I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

It’s that time of year again.

What time you ask?

Ahhhh….Birthing Time….of course!!!!!

One of my very favorite and most exhausting time of the year.  The goats have started us off.  I personally feel as if I have delivered myself by the end of the process. Hoot-N-Nanny had her first baby this past Friday.  It was a boy and I must say that he is an absolute sweet heart.  He is strong and seems to be pretty content.  Of course he cries for his Mama when he is hungry, which is every 4 hours or so.

I started thinking the other day that I have a new title.

I believe I am an animal Doula or possibly a Midwife without the certification of course.  A doula is an assistant that helps before, during and or after birth.  THAT’S ME……

She provides emotional as well as physical support to the mom…a.k.a  Nannie goats, Hens, Jenny’s (Donkey) and Heifers (Cows). THAT’S ME……..

But I seem to cross over into the Midwife category too, except for that small technical part of being certified, which is important.  However, I do have on the job training!!!!! That should account for something.

A Midwife helps in detecting possible complications, taking care of things when medical emergencies arrive.   THAT’S ME…….

We try not to have that happen…but when it does….you just put your thinking cap and jump into action.  Of course learning new stuff along the way.

THAT WOULD BE ME!!!!

Actually it would be BILLY too.  He has birthed many a baby….. in the animal kingdom that is.

We are always most grateful when the process can just happen—- without our help.

Just like humans, every delivery is the same in some aspects and yet unique in other aspects.  It is still a guessing game and anything can happen, and be “normal”.

From our experience first time mother goats have 1 baby, in subsequent births they  have 2 or more babies at a time.

Friday, I peered out the window sipping my morning coffee.

The dialogue with Billy is always interesting when we have expectant animals.

We go back and forth with statements about the expectant Mom.  Is she looking or acting differently?  You would think we were veterinarians or something.

I watched …sipping my coffee…I tried to decide how to plan the day.  She sure looked uncomfortable, even the Daddy goat was hanging around her in a different way. I watched ….and waited and watched …..and waited….thinking I might see something that would give me definite yes or no.  She headed up into the woods.

I decided to stoke the fire in the wood heater…..and that’s when I heard a bellow.

WHEW….Hot Diggity Dog….we are having a baby!!!!

NOW!!!!!

I quickly grabbed my mud boots, binoculars cell phone and the camera.  Sure enough…through the binoculars I could see that she was delivering and the baby was in the right position.   That is always a blessing.  It usually only takes a minute at that point.

YEP…..She had it.    She walked off so I made my way through the woods and took a peek.  It seemed just fine.

It’s not a great picture…because I tried to keep my distance.  Last year we fed 5 baby goats for several months…and I didn’t want to do that this time.  I wanted the Mama to take care of the baby if at all possible.

Of course I contacted Billy and let him know that we had a baby!  It wasn’t long until he just happened to stop by the house.   We crept through the woods so he could get a peek.

It is ALWAYS  so exciting!!!!!   And so hard to leave them alone.

There it was…nestled against the rocks.  It was then that it  flashed us this I’m so “precious” look.

Billy said….Don’t you think we should take him closer to the house?

BUT OF COURSE!!!!!…..We have to make sure it’s alright.

But we both were careful to not handle it much.  We had agreed that we wanted the Mama to do the mothering.

That is when we discovered he was a boy.  He settled in beside the goat house, seemingly tired already.

His mother stayed away in the woods a for a little while.  I began to worry a bit.  You never know how first time Moms are going to act.

She eventually came down to the water trough.

By this time I was a little aggravated.  It had been almost 2 hours and she had not licked the baby or anything.  That’s not a good sign.  After she drank we were able to give her a treat and hold her long enough for the baby to eat.   Babies have to get the colostrum with in a short time to stay strong and healthy. Besides it was 32 degrees when he was born.  It had warmed a few degrees, but it was still cold.  She allowed him to nurse, but when he was finished she just wanted to get away from him.  We let her have some more time.

When the baby started crying, I made her stand still again.  That’s when I just about cried.  She placed her little head against my legs and just wanted me to pet her, while the baby nursed.

Look at that sweet face.

I realized that she was probably just scared.  All this was new to her.

Thinking about my own moments of motherhood….I imagined she was overwhelmed.  It is a lot to absorb.

While she rested her little head on my legs, I comforted her with a soft voice and lots of petting.  Meanwhile….baby nursed.

When night time came, we confined the two of them, so we could be sure she would keep him warm and fed.

The next day Motherhood had kicked in!!!!!

Whenever he cried, she would come running to him.  She has been giving him his little baths and taking care of all his needs.

Even Freddy, the father, has been concerned and attentive.

Now that we know Hoot-N-Nanny is going to take care of her baby….we can sneak in a little cuddle time.

Yes, it’s my favorite time of the year!