Baby encased in the intact amniotic sac.
The amniotic sac, or bag of water, or membranes, is a balloon-like membrane filled with amniotic fluid that a fetus grows in during pregnancy.
In most cases, rupture of the amniotic sac occurs spontaneously at full term either during or at the beginning of labor.
If that event doesn’t take place, amniotomy (an artificial rupture of membranes) is the procedure done by which the amniotic sac is deliberately ruptured so as to cause the release of amniotic fluid. Amniotomy is usually performed for the purpose of inducing or expediting labor.
An en-caul birth, when a baby emerges still encased in the amniotic sac at birth, is extremely rare but it does not pose a specific risk on the baby nor the mother.
It is a beautiful sight.