Lambing sheep

[AbiJon2022]

Hi everyone, currently 14 weeks pregnant with my first baby. Both my self and my partner come from farming families and we both lamb sheep. Obviously I know sheep carry toxoplasmosis which can be fatal in the first trimester. When our sheep our due to lamb I’ll be 22 weeks has anyone else ever lambed sheep while pregnant? I’m not particularly sure what to do, I don’t think it’s worth the riskz. TIA

Partner reckons one week leave be the maximum he will be able to take, he’s just been of the phone with a friend who has a son studying agriculture science who may be interested in a lambing experience

Any young people looking for experience to apply for veterinary?

And his son will have at least one mate on the course who wouldn't mind coming along as well, I'll bet. Chuck in free beers and job's a good 'un.

Yes very much not worth the risk. I only was asking other people’s opinion as a few friends lambed sheep pregnant. One was 30 weeks, 10 weeks and 28 weeks and they were all okay (all had antibody test done). But not a risk I’m willing to take.

Another to say absolutely not (& your DH needs to treat it like barrier nursing to prevent contamination).

I was going to suggest vet students too but if that's no go you might find local teens (maybe with vet or similar ambitions). I hope you can find a way to make it work without going into debt.

@KirstenBlest thank you for sharing that link, I found it really interesting as a midwife practicing in a semi rural area.

We live four hours away from nearest vet school and usually students opt for closer locations. But I’ll post an advert to be sure in local farm page

Hopefully!

It’s just been a whirl wind year, we started to renovate our farmhouse which needed major work and repairs. And I fell pregnant which wasn’t on the cards until we had our house all sorted but it’s a blessing. So I just didn’t really have the funds sitting to pay someone but hopefully we get sorted through students and placements etc

Just to add that just because you're not near a vet school definitely doesn't rule you out, especially if you can offer accommodation. I know a lot of vet students who travelled miles to get lambing placements.

NSA have a list of farmers that advertise to have students and I'm sure you could get in touch with the vet schools.

OP stay away from lambing. Even the hard as nails women farmers don’t risk it. Lovely to see so many fellow lady sheep farmers on here.

Have you had an antibody test op? It's worth doing even if you don't plan to lamb just for your peace of mind.

I thought I would be immune but I wasn't, meant I knew I needed to be careful.

Where’s the £5k for a test come from? I’ve had it done at my booking appointment and at 16 weeks on the NHS - last year being the last time. It’s listed as an option on the computer and sample
paperwork. I had to show my community midwife where it was on the system last time as she was new and I’d seen it all before!

Ask midwife for test - I had it in each pregnancy and was amazed not to have been exposed - lambed sheep for 5 Easter holidays at vet school and worked with sick cats ever since. If you are not immune you know not to take any risks. It’s only a new infection in a non immune pregnant individual that is a risk to the baby.

I am not a farmer. However I did visit sheep at an agricultural show at 8 weeks pregnant and had a miscarriage the next day. DH blamed the sheep , I don't know.

Try agricultural college students, or ask around. A sixth-form student hoping to work with animals might be interested.

@USaYwHatNow , you're welcome. I thought it looked quite relevant.

If you can't afford the salary to hire someone, put out a request on one of the Facebook farming sites for anyone who's willing to help in return for a few weeks board and lodgings.

There are plenty of people looking for farming experience and willing to help.

Hi! Just want to jump on. I've just found out I'm pregnant and we're about to start lambing in a few weeks. I'm feeling a huge sense of guilty that I'm not going to be able to help as much as I do usually. As I'm still only about 7 weeks, I can't tell people either, but I've had to share with close family obviously. I'm going to find it difficult seeing everyone else busy, and not being able to help. Thought I would share from one farmer to another.

@RosemaryDill thats very sad and I’m sorry for you. I had many miscarriages and looked for answers. But unless you were actively lambing them that would not be the cause.