Saturday, February 14, 2009

Triplets


valentine's day triplets

Well, perhaps they were really born on Friday the 13th, a lucky day in our book. It was late when the kids heard the first one ba-aa-ing, probably while the second was being born. When we got there, the second was still very wet. I'm so glad they weren't born during all that cold. I'm still amazed at how they can come out, so wet, and dry off without losing too much body heat. We actually saw the third one get pushed out.

And my midwifery skills and philosophies were tested, as always with births (and deaths): if possible, do nothing. Nothing. Of course, we violated that right away by going to watch! And I took a towel with me and I did wipe off that second one a bit. And when that third one was on the ground, and the good mama goat was eating the sack from around her feet and her head and nose was still solidly covered by membranes, and when she wasn't moving for what felt like forever but was maybe 20 seconds, I did slip over and clear the membrane from her head and wipe her nose. I would have done none of this if the mother hadn't been calm and very accepting of me. Shoot, I saw her born. Her mother was our first milk goat. She's old and she well knows me.

The firstborn (stretched out in the middle of the photo) is big, big for a newborn goat. The second born (lightest one at the bottom) is tiny tiny tiny. Third born (at top) is probably normal, maybe a bit on the small side. Boy, girl, girl. Tiny girl took about 16 hours to stand and is still shaky but so far, so good. We've held her to nurse and she nurses well. We left them all in the woods for the night but brought them in the barn this morning when it was obvious that little girl couldn't stand yet. I hate moving them too soon -- it disturbs their bonding. Just like it does with people.

She could yet not make it. But I firmly believe she has her best shot with her mom.

Not interfering. It is so important when you can do that, when people can learn to do that -- or not do that as it were. Sitting there. Waiting. Shutting up. Honoring enough. Honoring that it was already enough. Not having a clue on that is what is so out of whack in our whole society.

In other news, we have seed potatoes, pontiacs and yukons anyway. We're still hoping for cobs which they said would be in in about 10 days. Places say they are hard to come by and selling strong. Seeds seem to be out late this year and more sparse too. I'd advise getting yours now. We try to get as many as possible from our local mom and pop places and order only what we can't find locally. You should be starting the hardy stuff now too. I think we may have spinach up. Husband is pretty amazing in that garden.

5 comments:

Kitt said...

Awwwww. Fingers crossed for all three wee ones. What a nice surprise.

Madcap said...

I've noticed the lateness of the sees too. I'll be checking again this week and hopefully there's some stock.

What's the most recent word on your little goatlette?

Wendy said...

Congratulations on your new goats! It is hard not to interfere, and I'm finding some parallels in that practice with my oldest daughter as she and her husband make some important life decisions and I have to just not "do" anything. It's tough.

CG said...

the least one was dead Monday morning. It had died while peacefully sleeping. It could be argued that more intervention might have kept it alive and yet, I don't actually believe it. The others are fine. So far. You learn in this life to not actually count your chickens before they hatch. And grow up. And start laying themselves.

Anonymous said...

Well crap. I know it's all part of it, but it's still a WC moment.