Warning: This does not end well, and I’m posting it for (my!) education only.
Do not read if you’re squeamish!!Two days before we expected to begin lambing, I had a call from our neighbour early in the morning: “You’ve started, you know!”. Unfortunately elation soon turned to concern when I realised that what the ewe had hanging from her back end was not in fact a water bag, but a vaginal prolapse about the size of a grapefruit. This was one of our first timers, and in actual fact the first home grown lamb ever to give birth on our holding.
8am: I managed to get her inside, washed off the prolapse in warm water with a little hibiscrub, and gently popped it back into place. She almost immediately popped it back out again, so I fitted a prolapse spoon, which seemed to do the trick.
11am: Ewe was observed straining as if in labour. Decided to leave spoon in place.
11.30am: Ewe definitely in labour. Prolapse re-appeared despite spoon still being in place. It was different this time though – a small black dot was visible in the middle, which I quickly identified as the opening of the cervix! If I put my finger into the black dot, I could feel something that felt like a lamb’s jaw, but I could only get one finger inside the cervix.
Phoned the vet, who said get a hand in to stop her from turning herself inside out, and gradually work on opening up the cervix until you can get the lambs out.
12.30pm: Managed to get three fingers inside. Called knowledgeable friend, who recommended a jab of Calciject 6 and some betamox. Administered both. Kept working at it, trying to keep the cervix inside the ewe where it should be, and also working steadily with my hand to open things up.
3pm (yes, really!), finally managed to get my whole hand inside her, and could feel one head up against the cervix, but then the legs of another lamb forward in the birth canal. Couldn’t find the legs of the first lamb (I could only just get my hand inside), so I decided to push the first lamb back, and try to deliver the second one. Managed to get the second lamb’s head up and into a birthing position.
3.30pm: Tried to deliver the lamb, but ended up with its head and feet well and truly stuck in the cervix. Had a hell of a job trying to work the lamb out, but the ewe back as it were, to stop her from turning inside-out. Getting increasingly concerned by this time, I called the vet again (I’m getting quite good at one-handed dialling!). He agreed to come out and help, so I shoved the lamb back inside, and went to the loo!
3.40pm: When I came back from the loo, the lamb was hanging out at a slightly different angle, and a bit further than before. Managed to pull the lamb out alive but exhausted. At least the ewe wants it, which is a bonus! Cancelled the vet!
3.50pm: Pulled out the second lamb, dead and had been for a little while from the look of its eyes. Ewe seems ok though.
6pm: Afterbirth delivered. Lamb still weak. Milked Mum and tubed lamb. Will I ever play guitar again?
8pm-midnight: All ok. Lamb suckling now. Ewe seems fine.
2am: Ewe has pushed out the prolapse again, and seems to be in some considerable pain. It’s ok girl! You can stop pushing now! Washed and replaced it again. Re-fitted spoon. Probably should have used a needle and thread instead TBH.
3.30am: Ewe has pushed out the prolapse AGAIN, is in serious, serious pain actually enough for her cries to wake me up in the house! Also, it’s worse this time, as she’s pushed out the whole of her uterus, it's covered in dirt, and I can see the ‘knobbles’ that correspond to the bits you can usually see on afterbirth.
Click here for a photo if you must!3.45am: Shot ewe with .22 rifle. The loneliest, most desolate thing I’ve ever done (Remember, this is a ewe I watched being born two years ago). Cried buckets and cursed having given up alcohol for Lent. Brought lamb into kitchen.
7.30am: Called Knacker
8.30am: Knacker arrived. Not bad for living in the middle of nowhere!
9am: Lamb is in kitchen and doing well. It’s cute as hell, and really well marked.
2 Days later: Noticed a single about to give birth. Ran and got kitchen lamb, tied its legs together with elastic bands, and took it outside in a poly bag, so that the ewe couldn’t see it. Penned ewe, and as her lamb appeared, still in its water bag, broke the bag over the orphan lamb. Then delivered her own lamb and wiped the two all over each other.
Presented Mum with the orphan first, and once she began licking it off, plonked her own lamb on top of it.
I’m
really glad that’s over, and I so hope I never have to go through it again.