When I went to check on my pregnant ewes yesterday I was horrified to discover that Smooth was in trouble. The lamb she had been trying to deliver was hopelessly stuck. The lamb's head was protruding but completely dry, indicating that Smooth probably had been in labor for a long time, perhaps 45 minutes or so. She looked at me with desperate eyes ("help me"). With my heart racing, I reached inside and discovered that one of the baby's front legs had twisted upwards in the uterus causing the blockage. I spent an agonizing twenty minutes doing all I could to re-position the lamb, but I just couldn't bring down that front leg. Thankfully, and with all the strength I had in me, I was finally able to pull the lamb out, a very large male. Sadly, he showed no signs of life--no movement, no breathing, nothing. I vigorously shook him, cleared his mouth, even resorted to the swing method to dispel any liquid that may still be in his throat and lungs. Still nothing. I was convinced the poor little fella had died due to its traumatic birth. I turned to tend to the mother to see how she was fairing. Then I heard a sound, something like "GHACK". I could hardly believe it. Smooth's lifeless lamb took his first breath. Then he cried. It was music to my ears! A moment later, a second healthy lamb (another male) dropped out with not one contraction. All my probing and pulling had stretched everything to allow Smooth to deliver the second lamb with no effort at all. Poor Smooth was exhausted and could not stand for a long time, much like Farmer Tom at that point. Regaining her strength, Smooth finally stood and tended lovingly to her young. Though the emergency had passed, we still called our vet to come and check mother and lambs over. A few doses of antiobiotics was all that was needed. All is well now and Midwife Farmer Tom can rest easy now and nurse a strained bicep. The lambs are big, healthy, strong and adorable. Say hello to Lazarus, the miracle lamb weighing in at a whopping 17 pounds! His little brother, Timmy, at 10 pounds.
