A caul (Latin: Caput galeatum, literally, "head helmet") is a thin, filmy membrane, the remnants of the amniotic sac, that covers or partly covers the newborn mammal immediately after birth. It is also the membrane enclosing the paunch of mammals, particularly as in pork and mutton butchery. In butchery, the caul is used as offal. Obstetrics To be "born in the caul" simply means a child is born with the amnion, or amniotic sac intact around a newborns' body. The amniotic sac (also known as the bag of waters,) separates from the membranes of the uterus in this case, and balloons out of the mother's vagina, covering the baby's face and body as he or she emerges from the vagina. The baby is in no danger of drowning, since he or she will not take a breath until his or her face is out of the fluid which is also still contained in the caul. Even if the newborn does gasp as he or she emerges, as long as the placenta is still inta

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