I must preface this kidding with the fact that I have been sleeping in the kidding shed for the past two weeks. My space heater, Jerry, is my new best friend, and really cots are not all that uncomfortable one you get used to them. Still, sleeping in my room would be preferable to outside.
I have been sleeping outside so I could be with Sarah and Robin, both who have been looking like they are about to go into labor any moment, for the past few days. Of course, these past few days they have done nothing but lay around, appear to be positioning, and not give birth. Sleeping in the barn is significantly less fun when for days on end there is no point to it as the goats continue to not go into labor.
I am relatively light sleeper, but the morning of the ,my mother walked in at about 8 and informed me that there was a bubble sticking out of Sarah. Sarah was approximately one yard from where my cot was and I sat up, my first thought: No. I was right here! She couldn't have possibly gone into labor without me hearing and waking up! Then Mom noticed the baby on the ground behind her. I don't recall getting up so fast in my life and sure enough, there was a baby on the ground and a baby bubble sticking out of her. I was mentally chewing myself out for not waking up, especially after a week of sleeping in the barn specifically to avoid this sort of thing. I passed the kid on the ground to Mom and she started drying the lovely little girl while I popped the kid bubble.
There was a pair of hooves right inside Sarah's cervix and Sarah was looser than I have ever felt a doe. I pulled on the hooves and without a noise, without a fuss, the second kid slipped out. It barley seemed like Sarah was pushing. There was no crying, no ripping, no ugliness at all. No wonder I didn't wake up, this was a silent birther. A silent, effortless birther.
The twins are both girls and the first has a pretty little splash on one side. Sarah barely seemed to notice she had kidded and passed her placenta with the same nonchalant ease that is now what I hope for in future kiddings. Her milk has been very slow to come in, but she and the kids are all doing very well.
I have been sleeping outside so I could be with Sarah and Robin, both who have been looking like they are about to go into labor any moment, for the past few days. Of course, these past few days they have done nothing but lay around, appear to be positioning, and not give birth. Sleeping in the barn is significantly less fun when for days on end there is no point to it as the goats continue to not go into labor.
I am relatively light sleeper, but the morning of the ,my mother walked in at about 8 and informed me that there was a bubble sticking out of Sarah. Sarah was approximately one yard from where my cot was and I sat up, my first thought: No. I was right here! She couldn't have possibly gone into labor without me hearing and waking up! Then Mom noticed the baby on the ground behind her. I don't recall getting up so fast in my life and sure enough, there was a baby on the ground and a baby bubble sticking out of her. I was mentally chewing myself out for not waking up, especially after a week of sleeping in the barn specifically to avoid this sort of thing. I passed the kid on the ground to Mom and she started drying the lovely little girl while I popped the kid bubble.
There was a pair of hooves right inside Sarah's cervix and Sarah was looser than I have ever felt a doe. I pulled on the hooves and without a noise, without a fuss, the second kid slipped out. It barley seemed like Sarah was pushing. There was no crying, no ripping, no ugliness at all. No wonder I didn't wake up, this was a silent birther. A silent, effortless birther.
The twins are both girls and the first has a pretty little splash on one side. Sarah barely seemed to notice she had kidded and passed her placenta with the same nonchalant ease that is now what I hope for in future kiddings. Her milk has been very slow to come in, but she and the kids are all doing very well.