Parturition

SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn) Sheep & Goat SpecialistWestern Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com,[object Object],2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series,[object Object],Small Ruminant Program,[object Object]

2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series,[object Object],Jan 13 I. Late Gestation,[object Object],Jan 20 II. Vaccinations,[object Object],Feb 3 III. Parturition,[object Object],Feb 10 IV. Neonatal Care,[object Object],Feb 17 V. Lactation,[object Object],Feb 24 VI. Weaning,[object Object]

Parturition,[object Object],The act or process of giving birth,[object Object],Lambing and kidding,[object Object]

Know when the babies are due,[object Object],Breeding date ,[object Object],Marking harness,[object Object],Rattle paint,[object Object],Hand mating,[object Object],Observation,[object Object],Dates of male introduction and removal.,[object Object],Date(s) of “accidental” exposure.,[object Object],[object Object],One week less than 5 months and I might be pushing out babies. You better be ready!,[object Object]

Shorter,[object Object],Sheep,[object Object],Meat breeds,[object Object],Prolific breeds,[object Object],Female offspring,[object Object],Multiple births,[object Object],Lighter offspring,[object Object],Goats,[object Object],Late-maturing breeds,[object Object],Male offspring,[object Object],Single births,[object Object],Heavier offspring,[object Object],Gestation length Pregnancy lasts 142 to 157 days (avg. 147),[object Object],Longer,[object Object],It takes more time to make a big boy!,[object Object]

BEHAVIOR,[object Object],Separation,[object Object],Isolation,[object Object],Acting more territorial,[object Object],Restlessness,[object Object],Nervousness,[object Object],Tail twitching,[object Object],Frequent urination,[object Object],Pawing the ground,[object Object],Getting up and down,[object Object],Reduced appetite,[object Object],Udder filling up,[object Object],Engorged teats,[object Object],Vaginal discharge,[object Object],Relaxation of muscles in hip area,[object Object],Belly drops,[object Object],Sides cave in ,[object Object],Swollen vulva,[object Object],Signs of approaching parturition,[object Object],PHYSICAL,[object Object]

Preparation,[object Object],The three stages of parturition,[object Object],Expulsion,[object Object],Cleaning,[object Object]

1) Preparation12 to 24 hours,[object Object],Rhythmic contractions ,[object Object],Cervix dilates,[object Object],Fetus positions itself,[object Object],Mucous discharge,[object Object]

Rupture of the water bag,[object Object],Fetus is expelled.,[object Object],Repeated for each offspring,[object Object],Ewe or doe may give birth lying down or standing up.,[object Object],Some females want to be left alone for birthing.,[object Object],2) Expulsion,[object Object]

Normal presentation,[object Object],In the “dive” position,[object Object],Head resting on fore legs,[object Object],Sole of the hooves rests downwards,[object Object],Widest part of the fetus is the hips,[object Object],Backwards (not breech) is also “normal”,[object Object]

Normal time frame**Varies between females**,[object Object],Once forceful straining begins and the water sac breaks, delivery should normally take place within 45 to 60 minutes.,[object Object],Once the front legs are visible, delivery should normally take place within 30 to 45 minutes.,[object Object],Subsequent offspring are normally delivered within 30 minutes of each other.,[object Object],Prolonged delivery beyond these times may indicate birthing difficulty.,[object Object]

When to check for problems,[object Object],If the female has made no progress after 45 to 60 minutes of hard straining (and the water sac has broke).,[object Object],If female has been in distress for 2 or 3 hours without progress, even if nothing is visible at vulva.,[object Object]

How to assist with deliveries,[object Object],Catch and confine female,[object Object],Lay female down,[object Object],Can lay her on her back or hoist her.,[object Object],Wash hands, arms, and female’s vulva,[object Object],Wear gloves or OB sleevesShort fingernails, no rings,[object Object],Apply copious lubricant,[object Object],Lubricant jelly,[object Object],Obstetrical lubricant,[object Object],Bland soap and water,[object Object],Shortening,[object Object]

How to assist with deliveries,[object Object],Examine for dilation of cervix,[object Object],Bunch fingers and thumb into a cone shape to enter,[object Object],She may need more time,[object Object],Determine presentation,[object Object],Correct position,[object Object],Apply traction,[object Object],After care,[object Object]

Tips for assisting with deliveries,[object Object],Be clean,[object Object],Be gentle,[object Object],Be calm,[object Object],Be patient,[object Object],Call veterinarian (or experienced shepherd) if you have not made progress after a half hour.,[object Object],Check for more offspring.,[object Object],Give long-acting antibiotic to prevent uterine infections.,[object Object]

