Kid or calf??

My hubby thinks Milly looks like a little jersey calf!

Molly with little Milly

Memorial Weekend Birthing Event

It has been quite an interesting weekend here
at our place.

Molly went into labor last night just before we
arrived home from the Twin Cities. Son and
hubby were keeping a close eye on her and when I
arrived home I took over. She had a water sack
that came out around 9 pm and when she didn't
deliver any kids I became concerned. I went
online to read about what I should do. I
checked on her every 10-15 minutes and she was
calm and relaxed, even munching on hay a couple
times.

I finally woke hubby up at 1:30 this morning and
told him something wasn't right. He came out to
the barn with me and I checked on her. She was
still calm but it seemed like her labor had
stopped. This was a first as all our other
kids have been born just before we get to the
barn and the two times we watched it all
happened quickly.

I wish I knew last night what I know now.
This morning after talking with a vet
friend whom we know and has helped with other
goats of ours I felt like I had to go in and see
if I could help. I had called a local vet and
got an answering machine and the message said if
it was an emergency to call a certain number and
also to note that any farm calls would be double
because of the holiday weekend. We wouldn't be
able to have a vet come out even at the normal
rate at this time so I just prayed and asked the
Lord to guide my hand and teach me what I needed
to do. I felt confident after talking with the vet
that I could try my best. Molly remained calm
and so did I. My
Dad and hubby were right there praying with me
through it all. So, now I have the experiencing
of pulling three kids.
The first was a buck and he was dead, the second
was a little doe (though I didn't know it until
about an hour later as I was so busy cleaning
her up and getting her to her momma to clean
her) and then getting her to nurse, which she
has been doing very well! Her name is Milly.
Hubby asked if he was needed anymore as he was
going to go to work for a few hours and I said
all looked well. Shortly after he left I sent
my Dad after him because I saw the hooves of the
third one coming out. This one was also a doe.
I cleaned her all up and did what I could, but
she was dead.
Little Milly is doing well so far. She was very
weak and did not get up on her feet like we have
seen our other newborns do. We got her to nurse
so she would get some good colostrum in her and
she has been nursing with my assistance (Momma
is doing great in letting me help her kid
nurse!) Milly has been up on her feet and walking
around. She is VERY precious. We are thankful
that through all this trauma that this little
one has made it so far. She is black with a
large white band around her belly. She is
beautiful!

Our digital camera broke a couple weeks ago and
is in repairs. I have another camera that
doesn't take very good pictures, but I will do
my best to get one as soon as I can so you can
all see her!

I know that the Lord was with
us through the whole thing. The fact that I was
able to remain calm and even do it is even
baffling me!

Molly did pass her placenta on her own. So, I
didn't have to run anywhere to get
meds to have her start contractions to expel it,
which I was praying we would not have to do -
but was willing if we had to. I did give her a
shot of antibiotic to help her fight off any
infection she might get for me going in and
assisting her. I scrubbed up good and oiled my
arm up like the vet told me.

I'm proud of Molly as she was so good the whole
time I was assisting her and she is being such a
good momma, not pushing her baby away at all.
She and I had a long conversation through the
whole thing, I guess I have to say I bonded with
one of my goats in a way I never thought I
would! I talked, then she would talk and then
she would push and I would pull. Farm life, I
guess there is nothing quite like it.

This is one Memorial Weekend I don't think I'll
ever forget. It definitely has lots of memories.

Our newest little doeling - Milly