Henrietta is now two weeks old. I've had a few minutes to think back to her birth and also do a bit of research -
Oliver was an early bird; he arrived a week earlier than his due date. Labor started out of nowhere with him and was over relatively quickly. And his actual birth was, like he is today, super fast. Given this history, and that we live a half hour from Beverly Hospital when there is no traffic, the midwives suggested that we not dawdle too long at home with Henrietta's labor.
Davis and I were both convinced that Henrietta would be early. I was so convinced that I scheduled a number of appointments for the week of the 15th (which I had to cancel) because I was sure we would have a baby that was at least a couple weeks old. Ah no. Henrietta arrived on her due date - the 15th. And, despite the predictions of the midwives', labor was twice as long as Oliver's- 12 hours (or 22 hours if you count from when my water broke). However, once Henrietta decided that it was time to join us she did - with just one push. In the craziness of her quick arrival it took me a minute to realize the baby on my chest was blue. Henrietta entered the world with the cord wrapped around her neck and holding the cord firmly in her hand. She also was born with "the caul." What this means is that she was born with the amniotic sac over her head. Normally this ruptures prior to the birth - only about 1 in 80,000 births have partial or full caul (full caul is much rarer - Henrietta had full caul). They removed the caul before placing her on my chest, but Davis says that it was a bit unnerving seeing Henrietta enter the world with the sac over her head.
In medieval times being born "with the caul" is supposed to be a sign of good luck. In European history "the caul" was supposed to protect people from drowning, Therefore, a baby born with the caul could bring a family great fortune as it (the caul, not the baby) could be sold to sailors for a good chunk of change. Babies born with the caul were also said to be heirs to the throne and were also said to have a special destiny and possess psychic abilities.
Davis and I were both convinced that Henrietta would be early. I was so convinced that I scheduled a number of appointments for the week of the 15th (which I had to cancel) because I was sure we would have a baby that was at least a couple weeks old. Ah no. Henrietta arrived on her due date - the 15th. And, despite the predictions of the midwives', labor was twice as long as Oliver's- 12 hours (or 22 hours if you count from when my water broke). However, once Henrietta decided that it was time to join us she did - with just one push. In the craziness of her quick arrival it took me a minute to realize the baby on my chest was blue. Henrietta entered the world with the cord wrapped around her neck and holding the cord firmly in her hand. She also was born with "the caul." What this means is that she was born with the amniotic sac over her head. Normally this ruptures prior to the birth - only about 1 in 80,000 births have partial or full caul (full caul is much rarer - Henrietta had full caul). They removed the caul before placing her on my chest, but Davis says that it was a bit unnerving seeing Henrietta enter the world with the sac over her head.
In medieval times being born "with the caul" is supposed to be a sign of good luck. In European history "the caul" was supposed to protect people from drowning, Therefore, a baby born with the caul could bring a family great fortune as it (the caul, not the baby) could be sold to sailors for a good chunk of change. Babies born with the caul were also said to be heirs to the throne and were also said to have a special destiny and possess psychic abilities.
Those who were born with the caul include Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Lord Byron and Kahlil Gibran.
Only two weeks old and she's already provided us with a history lesson.
So interesting - I have never heard of the caul. Did you save Henrietta's to sell for a good chunk of change? :)
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