Wikipedia – “A caul or cowl (Latin: Caput galeatum, literally, “helmeted head”) is a piece of (amniotic) membrane that can cover a newborn’s head and face.[1] Birth with a caul is rare, occurring in fewer than 1 in 80,000 births. The caul is harmless and is immediately removed by the physician or midwife upon delivery of the child.
The “en-caul” birth, not to be confused with the “caul” birth, occurs when the infant is born inside the entire amniotic sac. The sac balloons out at birth, with the amniotic fluid and child remaining inside the unbroken or partially broken membrane.”
En-caul birth is extremely rare. There is a great deal of lore that is attributed to caul births and the caul itself. In past history it was sold or auctioned off for it’s magic powers. It was sometimes kept as a family keepsake. Sailors valued it’s power to keep them from drowning. Those born in the caul were said to have special powers. You could be destined for greatness or great good fortune.
If you would like to learn more visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caul
Preserving the Caul
“Cauls have been preserved in several ways through the millennia. Some people keep them in jars or containers of water, or by folding them up and keeping them in envelopes.
A recommended way to preserve a caul is to let it dry out after the birth, without folding it, and then laying it out on non-acidic cardboard or other non-reactive material. Cling-wrap or other such material is often used to cover both the caul and the backing material. Once this is done, the caul should be preserved in a dry, safe place, away from dust, heat and moisture.
A Caul will usually dry out and become more fragile as time passes, so it is important to take as much care as possible in preserving it from the outset.”
For more information: http://www.caulbearer.org/
The caul can also be called the veil. I found many interesting pictures and references on the internet. One reason this type of birth is rare is that the medical model often breaks the bag of waters or amniotic sac during labor. It also breaks on it’s own during birth. If you know of any interesting stories that you are willing to share please let me know!