[Jacob-list] "pinking" Re: Lambing -HELP

[critterland at bendcable.com]

I was actually thinking more in terms of  checking if the ewe had been doing this for a couple days, rather than hours... guess I should have specified.I don't rush in with an exam either, and a lot of what I do depends on knowing my individual sheep and how they act in labor, when they don't feel well, etc.  Seems like no two are the same!  Makes sense that the contortions would shift the lambs...maybe her ewe has learned something new!  That's the joy of Jacobs, I guess.    I sure don't claim to be an expert shepherd , and I'm sure glad the girls usually do it on their own.    I've had to pull a couple --boys with heads the size of Texas,  and a set of twins that both tried to come out at the same time-- but the percentage of births needing assistance is microscopic .     Love those Jacobs!
Melody

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joy Thomas, SonRise Farm" <shepherdofspots at yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:46 am
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] "pinking" Re:  Lambing -HELP


> If I did not observe bleeding, mucus oozing from

> vulval area, signs of a broken sack hanging out,

> grinding teeth (like ewe was in severe pain), I would

> not do an internal examination. I would think the ewe

> was just trying to relieve pressure of labor! I

> remember a low back rub felt REALLY good when my older

> daughter was born. Flopping could be nature's way of

> getting a lamb exactly into position for birth.

> Gravity works well for this! <grin>

> > What would you consider a possible cause for

> > the bottom-rubbing and "flopping"?  

> 

> Remember, the major part of a ewe's labor is what the

> Laura Lawson "Managing Your Ewe and her newborn lambs"

> book calls "invisible".

> 

> Only after the ewe has started to push do I start my

> "clock" ticking. If I have not had a lamb presented

> after 35-40 minutes, THEN I would clean my hands,

> remove jewelry and do an internal examination for a

> malpresented lamb. Especially in first-time lambing,

> the ewes are experiencing all kinds of new sensations.

> 

> 

> Most of my ewes deliver without my even being there!

> We look out to pasture to mama and lamb with ewe

> giving her "look what I did!" appearance.

> 

> I WOULD keep an eye on her!

> 

> Joy T in NC

> www.shepherdofspots.com

> 

> 

> 

> 

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