Aftercare – assisted delivery,[object Object],May need to revive baby,[object Object],Clear airway,[object Object],Clear mucous from nose ,[object Object],Insert piece of straw or hay into baby’s nose,[object Object],Raise front leg to expand chest cavity,[object Object],Hang baby by hind legs and swing in circle.,[object Object],Blow air into lungs,[object Object],Put baby in front of mom’s nose,[object Object],Have mom lick babies unless she’s too exhausted.,[object Object]

Aftercare – all deliveries,[object Object],Put mom and babies in a small pen together (jug).,[object Object],Clip (if necessary) and disinfect navels,[object Object],Remove wax plug from teat,[object Object],Check milk supply,[object Object],Observe to make sure babies nurse.,[object Object],Let mom take care of her babies.,[object Object]

3) Cleaning30 to 60 minutes after last offspring is expelled,[object Object],Afterbirth (placenta) is expelled from the body,[object Object],Uterine involution(uterus returns to normal),[object Object],Complete involution takes more than a month,[object Object]

Placenta (afterbirth),[object Object],Red, liver-like mass with strawberry-like lumps and whitish cords.,[object Object],Is separate for each offspring.,[object Object],Is usually expelled 30 minutes to 1 hour after last baby is born.,[object Object]

Should you let the female eat the afterbirth?,[object Object],It’s her natural instinct,[object Object],Protection from predators,[object Object],Contains oxytocin,[object Object],Helps with milk let down,[object Object],Uterine involution,[object Object],Some people eat it,[object Object]

NO!Properly dispose of placenta,[object Object],Biosecurity,[object Object],Scrapie is transmitted via infected placenta.,[object Object],Abortive diseases are spread via infected placenta.,[object Object],Sanitation,[object Object],You don’t want to attract wild animals and scavengers.,[object Object],Is highly indigestible,[object Object],USDA APHIS NAHMS, 2003,[object Object]

Things that can go wrong,[object Object],Pregnancy toxemia,[object Object],Milk fever,[object Object],Abortion,[object Object],Vaginal prolapse,[object Object],Dystocia,[object Object],Ringwomb,[object Object],Retained placenta,[object Object],Uterine prolapse,[object Object],Agalactia,[object Object],Rejection,[object Object]

Pregnancy toxemia ketosis, lambing paralysis, twin lamb disease, sleeping sickness,[object Object],What is it?,[object Object],Low blood glucose caused by insufficient intake of energy during late pregnancy and breakdown of fat into toxic ketone bodies.,[object Object],Who’s most susceptible?,[object Object],Females carrying multiple fetuses,[object Object],Fat females,[object Object],Thin females,[object Object],Old females,[object Object],Timid females,[object Object]

Pregnancy toxemia Occurs during final trimester of pregnancy,[object Object],Symptoms,[object Object],Lags behind,[object Object],Depression,[object Object],Neurological symptoms,[object Object],Salivating,[object Object],Rear legs splayed out,[object Object],Lack of appetite,[object Object],Recumbency,[object Object],Death,[object Object],Treatment,[object Object],Oral propylene glycol,[object Object],IV dextrose,[object Object],Other Tx,[object Object],Calcium borogluconate,[object Object],Vitamin B-complex,[object Object],Remove fetuses,[object Object],[Rx] Induce parturition,[object Object],[Vx] Caesarian section,[object Object],If pregnancy toxemia is suspected, you need to evaluate your feeding program.,[object Object]

Milk fever (hypocalcemia)Occurs during late pregnancy or early lactation,[object Object],What is it?,[object Object],Low blood calcium,[object Object],Symptoms,[object Object],Overlap with pregnancy toxemia,[object Object],Treatment,[object Object],Oral calcium,[object Object],Sub-Q calcium,[object Object],IV calcium,[object Object],If milk fever is suspected, you need to evaluate your feeding program.,[object Object]

AbortionEarly termination of a pregnancy,[object Object],Causes,[object Object],Toxins,[object Object],Trauma,[object Object],Unviable offspring,[object Object],Stress,[object Object],Disease,[object Object],Chlamydia (Enzootic),[object Object],Campylobacter (Vibrio),[object Object],Toxoplasmosis,[object Object],Salmonella,[object Object],Symptoms,[object Object],Birth of stillborn, weak, or premature babies.,[object Object],Female may be sick for several days before she aborts late in her pregnancy (or not).,[object Object]

