Labor and Delivery
1st stage:
-Generally lasts 12-36 hrs.
-Usually time to put her in the kidding pen.
-Mild to moderate contractions. Doe may pause stretch, raise her tail or lie down briefly.
She may show any of these signs of labor:
“peeing “ or squating frequently
may “nest” or dig a depression in the stall
frequently changing position laying down, circling
may be very vocal, yelling
may want more affection
may gaze into space with yawning and stretching.
some will bite at their side or grind teeth, pant(signs of pain)
some will “talk” to babies
2nd stage:
As 2nd stage begins she will lay down on her side with contractions, rise and reposition herself, some may squat or stand or a combination to deliver. This phase usually moves fairly quickly. You will notice your does contracting. Her breathing gets fast and short. You will see her hunch and tail straighten.
When she starts pushing the first thing you will see is a fluid filled sac. This sac may rupture or Just hang there. A second sac appears and you should hopefully see a pair of front hooves.
Follow the “30” rule. Basically means when you see that first sac, a kid should be out on the ground within 30 minutes, the second kid should be coming within another 30 minutes, any subsequent kids should be out within another 30 minutes. Ideally those kids will be nursing within the first 30-60 minutes after birth.
Delivery:
Most common position is both front hooves presenting with the head tucked in a “dive” position. Once the head and shoulders are out the rest of the body should slip out.
Hind feet first presentation is not unusual. Because the cord is pressed against the does pelvis during delivery, wait to gently pull with contraction once the hips appear.
One leg back. Many does can deliver this one but if not, push the kid back just far enough to pull the offending hoof forward.
Hind feet first presentation is not unusual. Because the cord is pressed against the does pelvis during delivery, wait to gently pull with contraction once the hips appear.
Normally these shouldn't need assistance.
However if your doe has been actively pushing without progress for longer than 30 minutes she needs help.
Usually it will take too long for a vet to arrive so you need to take action!
Make sure your nails are short. Remove rings, watch, bracelets, etc.
With hands clean liberally lube up with KY type of sterile lube, gently insert fingers into her vulva.
The doe will likely scream the entire time you are inside. Figure out which part is presenting, this can be challenging.
If front hooves are presenting, follow the legs back to verify the head is forward and tucked.
If you need to reposition it is easier and safer in between contractions.
Follow the body part that you feel to help determine position.
Abnormal birth positions:
Breech-There are several variations of a breech presentation. Most does will not be able to deliver a kid in this position. A call to your vet is imperative. If you must reposition the kid yourself, push them gently back down and ease your fingers along the rump to find the back legs and try to help them into position.
Head Back-A small kid may have its head bent to the side, or toward its back. This one is challenging! As you ease the kid back to straighten the head do not lose the front leg.
Crosswise-This is detected by feeling ribs or a spine. This is very difficult and needs a call to your vet. If you have no choice, elevate your goats hind end on a hay bale to help assist. Feel which end is closer to the birth canal, then begin manipulating that end into position.
All 4 legs together-Push the kid back to try and reposition into a dive or hind feet position depending on which legs you have.
Incidentally, we lost a kid and had an emergency C-section for this. She had delivered twins, was up cleaning them, appeared to have passed the placenta but kept squatting like she was peeing. I felt like something was not right and should have gone in right away but reassuring myself that we saw the afterbirth. I even had called the vet but not realizing that the kid was folded in the birth canal. Three days later when she was not eating we had to make the trip to the vet and he could feel ribs so proceeded with the c-section, delivering the deceased kid.
So my advice is to follow your gut instinct, especially if you are experienced at all. I don't think the outcome would have been different but the three days of stressing and her misery could have been avoided.