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AIBU?

If you are born in a caul you cannot drown?

34 replies

travellinghopefully12 · 21/08/2016 19:47

Is this an irresponsible thing for parents to tell their children? DP was told this as a child, by his othrwise lovely parents and I can't quite believe it.

He grew up thinking he could swim out as far to sea as he liked.

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ClashCityRocker · 21/08/2016 20:35

I thought it meant you had the shining, and could see the future and shit.

Anyway, I was born in the caul and have never drowned...although I avoid water because I can't actually swim. No sign of the sixth sense either.

I remember my Irish grandmother being pissed mum didn't keep the caul as its good luck, apparently...although no idea how you would keep it.

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ClashCityRocker · 21/08/2016 20:36

Well, I don't remember it, but I heard about it growing up, I mean.

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0hCrepe · 21/08/2016 20:38

Yes I've looked it up now. The one on the clip was the helmet type floating around his face, not the full sac.
Surely people who say that they can't drown are just reiterating/passing down a myth rather than taking it seriously though!

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LadyTrevelyan · 21/08/2016 20:39

I think I am wrong but I thought a caul was associated with things like second sight and being attached to the other world.

Had a very religious but woo Grandma.

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travellinghopefully12 · 21/08/2016 20:42

canyouforgiveher just once, I think.

It's interesting, I never knew there was so much mythology involved. Is it common to be born in a caul?

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user838383 · 21/08/2016 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Puremince · 21/08/2016 21:27

DD was born with a caul. The midwife divided it in two. She gave us half to keep and kept the other half herself. I must have done something wrong because our half dried out and disintegrated after about six months. It was very thin. I think she may have folded hers into a smaller, thicker shape.

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AnnieOnnieMouse · 21/08/2016 23:16

Think about it - the baby born still in the sac will be visibly alive, and seemingly breathing the amniotic fluid - therefore able to breathe underwater, and therefore will not drown.

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UterusUterusGhali · 21/08/2016 23:32

I still say this but I'm pretty bloody sure it's taken as intended; as a joke, and a nod to an old wives tale. I live near Portsmouth btw.

I tell DS, who was in the caul until it exploded, the myth, but neither he nor I actually believe it.

If your DH was taking it seriously his parents absolutely should have put him straight.
Maybe they didn't realise he'd taken the comment on board.
Maybe they thought they were being glib.