Author Topic: Uncomfortable ewe (Read 5074 times)

Haylo-peapod · « **on:** March 31, 2012, 06:29:41 pm »

I have a ewe that for the past week or two just has not been able to get comfortable, particularly if she lies down.
Consequently she spends most of the time standing.

She is due to lamb today but isn't showing any signs of coming into labour. No great surprise really as the last 2 years she has been 3 days and 4 days past her due date. On both occasion she had large single lambs.
I'm guessing that her problem is that the lamb she is carrying (single) is large (she's bigger than the ewes carrying twins) and laying awkwardly.

Is the fact the ewe is not able to rest laying down likely to cause her, or the lamb, addded stress? Surely it must make her more tired?
Could this be a sign that I may encounter a tricky labour with this ewe?

I kind of wish that I could give her something to induce the lamb rather than her suffering any longer and also having to deliver an even larger lamb in a few more days time....

Tried dagging her today but that didn't stimulate labour

I guess she'll just do it in her own sweet time

Old Shep · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2012, 11:34:04 pm »

good luck with this one - seems like its a problem brewing!

Tilly · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2012, 07:56:16 am »

Hi Haylo-peapod
How is the ewe doing?

Rosemary · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2012, 11:35:23 am »

We had one lamb this morning that was due on Friday. She had twins, which we knew. She has looked soooo uncomfortable for a week. She's got a bag like a cow, and had been sitting up a lot. THink it was the only way she got comfy. Bet she's glad it's all over.

How's your girl?

Haylo-peapod · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2012, 11:41:10 am »

Good news, the ewe lambed yesterday (fortunately only 1 day late) and Mum and lamb are both doing great.

The lamb was huge and it was a tricky birth.
The presentation was normal but the head and legs were very tightly jammed in the birth canal so even with my tiny hands I just couldn't manage to ease either leg out.

I was getting to the point I didn't think I would be able to get the lamb out alive and had a feeling the ewe may need a C section. I spoke to a farmer friend who suggested I try pushing down gently on the head from the anal canal.

I'd heard of this before but never had the confidence to do it as I know it can tear the canal if you are not careful.
It worked a treat, I scarcely had to exert any pressure and the head started to drop down and the lamb was delivered a couple of minutes later. It was a miracle..such a fantastic feeling after the intial worries.

I've been lambing for 7 years but there's still so much to learn. I'll certainly not hesitate to use this technique again if I get a stuck large lamb as it was far less stressful for the ewe and lamb. Happy Days

Haylo-peapod · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2012, 11:43:28 am »

Hi Rosemary, pleased your uncomfortable ewe is feeling better now and that she managed to lamb OK. Certainly mine also seems far more content now and much more rested.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2012, 12:34:39 pm »

Thanks for that tip

- as you say, there's always something to learn

Old Shep · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2012, 02:55:17 pm »

Crikey - wish I'd read that tip this morning, we have just had a right "giant turnip" birth, a shearing with a single big lamb. WIl remember for next time though, thanks!

Rosemary · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2012, 02:58:20 pm »

Great tip - will certainly bear that in mind for next year. I can see how it would have helped with one of our two big singles. The first one couldn't even get head and two legs into the birth canal

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2012, 03:26:27 am »

That's a new one on me and I shall certainly try it if I have the same situation.

We had our first (this year) very difficult lambing last night; it beat me so BH and I swapped places. First lamb was dead and, as so often with dead lambs, not presenting well - if you got the legs forward the head flopped back and round, etc. The ewe wouldn't stop pressing, hard, which didn't help. If I'd been on my own I think I'd have had to call the vet for an epidural to stop the ewe pressing so I could get the lamb organised, and I might have had to use a wire around the head to keep it straight. However, BH, with all his years of experience, worked out what was going on very quickly, couldn't get it straight, turned the ewe over onto her other side and got it out more easily. The happy ending was the two lambs behind were big and strong. All three doing well today.

jaykay · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2012, 06:26:52 am »

Good to hear it turned out ok in the end and that she's got good twins

Sylvia · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2012, 08:06:23 am »

I'm sure I never worried as much over my two daughters' confinements as I do over my animals' ! That is a good tip Halo P. and one I've never heard of. Hope everybody's lambings go well