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A baby born three months early has been photographed still in his completely intact amniotic sac.
Silas Philips was delivered via caesarean section at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles California.
Neonatologist William Binder took the picture with his mobile phone, describing the birth to CBS as “a moment of awe”.
Silas Philips was born at just 26 weeks
He added: “This was really a moment that will stick in my memory for some time.”
Typically the amniotic sac ruptures during birth and is commonly known as the mother’s waters breaking.
There is no risk to the baby as it continues to feed off the placenta, beginning to breathe as soon as the sac is broken.
Silas pictured just after his birth in his still-intact amniotic sac
The rare phenomenon occurs in fewer than 1 in 80,000 births.
Silas’s mother Chelsea was shown the image by her doctor.
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She told the channel her son: “Was kind of in a fetal position and you could see his arms and his legs curled up. It was actually really cool to see.”
In 2013 Athens-based Dr Aris Tsigris revealed an image of a baby also still in its amniotic sac.
He described the incidence as “ultra rare”, adding he was left “breathless” by the delivery.