Something I never imagined I'd do ...
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11834)
February 18, 2013 12:57am CST
Yesterday our second little goat kid of the year was born. We were alerted by mummy goat making a lot of noise, so I went out to check on her and the kid was partially birthed but stuck and the mother was in distress. The baby had one foot up and out, and one tucked away out of sight somewhere. Normally the feet come out alongside the head so this was a potential problem.
I waited a short while to see if anything happened, as I really do believe that no intervention is normally best, but there was no movement at all and the kid appeared to be very weak.
Previously my goats have always birthed with no problems, so I've never had to get involved in any way other than to watch. My partner went off to phone a local expert whilst I kept watching. I decided though that it was time to try and help so I found a pair of surgical gloves and delved in, so to speak.
The mother was a first time mother and small, and I could not insert my fingers far enough to locate the second leg despite trying and trying. So I very gently pulled the first leg out slightly, which allowed a little more space. The movement must have given mummy the impetus to push again, as I was then able to get my hand under the kid's chest and pull a little to assist. The first half of the kids came out, and I really hoped that the mother would then take over and continue the process but she must have been exhausted because she didn't even try. I gently birthed the back end of the little kid as well, and laid it on some straw next to Mummy goat's head. Thank heavens it was still alive, though very weak.
Mummy goat was not at all interested so I cleaned up baby's face to ensure it could breath properly. Mummy still was not interested so I had a stroke of genius and let her own mother into the shed. She sniffed about and quickly sussed out what was going on, then gave the new mother a swift headbutt. New Mum started licking her baby and I took the older goat away again.
At this point my partner got back with our neighbour, and I was so proud to be able to present a live mother and live baby! Apparently I'd done the right thing, as our neighbour said it probably wouldn't have survived otherwise.
It took a lot of encouragement for the baby to suckle, but at nightfall it was still alive and it was on it's feet. I put Mum and baby with her own Mum and baby last night (she's the goat who kidded the day before that I posted a photo of) and I'm now waiting for daybreak to go out and see how they have fared over night.
If you'd ever asked me a few years ago if I'd have the confidence or know how to act as goat midwife, I'd have laughed! But it was necessary and I'm pleased to say successful. I hope I've hung up my gloves now and the remaining goats can manage alone though!
Have you ever done something you'd not have imagined yourself doing?
5 people like this
15 responses
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
18 Feb 13
Hiya GM.,
Nothing at all like the brave thing you have done very brave. I have managed to keep my head while my Mom was very ill on the floor and everyone else was hell bent on arguing with each other and the Doctor himself was being wrapped into their silly goings on.
It looks like I saved her life that time and I so needed the Doctor to tell me something so I could keep my feet on the ground while they were all having a fit about it all not giving a fig for who was so very ill and on the floor and not even taking any notice they were all trying to hide their head in the sand.
But they do this with everything but I thought they would rally round as I had not been in England for years and I did not know whether or when to call an Ambulance or the local Doctor or what the heck to do as the Ambulance people were harassinge me with what district was I from?
So I had a really hard time for them who live there all year round to tell me that too.
I also stood up to a big bully she is three times bigger than me too but nothing as lovely as this beautiful story and how is the the new mom now and baby?
g
Good job her Mom was around to help her out all first time Moms do not have that inclination although I heartily wish a safe delivery for all the rest very well done indeed.xxx
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
18 Feb 13
Me again,
Lol, I knew where I was it was just that the street did not mean anything to them as they were based in Birmingham so I had to think was in one district or the other so I said Eastfield and just hoped for the best at the very least I thought they would have been able to locate me via the phone and those map things you know but they did not and I chewed my fingers almost to the bone till they came and sighed relief and the Doctor did not shout at me either because I had called both not knowing who to turn to I certainly learned that day how much things have changed over there on all levels.xxx
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Feb 13
Hiya GM,
Well a certain ex member of the ex family has always got to put their size eight foot in there and start trying to argue with the Doctor for goodness sake.
So I said "hey this is no time to be messing around with silly things" you know things like that.
Me and that Doctor were the only ones with a level head yes its just that I was at a loss as to know who to phone I could´nt believe how much things had changed on those levels.
Now I would know what to do but with my Husband being at work that day I was almost beside myself till the Doctor and the Ambulance came and I was trying so very hard not to cry as its very distressing to see your Mom just go down on the floor like that.
She recovered next Day although there was no real danger it was just part of her illness you see.
I told my Husband about your Story and he really liked that reminds me of something I saw about a mare birthing a foal and she did not want to feed it after but they managed to get the foal and mother to bond things do happen don´t they eh?.
Thanks for such a wonderful story it really made my day to read something like that.xxx
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Feb 13
That's something I certainly don't ever see myself doing. Can't wait to hear how the goats are doing today. I can't imagine how it must feel for you knowing you may have saved both of their lives.
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
18 Feb 13
Baby is still a little weak, but is hanging in there and is rallying well considering what a rough start he had. His slightly bigger cousin is waiting for him to be steady on his feet so the two of them can run riot in the shed. I suspect it won't be long! I'll see if I can find my camera again and get some more pictures.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
18 Feb 13
That just goes to show what good instincts you have. You should always listen to your instincts. Who know, next time it could be a human life you save!
I've done a lot of things in my life that I never thought I would do. One was to buy a house--which my instincts warned me against but here I am, stuck in an upside down market. I listened to people who told me it was a wise investment, not listening to my inner voice that told me mobility is safer than stability. Other things I've done that I never thought I would was ride a motorcycle, replace engine gaskets, change a clutch cable, live in the mountains in a tent panning gold for a summer, and travel to Mexico. Now that I think of it, it's a pretty long list that I won't bore you with but it's bringing back some pretty nice recollections!