AbortionSome level of (non-infectious) abortion is normal,[object Object],Control,[object Object],Isolate aborting ewes,[object Object],Dispose of fetuses, placenta, and fluids.,[object Object],Administer antibiotics to remaining females.,[object Object],Work with diagnostic vet to determine cause.,[object Object],Prevention,[object Object],Aborting females develop immunity,[object Object],Feed or inject antibiotics,[object Object],Vaccinate,[object Object],Control cat population,[object Object],Feed ionophore,[object Object],Young females are most susceptible to infectious causes of abortion.,[object Object]

Vagina prolapse,[object Object],Usually occurs during last month of pregnancy,[object Object],More common in ewes than does,[object Object],Extent of prolapse varies.,[object Object]

Vagina prolapseMany factors have been implicated as possible causes,[object Object],Multiple fetuses,[object Object],Increased rumen fill,[object Object],Poor quality forage,[object Object],Phytoestrogenic forages,[object Object],Short tail docks,[object Object],Gravity,[object Object],Overcrowding,[object Object],Lack of exercise,[object Object],Obesity ,[object Object],intra-abdominal fat,[object Object],Previous history,[object Object],40% chance of re-occurring,[object Object],Genetic predisposition,[object Object],Image source: NADIS UK,[object Object]

Vagina prolapseTreatment,[object Object],[Rx] Pain relief,[object Object],Clean vagina,[object Object],[Use mild soap],[object Object],Replace vagina,[object Object],Keep vagina in ,[object Object],Spoon/bearing retainer,[object Object],Prolapse harness,[object Object],Prolapse truss,[object Object],Purse-string suture[must remove sutures before lambing],[object Object],Parturition usually corrects problem,[object Object],Cull ewe and her offspring,[object Object]

Dystocia (difficult births),[object Object],Causes,[object Object],Fetal malpresentation,[object Object],Failure of cervix to dilate,[object Object],Incomplete cervical dilation.,[object Object],Fetal-maternal size mismatch,[object Object],Vaginal prolapse,[object Object]

Dystocia,[object Object],Causes/contributing factors,[object Object],Age,[object Object],Young and old,[object Object],Obesity,[object Object],Oversized fetuses,[object Object],Overfeeding,[object Object],Small pelvic area,[object Object],Breeds and males that sire large offspring,[object Object],Lack of exercise,[object Object],Multiple births,[object Object]

Malpresentations – “easy” to correct,[object Object],Elbow lock,[object Object],One leg back,[object Object],Both legs back,[object Object],Swollen head,[object Object],[object Object]

A small baby can be pulled with one leg back

Babies can survive a long time with their head sticking out.Wash head before putting it back inside female,[object Object]

Head back - push back, turn head

Breech - deliver backwards, cup fetlocks, extend rear legs forward , deliver quickly

Simultaneous - figure out what belongs to who

“Nasty” problems: dead, deformed, and decomposed babies,[object Object],[object Object]

Retained placentaCauses and contributing factors,[object Object],Abortion,[object Object],Stillbirths,[object Object],Premature birth,[object Object],Uterine infection,[object Object],Difficult/prolonged birth,[object Object],Assisted delivery,[object Object],Dead baby still in uterus,[object Object],Nutritional deficiencies,[object Object],Exhaustion,[object Object],Stress,[object Object]

Prolapsed uterus,[object Object],Uterus is turned inside out and pushed through the birth canal.,[object Object],May occur immediately after parturition or several days later.,[object Object],Is life threatening.,[object Object],Image source: NADIS UK,[object Object]

Prolapsed uterusCauses and predisposing factors,[object Object],Uterine infection,[object Object],Retained placenta,[object Object],Difficult/prolonged birth,[object Object],Assisted delivery,[object Object],Nutritional deficiencies,[object Object],Obesity,[object Object],Genetics,[object Object],Image source: NADIS UK,[object Object]

Prolapsed uterusTreatment,[object Object],Protect uterus (before treatment),[object Object],[Rx] Epidural ,[object Object],Cleanse uterus,[object Object],Sugar may reduce swelling,[object Object],Elevate hindquarters,[object Object],Replace uterus,[object Object],Pour 5 gallons of water into replaced uterus,[object Object],Purse string suture (optional),[object Object],[Rx] Oxytocin,[object Object],Calcium borogluconate,[object Object],Systemic antibiotics,[object Object]

Parturition

Parturition

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Parturition