I'm going to compare us to sheep!

[Daisybell1]

I wrote this for friends on bookface and one suggested that I copy it here.

I have been musing about 'natural' childbirth (dd is 6 months old, and this is the first year I've been a sheep farmer working with my partner).

We all have it drummed into us that we are animals and that therefore we should be able to give birth without intervention. And we beat ourselves up when we need assistance, somehow thinking that we've failed to do something that we should be able to do.

We're now about half way through lambing 600 sheep, and we have had many, many assisted deliveries. Wrong presentations, no dilation, lack of progress, c. section, and prolapses. This is 'nature' and yet it still happens (and we have perfectly sensible sheep breeds here, nothing bonkers that can't function).

We also have ewes who take longer to bond with their lambs, especially the first timers who can be a bit "but I thought that was just a huge poo, what do I do with it now?!?"

I guess what I'm trying to say is that all animals sometimes need intervention and help giving birth and raising their young and we shouldn't beat ourselves up if that happens to us. We haven't failed..

(this is meant to be supportive of those who've needed intervention, or have had wobbles afterwards, and is generally intended to be nice so I hope that lot came out right and I haven't offended anyone!)

That's brilliant - thank you!

What a lovely post! It came across exactly how you meant it to, I'm certain. I didn't baaa though in labour, I definitely mooed.

Inspired- just because its natural doesn't make it flawless, very nicely put :)

Brilliant post! :)

Lovely sentiment.

so weird, a friend of mine is engaged to a farmer and was just telling me the other day about watching the birth of a calf. he got stuck and it took 3 big strong me 45mins to pull him out. i couldn't stop thinking of the doc pulling DS out with forceps and how similar it was (except i had an epidural, poor cow).

I never really thought about animals having c-sections before, but I guess it makes sense. If only our young were able to run about and be relatively self-sufficient after just a few hours like lambs, that would make life much easier (and would put Bugaboo out of business)!!!

oooh I like this thread. I used to work with animals and have been banging on at work how many animals needed help with birthing. I used to love lambing.

Daisybell I hope your farm has managed to escape that nasty virus(?) that's affecting pregnant ewes and lambs.

Good point well put! :) I'd also like to add if farm animals didn't get the assistance they need when birthing a lot more lambs and ewes would die. We should be thankful modern interventions mean the majority of births end in healthy mums & babies - no point being stoic if it puts you or your baby at risk.

Thank you ladies!

Yorky, you put it far more succinctly than me!

Janice - yes, we're in the frozen north so I think we've escaped it. Its nasty so I feel very sorry for those affected.

Auntie - that's spot on. Dp intervenes when he judges the risks to mum and lamb are too great. He won't let them suffer when he can do something about it.

Well said Daisybell, I once had a relationship with a dairy farmer and lost count of the calvings I attended that needed interventions, wether it be because of wrong presentation, failure to progress or dystocia etc. In the 3 years I was in the relationship there wasn't a single calf or cow lost as a result of the calving process, that just wouldn't have been possible without the interventions. It is quite shocking seeing a calving jack used for the first time though!

Just want to add what a good thread. I'd never thought of it like this and yet after having an assisted birth (forceps & shoulder dystocia) its made me think. Like you say, although its nature, we sometimes do need a helping hand.