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
18 Feb 13
Well done on birthing the kid. You'll need a mini (car not skirt) now and mid wife's outfit and can drive around the area as 'midwife on call'. LOL. I don't think that i have ever done anything like your feat but I have certainly been out of my comfort zone a few times. In fact today I am going up the tower of Salisbury Cathedral. Only to about 220' but as someone that doesn't like heights that's brave enough!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16559)
• China
18 Feb 13
You never thought the mummy goat would have a difficult delivery,otherwise you might have called in a vet in advance .Fortunately,you took it in your stride,the mummy goat and goat kid were safe and sound.You did a good job, even if you braved it out."Giving the new mother a swift headbutt" was a vividly presented.By what The older mummy goat have done, she seemed to be chewing the young mother out for her ignoring the goat kid.
1 person likes this
@songst557 (232)
• China
18 Feb 13
How bold and decisive you are!I know leg getting stuck sometimes happened as animal with four feet getting birth,once they could't get help in time,at least the baby would die.you did great job,anything can't compare with saving a life. :)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157873)
• United States
19 Feb 13
I have done a lot of things that I never thought I would. I would say taking care of sick people and even my husband who was ill and dying.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
23 Feb 13
Oh well done you!
I constantly amaze myself with things I attempt and achieve. Most notable lately is my newish hobby of jewellery making. I've concocted some delightful pieces and they sell really well!
Anything new I manage to do on the computer, especially if it frustrates me at first is another huge plus. I'm not running out of steam as I age, I'm actually improving!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Feb 13
wow you can be pretty darned p; ro ulod of yourself as not mny co uld d ol htat and you did it and it was the rightt thing tol do too.the only thing I can imagine is the time I an d my nyurse froend were leavingf for a trip to the black hills for the day . We had taken a road we seldom used and suddenly this little toddler was out in the busy street right in front of our car. I got out and brushed by the fender so cars could not hit me and grabbed the toddler then I looked at the traffic two lanes not stopping at all. the baby was shrieking and so was it's mons
getting hysterics so I put out one hand and stopped in front of a slowly moving car. the driver stopped and honked so the next lane stopped too.so I got the toddler to the mom and i will be damned they did not move letting me hurry back and get in my friends car. I then began to shake like a leaf but I did get the child back to its mom. my nurse friend told me I was nuts but she was glad I
could get the child back to its mom. oh my g if I had stopped to think I wold never have been able to do it but I was only 21
so I guess I thought nothing bad would happen but I think God was watching over over us
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Your goat-delivering story is very heartwarming. You kept a level head and did what had to be done. Grandma goat worked with you to help save the kid.
I had to help deliver doggie pups once as the mother doggie was getting worn out from a large litter.
I've also delivered many human babies. When I became a nurse, I worked in labor and delivery departments and we usually managed to call the doctors in time for them to do the delivery. The first time that I realized that the doctor wasn't going to make it on time, I knew it was going to be up to those of us in the L&D area. So one aide and I got the emergency delivery set and just stayed in the labor room. Fortunately, it was an easy delivery and we did well. Then when we thought the afterbirth was delivering, we found another baby presenting!!! The mother ended up naming the twins after us. I often wonder how those girls have done over their lifetimes. They should be about 38 yrs old now.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Wow that is a great story and I really wanted to read this post after I saw that you had delivered a baby goat. My girlfriend and I want to get goats really badly and we really want baby goats because they are so incredibly cute. I'd also like to get goats so then I could obtain goat's milk and make goat cheese and different goat style dairy products.
That's incredible that you helped this mother deliver her little baby and I'm glad that you were there to be able to help the child and the mother both survive the miracle of birth. I hope all of your goats live long and healthy lives.
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
18 Feb 13
Baby goats ARE cute, but then they grow up into adults who aren't so much! Goats are really hard work, but they are very rewarding and I wish you luck with your when you get them. I make cheese from the milk and it is a million times better than anything you can buy in the shops so that makes it worthwhile in itself.
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
19 Feb 13
Goats seem to be more work than any of our other animals, because they are pretty much untrainable! They do what they want to do, regardless of what you'd like the to do! It makes them interesting to keep of course.
The cheese with lavender sounds interesting. It doesn't sound good, but I'm sure it is. Goats cheese always goes well with fruity flavours, I find. When I start milking the goats again this time around I should have a lot more milk to play with than previously, so perhaps it's an idea I'll try out. Was this purple haze cheese the flower pieces scattered inside the cheese, or just an aroma which could have been created by soaking the flowers in the milk for instance?
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Yes I'm sure that goats are a lot of work as are pretty much every animal. That's awesome that you make your own cheese with goat's milk. I absolutely love goat milk and goat cheese, I would have to say that the best cheese I've ever had was this goat cheese called purple haze that had lavender inside of the cheese, it was so incredibly good.
@marguicha (216342)
• Chile
19 Feb 13
Good for you! I have seen goats give birth, but never with problems. Kid goats are so cute! I loved the wholoe thing and my daughters, then children, learned a lot about life in the best possible way.
Let me just say (write) again, wow!
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
18 Feb 13
thats great news !!! glad it all worked out for them. Also glad you took interest and helped. have a super week there with the new baby..
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
19 Feb 13
we used to work with horses years ago in montana in usa. Was a great deal when a mom had her foal. Very exciting.
@BarBaraPrz (45672)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Feb 13
Long ago and far away, I assisted with one of Mona's kittens that got stuck. The vet I phoned suggested I take a wet washcloth and try to pull him out. It worked and the others came out no problem. There were four of them. Three found homes with friends, and the poor little stuck guy, Alfie, stayed home with mum. He was a little silly, but otherwise a lovely cat.
As for doing something I never imagained doing... does getting married count?
