been very lucky, been a very serious motorcycle accident. I should have died. I feel very alone as well as the other caul babies mention. I am a very good doused, I just read recently that is one of our traits.
Shari Ile
Witnessed 1 of my twin boys born in the membrane completely intact, the doctors were so fascinated by this, what a special moment.
I was born en caul also I had to be cut out. I’m a Native American, Ihonktowan Oyate. In our culture only myself and a woman over 100 yrs ago were known to be born en caul. Nobody knows exactly what it is they just know it’s something special. I dream of the future and have other special gifts.
I was born December 8,1976 with a Veil over my face also…
I was told when my daughter was born she had three veils on her face…I was not permitted to hold her for 24 hours…they said if they lifted them she would be blind! It was a hard pregnancy I was sick a lot…but she was our miracle baby, we we’re told she most likely would have some kind of handicap! She is healthy…very gifted in art…and also has the ability to look right through someone… she’s very intelligent!!!
My daughter Heidi was born with the veil on March 22nd 2010. My midwife was so ecstatic and said it was considered a blessing and so very rare!! She had never seen it throughout her midwifery years before, and I was her last birthing before changing careers! Such a nostalgic moment!!
It’s so neat to hear everyone’s comments of how it has shaped the beliefs back in time, and actual daily lives of those touched and living with the specialness of this rare event!
-Sasha P
I was born January 1941, in the middle of a snow storm, at my Grandparents home. Where my Grandmother and a neighbour, neither of whom had ever delivered a baby before, did the job. When I “arrived”, they had no idea what was over my face, so an Aunt who was also in attendance ran up the street to the only ph. in the area, to call the Dr. to tell him and what should they do? So back she went and related the info. They removed it and not knowing what to do with it, placed it over the side of the bathtub to dry it off after rinsing it off. My mother had another sister who knew a sailor who was going off to war, said he would pay $1,000.00 for the caul, because if he had it in a pocket the theory was that he would never drown at sea. Unfortunately, they had to scrape it off the tub so it wasn’t in any shape to sell. Not sure I have special powers, I know that I just seem to be able to read a lot of people and get special feelings about things. Also, I seem to be the one looking after everyone in the family when they are are not able to look after themselves anymore. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love them all.
I am also an en caul born, I dnt know about seeing the future and all,but I am very intuitive and it’s so wonderful to read about soamy people here born in that way ….
My mother said I was born en caul in a little village in Kiribati – surrounded by three village mid wives – well they had never seen anything like that before and were scared it was a bad omen. My father had to cycle about 30 kms, to the main village to get the ‘dresser’. By the time the dresser arrived one of the women had the courage to break open the sac.
In local culture a baby born this way will never drown (always float on water), have lovely skin and be very beauriful😀
My first child is an En Caul Baby. My mom dried her veil, crushed it into a powder and sprinkled the powder into her bath water and washed her. Now that I know how powerful and blessed veil children are, I wish I should have also washed myself with that water and kept a piece of the veil or powder for my other children. She is very beautiful intelligent, kind, warm, caring, giving and highly spiritual. She is able to predict the future and foresees what is going to happen and what has happened through dreams. Her future predictions always become true. She is loved by everybody and never failed work interviews and is sometimes head-hunted by CEOs for bigger positions. She is amazing and brings many blessings to all of us. I’m proud to have given birth to a magical baby and to be her mom.
My daughter was also born as they say “ still in the sack” I was so shocked because moments when I did deliver her I didn’t hear any crying & that made me so worried until the midwife said she was fine. I just saw a purple/dark alien type thing, until they burst the sack. And here she was..
I was born October 6, 1969.
I was born en caul. My mother did not want me. She was so young. My grandmother made her keep me. She said I was protected by the veil. I have had a few visions that come to light. Before my 16 birthday I had dreams my mother was going to die. She did 2 months later. I forgive her and I forgive myself. Spent decades blaming myself. I pray to her often.
I just found a letter from my mother to my grandmother. My mother wrote that when anyone clasped my hand that they felt a magnetic touch They felt I was all knowing and they would come back over and over again to hold me. I was born with a veil on a Friday. My doctor didn’t believe in such things but he said he also felt something special.
I wish I knew this a long time ago. I know I have the ability to feel People’s feeling and help them. I have prayed with people and God has healed them.
Once I was in a group of divorced and separated women. The leader was angry with me. She said I could understand everyone’s problem and offer them real help but I couldn’t help myself.
I never realized what a precious gift I have been wasting. Please Lord forgive me and help me to use this gift even I. My old age.
I don’t know how many will be able to relate this with me that we can induce a negative or positive character to the people who are near us , because of which other bully us even they don’t want to.
Sometimes, I can understand the fights happening around me is because of me. It really fells like that i am cursed and will had to stay alone forever.
My second baby boy, born June 16th 2014 was born completely en-caul. It was a very fast delivery, 4cm to fully dilated in about 20 minutes, 2 pushes and he came out completely. My husband saw it and could see all his hair floating about, legs and arms moving about and all the veins throughout the sac. The student midwife completely freaked out and thought he couldn’t breathe! I’m so sad that we didn’t get photos, it was too fast and a mad panic as they didn’t have a bed ready!
My 3rd son was born on 26th Feb 2016 at home. His head came out with the membrane intact and the burst on the second push as his body came out!
With my first son, born 18th October 2001, I remember the midwife saying that I was fully dilated and the membrane wasn’t breaking and told me they’d need to break it so that he would be able to come out. I’m pretty sure he would have been born in the membrane if they had left it. Guess I’ll never know!
My eldest son always lands on his feet and his brothers are both captivating and very perceptive of emotions and seem to know what people need to make them feel better. They are all incredibly articulate and the younger two are very confident and adept at talking to adults, as was my eldest when he was a child!
I was born with a call in 1964 you know I see things before they happen I can see in the future I also see things that I can’t explain what it look like to others it’s a gift a gift from God.