My Alpine goat delivered last night and everything that could have gone wrong, did. I noticed the "string" about 3 and she was laboring fine. Walking around and lying down to make it through. Then she started pushing about 6 and we had to "help" pull out the baby after 30 min or so. The baby was dead. Now, this morning she seems fine: eating, grazing, drinking, calling out but only in answer to the other goats that are not in the birthing fence. She has normal poop, and her "backside" is a little swollen but not bloody or too bad looking.
She was not due until Sept 9th and that is the earliest because of when we brought the buck to her. She still looks a little plump but nothing like before birthing. This was her first time.
The problem is, I can't get any milk out of her. I know it's not really milk and that there will only be a table spoon or so, but she is rock hard and I thought trying to squeeze a little out would help. I was able to get one sides plug out but not the other. Neither side has any milk showing at all.
Could this be that she was not ready to birth and is therefore not ready to have milk? She does not have a fever and her udder, although rock hard, is not hot and she doesn't seem overly in pain when I tried hot compresses and massage.
Any info would be great. I am at a loss right now. I am wondering if this baby, which was pretty small, was a stillbirth that
came earlier than it should have. Could she still have another baby in there that will come when it is time? I tried bouncing but have never had successs with that anyway. Thanks everyone.
) and you could try about a tablespoon of raspberry leaves. I've heard that it helps, although I've not tried it - and it won't hurt her!
