Few weeks ago I witness the most gentle almost En-caul birth.

En-caul means that baby is born with the amniotic sac still intact around her. Like a little bubble. The odds of this happening are very low because of repeat pressure and release that happens during labor and the constant movement that baby has to do to descend the birth canal.
Usually, whether the care provider breaks the water or it breaks spontaneously, babies are born simply wearing their birth suit.

But this baby was born almost en-caul!

I attended the birth of her sister almost 3 years ago and I was so nervous to be on call for this family because I knew that it would be hard to know when mom would be in labor. To make it all even more exciting, this baby had been giving us false alarms for a few days now and clearly she was telling us that she was the boss of all of us!

Almost en-caul birth photographed by Los Angeles birth photographer Diana Hinek for Dear Birth


She is always so gracious and very present. And the only time she is showing signs of having to deal with surges is when she is so close to deliver her babies. Last time, both me and the midwife almost got fooled and she almost had her baby in the toilet!

Almost en-caul birth photographed by Los Angeles birth photographer Diana Hinek for Dear Birth

This time she had been laboring in the birth tub for a while, at some point two of her older daughters joined her and her partner, as one of them was hoping to catch her baby sister.

Almost en-caul birth photographed by Los Angeles birth photographer Diana Hinek for Dear Birth

As she started to moan and grunt, we saw a bulge starting to emerge. It was baby!!

As she kept pushing the bulge kept growing and baby was born almost en caul!

Almost en-caul birth photographed by Los Angeles birth photographer Diana Hinek for Dear Birth

It was so beautiful and special. She made it look so peaceful and effortless, as mama listened to her own body and took the time to welcome her almost en-caul baby earth-side.

Almost en-caul birth photographed by Los Angeles birth photographer Diana Hinek for Dear Birth

If you wish to watch the video version of this almost en-caul birth, please click here.

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