What does it mean to be born with a shirt?

Being born with a shirt 'is not just a saying that indicates lucky people: it is also a way of referring to the rare babies who are born wrapped in the amniotic sac.

The "born with the shirt" are, according to the famous saying still very used, people in some way favored in life, lucky. They are the ones who have had a lot of satisfaction or at least have been given an advantage in some situations.

It seems that the saying has very ancient origins. In the past, rich families used to make the child wear a shirt after childbirth or after Baptism, which immediately distinguished social belonging. Having her on, in fact, clearly meant being part of a wealthy family, a sign of good luck for life. Poor families, on the other hand, did not have this same custom.

In reality, however, and in a less metaphorical framework, the expression is used in reference to a very specific episode: the birth, at the moment of delivery, of children still wrapped in the amniotic sac. In short, the shirt becomes a metaphor to indicate this envelope which has the task of protecting the fetus during its stay in the womb, wrapping it completely. The two essential membranes that make up the amniotic sac are called Chorion and Amnios, both rich in water, lipids, mineral salts and proteins. Inside the sac is the amniotic fluid , which allows the baby to live 9 months in a humid and comfortable environment, suitable for its growth.

The alternative to "being born with a shirt" is, among some populations, "being born with a hat". This is because it can also happen that the sac breaks, but some fragments remain attached to the head.

And it is no coincidence that today, as a good omen and to wish the baby the best of wishes, a light satin or cotton shirt is still inserted in his layette : the so-called shirt of luck. Tradition of some families has it that it is handed down from father to son, or sewn and embroidered by the mother or grandmother.

“Being born with a shirt” in the delivery room: are there any consequences?

Babies who are born with the amniotic sac intact ("with the shirt") have a less traumatic experience. For them, childbirth is more natural, because the liquid in the pouch attenuates the shocks against the mother's body; especially the head is protected as it passes along the birth canal. They also get a lot more oxygen

The phenomenon of "born with a shirt" occurs once every 80,000 births. The amniotic sac usually ruptures shortly before delivery, during the rupture of the water . This occurs before labor begins or during contractions . In these cases, however, it remains intact and the baby sees the light still wrapped in the "bubble" where he spent his 9 months inside the womb. It is certainly a curious and fascinating circumstance, but by no means dangerous, nor does it have any consequences.

The magical powers of "being born with a shirt"

In ancient times it was believed that babies born with a shirt were sorcerers of good, who came into the world with the task of defending people from witches. These children have always been associated with somehow magical powers. Or it was thought that they came into the world more 'protected' than others, destined to have a lucky life.

Today some think that being born in less traumatic and stressful circumstances, coming into the world almost without realizing it, makes these children grow up more relaxed.