03/23/09, 04:44 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Alaska
Posts: 3,606
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If a doe is ready and is really truly pushing, I would not let them go for more than about 15-20 minutes without progress (shorter if they are struggling or tiring out or just looking distressed without progress). If this happens, I go in.
The first set of quads we had Friday did not require *any* assistance whatsoever. But I had to go in on the second set of quads born this past Saturday. The dam was lying on her side, pushing, and pushing hard, even yelling, and she was not progressing. I could even hold one back leg for her to brace against and I would see the contraction of her tail and she would push and yell. At this point, I could easily enter as she was fully dilated, but I was very careful since she had not been "naturally" stretched by an exiting baby. With plenty of lube and long gloves on, I sort of ringed around the labia gently stretching it until it was big enough for me to easily enter. Cervix was fully dilated and just beyond I could feel a kid in a bad presentation.
I worked to rearrange the kid for several minutes. Eventually I let her rest and pulled back to see if she could deliver him breech. The doe then expelled two empty sacks of fluid (which usually contain a kid with feet presenting) so I had to go back in and continue to work to get the kid turned. There just wasn't any room, which is probably why she didn't get up and stretch as I've seen other does do when they are trying to rearrange babies on their own.
I was worried I'd break his cord prematurely or hurt him as he had his legs tucked up under him and his rear was tucked up under the edge of her pelvis. All I could feel was rump and back and the feet of other kids. Not good. I FINALLY found the two back legs and delivered the first buck this way, happy to discover I had not injured him nor tangled him with another kid, nor broken his cord. It is important to note, however, that I never *pulled* on the baby, just oriented him and held his feet so that he would not go back in between pushes.
Shortly thereafter, the doe rocketed out a little doe in perfect presentation. Then more trouble with a GIGANTIC buck that barely passed his head through her pelvis (I know because I had to take my hand off his head to get him through the pelvis). Then she quit pushing and got up like she was done.
She spent several minutes cleaning babies and did not lie back down. I never leave a doe until the placenta is delivered so I gave her some time. Then I went in and checked and voila, the fourth was still there, waiting to be pushed out. I oriented her and delivered her back feet first. Soon after the doe delivered her placenta and a clean sweep showed no more babies.
Sometimes (especially with multiples or with difficult presentations or with inexperienced does or with does that are weak) they just stop pushing, even if contractions continue. As long as the cervix is open and the date is right, you want to go in and find out what, if anything, is holding things up. JMO.
Last edited by hoofinitnorth; 03/23/09 at 04:59 PM.
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