First malposition experience

KimM · #1 03/10/07, 10:03 PM

I had a busy couple days. I came home from school Thursday night and noticed my doe, Cooky, looking like she might kid soon. She had twins (doe and buck) at 3:30 am Friday morning - 15 degrees, of course.
I finally got to bed at 6 am but was awake 'til 6:30.

At 8:30, my chiropractor's receptionist called to cancel my 10 am appointment because he was sick. No problem, I was beat anyway. Then at 9:30, my friend called, upset, and said her Boer doe, Courtney, was in labor but couldn't get the kid out and she thought it was dead because the doe gave up, and could I please come over (sobbing now

) right away? Well I can't turn down a friend and a goat in need just because I only had 3 hours sleep so I jump up, dress, feed my dog, fix the bottle kid a bottle and have DH feed the kid and goats and off I go with my goat-meds tote.

I drove straight up to her barn and went inside and see the doe laying there doing nothing but chewing cud. Cathy said she wasn't doing anything early that morning and went to get feed, was gone about an hour. When she got back, the doe had tissues hanging out but couldn't find kids and was in hard labor but then just stopped. So I just immediately washed my arms and hands and went into the doe. Legs were right there but I couldn't find the head. Finally found an ear but I couldn't get a grip on it and I couldn't, for the life of me, get a grip on any part of its head to reposition it. Cathy asked if we should load her up and haul her to the vet (he doesn't do farm calls anymore) but I said hold on, I tried the other arm and got my fingers under the kid's elbows and pushed the jaw with my fingertips over and up around the leg. It slipped back under and I tried again but this time I grasped the bottom jaw and pulled forward and it lined right up with the legs. A few good tugs with her contractions and out came this huge buck kid - alive! After a few minutes I thought it might be better if I go check for another instead of waiting and when I put my hand in her, she started pushing again and out plopped a gorgeous doe, alive and well. Poor Cathy was crying so hard, giving many thanks. Then I sent her after towels to rub the kids dry while I squeegied slime off him with my hands. (what IS that stuff, ectoplasm or something?? ) Thankfully it was warm and sunny that morning and we finished drying them in the sun. Gave them each Bo-Se, a squirt of ND, gave poor Courtney a shot of Banamine and Penicillin, and I stayed until the kids nursed good. Then my DH showed up with breakfasts and coffee for all of us from Burger King because I hadn't eaten since the afternoon before.
Cathy said I was her hero, I said no, I'm your friend, that's what friends do

, right? (made me feel good though!)
But it was cool, I really had a real learning experience, and I'm so glad that I was home and was able to help. Seemed like my appointment getting cancelled was meant to be!

full sun · #2 03/10/07, 10:08 PM

Wow!! You kept your head. That's awesome! I think you are a hero... If I am ever in that situation, I hope I hold up half as well.

Jennifer

Laura Workman · #3 03/10/07, 10:37 PM

Great job! I've only had to do it a couple times, and it's always scary, but so cool when everything comes out OK. Congratulations!

Freeholder · #4 03/10/07, 10:49 PM

Wonderful work! Full sun is right -- keeping your head is the main thing!

I had to do something similar one time, and found that the only thing I could get ahold of was the kid's lower jaw (the teeth were the only thing on him that wasn't slippery). Hopefully you'll never have to do that again, but maybe that tip will help if you do. (Mine was a single large buck kid, Alpine.) Thankfully, when it happened to me, I had a friend coaching me who was very experienced with cattle, but his hands were too big for him to be going inside of a goat. He said later he didn't think we'd save either the doe or the kid, but they both did fine. May have permanently traumatized the half-dozen children who were watching wide-eyed, though, LOL! (My two older girls and some of their friends.)

Kathleen

Starsmom · #5 03/10/07, 11:05 PM

I'm so glad all went well. I can't wait for kidding to begin and then feel anxious about all the things that can go wrong. I just hope I can keep my head if a real emergency like yours happens.

Sher · #6 03/11/07, 12:06 AM

You did a great job! I am so glad all turned out so well!

Terre d'Esprit · #7 03/11/07, 01:40 AM

Yay!! Congratulations! That is EXACTLY what happend to me when my doe kidded on Jan 30. Except the doe came out first... : ) This was my first kidding ever (and hers, too) and I had to go in. But like you know, it was worth it.

Hope you got some rest. It's 1:48 am, we lose an hour of sleep tonight because of DST, and I am waiting on my last doe to kid. She is in early labor now.

If you're up with me, you can watch her on my webcam:
http://www.marestare.com/terredesprit.htm

hoggie · #8 03/11/07, 03:06 AM

Wow - well done. And on no sleep as well. Do you want t o come and live near me next year when mine are ready

And well done to Terre as well especially if it was your first kidding - must have been nerve-wracking

hoggie

KayJay · #9 03/11/07, 03:11 AM

Woohoo!

nehimama · #10 03/11/07, 06:06 AM

Wow! Great job, Kim. Congratulations on being a hero. May I call you to come help if I have problems next kidding season?

NeHi

KimM · #11 03/11/07, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terre d'Esprit

Yay!! Congratulations! That is EXACTLY what happend to me when my doe kidded on Jan 30. Except the doe came out first... : ) This was my first kidding ever (and hers, too) and I had to go in. But like you know, it was worth it.

Hope you got some rest. It's 1:48 am, we lose an hour of sleep tonight because of DST, and I am waiting on my last doe to kid. She is in early labor now.

If you're up with me, you can watch her on my webcam:
http://www.marestare.com/terredesprit.htm

First kidding??? I'd have been terrified!!!!!
I don't see anything on the cam, it's all black!

KimM · #12 03/11/07, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehimama

Wow! Great job, Kim. Congratulations on being a hero. May I call you to come help if I have problems next kidding season?

NeHi

Sure but I don't think I can get there quite as fast! I'm only in my second year of goats and kidding but I have about 12 years experience foaling. I'd be happy to help where I could.

moonspinner · #13 03/11/07, 09:08 AM

And kudos to your hubby too for bringing you sustenance. I bet that meal tasted good after all your hard work and stress!

Raftercat5 · #14 03/12/07, 02:14 PM

Kim: Great job! When I went in my goat, i realized how difficult it is because it's so crowded in there, but managed to straighten out a leg to get the baby out. I kept feeling something sharp and finally realized it was teeth! Who knew they had teeth already?? Not this newbie. This is my 2nd yr. with goats, and my 2nd time ever to even witness a delivery!!
- Kathy

Jim S. · #15 03/12/07, 02:41 PM

You are TOO a hero, Kim!

Blossomgapfarm · #16 03/12/07, 02:46 PM

I know what you mean Kathy! I had to go in on our second doe - the first had delivered just minutes before - and kept thinking, "What on earth is that!" knowing that I should be feeling feet. Nope - mouth, no feet anywhere near by. Had to really go deep to get those little feet out. Kind of startled me when I realized I was feeling teeth though!

Dawn

KimM · #17 03/12/07, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim S.

You are TOO a hero, Kim!

*blush* No, no, that's far too big a label for me, I'm too modest for it! Ya just do what ya have to for the critters!

Jim S. · #18 03/12/07, 03:46 PM

Kim, too bad the kids and mama can't talk in English! Bet they might use that word!

dbarjacres · #19 03/12/07, 08:08 PM

You could get the "Goatie Hero of the Day" award! Good job too.

Wish I had friends like you!

Sweet Goats · #20 03/12/07, 09:20 PM

WOW, That is WONDERFUL. That is wonderful that you did not give up, if you would of I bet she would have lost boththe babies.

That is for the DH.