Incredible photos have captured the extraordinary ‘bubble birth’ of a baby girl who was born with her head encased in her amniotic sac.
Rachael, 23, and Nate Burow, 29, from Buffalo, New York, were stunned when their daughter Annabelle was born with the fluid-filled bag that enclosed her in the womb still in tact.
Typically this sac, which is connected to the placenta and provides infants with oxygen, bursts on its own, which is known as ‘waters breaking’.
Yet, the sac that surrounded Annabelle’s head did not rupture, even after doctors made an incision into the membrane as they delivered the infant via c-section.
Mr Burow captured the one-in-80,000 moment on camera moments after Annabelle was born healthy, weighing 8lbs 5oz, on February 21.
The couple, who are celebrating Annabelle’s arrival, say her dramatic entrance is ‘the cherry on top’.
Incredible photos capture the extraordinary ‘bubble birth’ of a baby girl named Annabelle, who was born with her head encased in her amniotic sac on February 21 this year
Born healthy and weighing 8lbs 5oz, Annabelle’s arrival was a one-in-80,000 event
Annabelle’s parents Rachael, 23, and Nate Burow, 29 (pictured with their 17-month-old son Isaiah) were unsure what was happening when amazed doctors delivered their daughter
‘That was just the cherry on top’
Mr Burow, a digital optimization specialist, said: ‘Everything happened so fast.
‘Rachael couldn’t see what was going on because she was behind a curtain and a little drugged up, but I was on the other side watching the operation.
‘As they started pulling things out of her stomach this bubble comes out and at first I thought it was part of her insides.
‘I knew it was weird because I had watched the c-section for my son 17 months earlier and I didn’t see that.
‘All of the nurses that were around helping the doctor were getting excited and pointing at it, but I was confused and I didn’t know what I was looking at.’
Worried about the nurses’ reactions, Mr Burow said: ‘I got a little scared, so I looked over and was like, “oh my God, is everything okay?”
He said: ‘The nurse didn’t even answer she just said, “Quick, take a picture”, so I pulled out the camera and snapped a few photos.
‘After that I went back with Rachael. I could tell she was out of it and [I] wanted to reassure her.
‘There was a lot of pushing and tugging and the she was out, just like that. I’m not sure if they sliced it open or pulled it over her.
‘I’m so happy that I got the moment on camera. We are so happy to have her with her now and that was just the cherry on top.’
Typically the sac enclosing her head bursts on its own, which is known as ‘waters breaking’
Yet, the sac that surrounded Annabelle’s head failed to rupture, even after doctors made an incision into the membrane as they delivered the youngster via Caesarean section
Mr Burow first thought his wife’s insides were coming out when a bubble-like head emerged
Ms Burow was dazed during the procedure and was reassured all was fine by her husband
Ms Burow was amazed when she saw the pictures of her daughter’s extraordinary birth
‘It was definitely a surprise for us’
Ms Burow, a full-time mother, added: ‘My doctor said this is super rare and it was definitely a surprise for us.
‘I was taken aback when I saw the photos. It is completely amazing.’
Ms Burow shared Annabelle’s arrival on her Instagram account @astoldbymama, where she documents her journey through motherhood with her daughter and 17-month-old son Isaiah.
The caul is a thin membrane, known as the amnion, that can cover a newborn’s head and face immediately after birth.
Babies can also be born ‘en caul’, where they emerge fully encased within the amniotic sac, which is filled with fluid in which unborn babies float and move.
This fluid protects against infection and cushions the baby from bumps and injury, as well as providing them with fluids that they can breathe and swallow.
Superstition surrounds the rare phenomenon of en caul births, with some cultures believing it is a mark of good luck.
Despite her dramatic arrival, Annabelle is not thought to have suffered any complications
Her entrance has been documented on her mother’s popular Instagram account
Pictured at one-minute old, Annabelle’s parents are overjoyed by their daughter’s arrival