Apparently, if you are one of the parents involved, the process of childbirth is one of the most beautiful (and painful) moments of your entire life. If, like the rest of us, you happen to be watching from a distance it can be a somewhat less beautiful and slightly messier affair.

For the doctors involved then it is probably just another day at the office, until a baby is born completely encased in the amniotic sac. A physician in Los Angeles was so taken aback by the sight that he actually snapped a picture with his phone. This from Time:

[Silas] Johnson was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center via C-section, curled in the hallmark fetal (sic) position within, and his hands were visible pressing against the clear membrane of the sac.

Even us males know that the term ‘water breaking’ refers to the rupturing of the amniotic sac, and if this doesn’t happen naturally the doctor will often assist the process by performing the rupture manually. Sometimes, however, a birth ‘en caul’ (when the sac remains intact) can aid in premature births like Silas’.

Yes, the miracle of childbirth is indeed a sight to behold. A note for expecting parents though, your friends deserve to be warned before you show them a picture of your youngster crowning and your missus spread-eagled like a spatchcock chicken.

[source:time]