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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 180
When a ewe has been in labor for a long period, the head may be swollen. Help the ewe by pushing the skin of the vulva back over the head. When the lamb is halfway out – that is past the rib cage – the mother usually delivers the lamb by herself, unless she is too exhausted.
If the lamb's head is larger than normal draw out one leg a little more than the other while working the vulva back past the top of the lamb's head. As soon as the head is through, you can extend the other leg completely and pull out the lamb by its legs and neck. Warning: If you pull both legs out together, the thickest part of the legs comes right beside the head and this makes delivery more difficult for you and the ewe.
If a lamb is large and difficult to deliver, use mineral oil or an antiseptic lubricant. Place a lamb-puller over the lamb's head so that the top of the noose is behind the ears and the bottom of the snare is in the lamb's mouth, in this way the head is kept from slipping backward or sideways while you work. Now that this has been done, gently pull from side to side – this is more beneficial than only pulling outward and downward. Gently pull on the head as well as the legs because this is better than pulling on the legs alone.
Hips that get stuck:
Some ewes are nervous, especially if it is their first lamb, and she may need a little help if her lamb's hips get stuck. Pull gently on the lamb and swing it a bit from one side to the other. If this does not make it slip out easily, give it about a quarter turn while pulling. The likelihood of this occurring is when a small ewe gives birth to a large lamb.
Head coming out before one or both legs:
If this happens, then either one or both of the lamb's legs are bent backward.
One leg bent back: To adjust the position of a leg that is bent back so that the lamb is in the normal birth position, attach a snare-cord, or a lamb-puller, behind the ears and inside the mouth and the second cord to the one leg that is already protruding. Having done this push the head and the protruding leg back far enough to enable you to bring the retained leg forward so you can pull the lamb out in the normal birth position. Pay special attention to the cord on the head, because the head may drop out of the pelvic girdle, and this will make it difficult to get it back in again.
Get the ewe to lay on the side that has the leg out so that the turned-back leg is on top, this should make it a little easier to get the turned-back let into the
If the lamb's head is larger than normal draw out one leg a little more than the other while working the vulva back past the top of the lamb's head. As soon as the head is through, you can extend the other leg completely and pull out the lamb by its legs and neck. Warning: If you pull both legs out together, the thickest part of the legs comes right beside the head and this makes delivery more difficult for you and the ewe.
If a lamb is large and difficult to deliver, use mineral oil or an antiseptic lubricant. Place a lamb-puller over the lamb's head so that the top of the noose is behind the ears and the bottom of the snare is in the lamb's mouth, in this way the head is kept from slipping backward or sideways while you work. Now that this has been done, gently pull from side to side – this is more beneficial than only pulling outward and downward. Gently pull on the head as well as the legs because this is better than pulling on the legs alone.
Hips that get stuck:
Some ewes are nervous, especially if it is their first lamb, and she may need a little help if her lamb's hips get stuck. Pull gently on the lamb and swing it a bit from one side to the other. If this does not make it slip out easily, give it about a quarter turn while pulling. The likelihood of this occurring is when a small ewe gives birth to a large lamb.
Head coming out before one or both legs:
If this happens, then either one or both of the lamb's legs are bent backward.
One leg bent back: To adjust the position of a leg that is bent back so that the lamb is in the normal birth position, attach a snare-cord, or a lamb-puller, behind the ears and inside the mouth and the second cord to the one leg that is already protruding. Having done this push the head and the protruding leg back far enough to enable you to bring the retained leg forward so you can pull the lamb out in the normal birth position. Pay special attention to the cord on the head, because the head may drop out of the pelvic girdle, and this will make it difficult to get it back in again.
Get the ewe to lay on the side that has the leg out so that the turned-back leg is on top, this should make it a little easier to get the turned-back let into the