Breaking the water

PricklyPearHill · #1 03/12/14, 02:18 PM

My kidding season has begun. Two healthy babies were born last night without any difficulty. Thank The Lord.

My question is about when or if to break the water bag. First came a bubble of water, which burst naturally during a push and the second sac of water appeared almost immediately with two hooves and a nose visible inside. I broke that sac and the kid was delivered pronto. Was that the right thing to do? Everything seemed to work out, but should I have left well enough alone? My instinct was to clear the area around that little nose.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 03/12/14, 04:07 PM

Yes, it's fine! You did good.

We need pictures!

PricklyPearHill · #3 03/12/14, 11:24 PM

Breaking the water-imageuploadedbyhomesteading-today1394684481.403004.jpg

Breaking the water-imageuploadedbyhomesteading-today1394684541.980933.jpg

I'll get some more pics tomorrow. 4 more babies were born today and we had a wind storm that kept me awake most of last night. I'm doing good just keeping it all together with a toddler in tow today, let alone much photography

Lesley off the grid in SW Missouri

myheaven · #4 03/13/14, 07:32 AM

You did just fine. Those babies are so cute. Makes me sob. No babies for me this year. My very expensive registered stud was a dud!

MDKatie · #5 03/13/14, 07:44 AM

I try never to break the amniotic sac unless I have to. It provides lubrication for the kid coming out. It doesn't speed up labor, IMO, and the sack normally breaks on its own. The breaking of the umbilical cord is what causes the instinct to breathe in, so even though the nose is out, they'll be ok. I don't think there's necessarily any harm in breaking it, but I think it's beneficial to leave it. But I try to be very hands-off with birthing...I let them do it unless there's a problem, and I try to give them space to do it when and how they want to...but I do like to be there to watch and assist only if needed.

Olivia67 · #6 03/13/14, 01:42 PM

You have some gorgeous kids! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who can't sleep during a wind storm too. They just scare the willies out of me! I don't think it matters if you break it or not, you got some beatiful kids so obviously you did just fine. I've probably seen almost every video of goat and sheep birthing that is on line and read everything I could about it too and never heard it was a problem yet. Maybe it's like opening up your presents early and not waiting until Christmas morning? <g>

Frosted Mini's · #7 03/13/14, 10:57 PM

MDKatie...I don't see how an UNBROKEN sac would provide lubrication...all the liquidy lubey stuff is inside.

MDKatie · #8 03/14/14, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

MDKatie...I don't see how an UNBROKEN sac would provide lubrication...all the liquidy lubey stuff is inside.

It helps the lamb slide through, internally, not externally. Does that make sense? Hard to explain...it provides lube inside the amniotic sac, not between the lamb and the vagina. If the sac breaks on its own, no big deal, but I don't try to break it on purpose (unless I need to pull the kid or re-position it).

PricklyPearHill · #9 03/15/14, 08:48 PM

Well, as luck would have it, I've had a lot more experience since I first posted this. 11 kids on the ground and very bouncy as of this evening. I try to be kind of hands off too, especially because these does aren't very tame. I got the herd from some other pretty hands off folks and am doing what I can to improve them. It seems to me that breaking the sac provides almost immediate relief to the hard-working mama. The kids mostly were delivered almost immediately. I'm happy with the results of breaking the sac so far. I have so many questions now after a few days of kids popping out everywhere. I'll start another thread.

Lesley off the grid in SW Missouri