We sat in the field and watched from a distance. The little ewe first began pushing while lying down. She would nervously dig, lie down and resume standing.This was a first time ewe. Within thirty- minutes, she delivered a ram lamb in the field.
After her delivery, she became so frightened that she left her newborn lamb and went with the rest of the flock. We quickly made our way to the lamb, scooped it up, toweled it off and took everyone to the barn. We caught the ewe and took her back to the jug area where she was isolated with her lamb from all the surrounding confusion. Her mothering instincts immediately kicked in. When we placed the lamb in front of her, she settled in and began to lick and clean it. She was busily cleaning off her new bundle of joy, as we watched a new set of contractions begin. The new lamb distracted her from much of her discomfort. She stood as we watched the head appear. I thought she might lie down at this point, but she kept focused on cleaning her first lamb. She had a several very strong contractions and we could hear her talking in a low rumble. She passed the shoulders and then with three more slight contractions, the baby slipped gently onto the ground. We immediately scurried in to remove the sack from the little lambs head and clear its mouth from fluid. The little lamb almost seemed lifeless until it re-gathered itself for its first breath of life. Then, with a quick shake of her head, she responded to life in a world outside her once confined existence. The thrill once again filled us, as we celebrated in the joy, of a miracle to vast to express.
C.A. Bresin
