The Sequence of Lambing

Our day started out with it's normal routine. I was cleaning up the kitchen and Daisey was out at the barn feeding animals. The phone rang and Daisey's voice resounded,"Mom, Camden is in Labor." This was a ewe that was from our foundation flock and that we had retired several years ago.
The men in our household have an aversion to closing gates and have failed farmer 101miserably. However, our ram is delighted with the lack of their ability. He has been found in the field long after, he has been removed. Because Camden was older, we decided it was a good idea to keep vigilant eye on her throughout the day.

It was a rainy and cold Pennsylvania day. We gathered a couple of insulated cups filled with hot tea, a deck of cards, and one of our favorite board games Sequence. We are accustomed to living on a wing and a prayer, so we put our farmer ingenuity to work. Daisey remembered where to find and old wood table that Dustin had fashioned during his first year of carpentry. I located a couple of folding chairs tucked in among the bales of straw. We set up our little make shift game table next to the ewes that had already delivered.

This also gave us perfect visibility to Camden as she labored. I marked the time that she first started laboring. An hour went by without her dilating or progressing. Camden even got up on two occasions and came over and stood in front of us baaing. She seemed to be asking for our help. My heart of hearts knew something was very wrong.

We decided to call our neighbor who is a Physicians Assistant and he came to our aid. Once again, Camden got up and stood right in front of him. She began frantically bleating when he entered the barn. She was with out a doubt asking for help. Daisey held her as he began an internal examination. The lamb was situated perfectly for delivery but the water bag and the placenta had intertwined and was wrapped around the lamb. This was preventing the lamb from being able to be delivered without assistance. As Bill reached his hand further, he was able to tear the sack and deliver the lamb. When she first arrived, she lay lifeless. We used an old farmers method of sticking a piece of straw up her nose. This caused her to blow some of the trapped mucus that was not allowing her to breath. I then picked her up by the back legs and gradually swung her outward and lightly against my leg to help expel anything that was causing her from breathing properly.
Through out the day, I was reminded that this was Good Friday. A day that we reflect the time that our Lord hung on the cross. Our thoughts throughout the day prepared in anticipation and remembrance of His resurrection to be celebrated on Easter morning. What a miraculous experience when you see what was lifeless, come to life.
C.A. Bresin

For further information on lambing:
http://www.sheep101.info/201/lambingprocess.html