Committed- Learning Lessons in Lambing

A couple of our ewes were bred late

which means we were going to lamb in July.

One of them was open so we were waiting

(not so patiently)

for our Lily to lamb.

She seemed ready FOREVER

and she was large.

On Sunday I checked her in the morning

and

she seemed as ready as ever

but 

nothing major.

We came home from church and I thought I would just run out to see how she was.

I got in the barn and she was laying down

with a lamb behind her

still in the sack.

I got into the pen and peeled the bag back

the lamb was still hot

but

not moving- not breathing.

I wiped it the best I could with my bare hands and straw.

I put a piece of straw up it's nose and tried to clear out the airways.

At this point it started twitching.

Still not breaths.

So I tipped it up side down and with my other hand went down its nasal canals.

laided it back down and gave it mouth to mouth.

It was disgusting.

I wish I was a good enough person to look past that

I am not

It will go down as one of the most disgusting things I have done to date.

BUT

that little lamb took a breath

and started to kick

She was pretty rattly for a few days and it took her 8 hours to stand and eat on her own.

The ewe was confused about the "let down" reflux

and kept kicking at her bag like flies were on her.

But my midnight everything seemed to sort itself out.

I am glad it's our last of this year.

I am extreamly thankful it's alive and healthy

and

it's a ewe!