Aida gives birth
Oct. 3, 2011
Sometimes life mirrors biology. Aida, our nubian goat, gave birth this afternoon. As I went out to, serendipitously, get a jump on chores this evening at 4:30p, I happened upon Aida lying on her side. Having seen this behavior before in another goat that came from the same home as Aida, my heart initially sank. I wondered if she was malnourished or had some other ailment that was keeping her down, as goats don't generally lay on their sides if they can help it.
Not knowing what else to do, I tried to get her on her feet. When she grunted, it didn't sound like she was in pain, but rather like she was irritated. I looked her all over and discovered a small sack of fluid emerging from her vulva. Well, I guess the overturned box we put in the stall with she and Emmett was put to some good use! Needless to say, it became quickly apparent that she was giving birth.
Unfortunately, I had to pick Peter up at pee-wee soccer. So I jumped in the car, marveling at how your mind can enter a tunnel when something as singular as the birth of a new life is imminent, just as the kid enters the singular point that all mammalian life must past through as well.
As I write this, we're still watching Aida, as her back has not unarched from labor. That could be a sign of the afterbirth, or a second kid. We'll see...
UPDATE: The afterbirth was delivered successfully at about 8:15p. Aida seems healthy, happy and tired. The doeling is up and about and actively looking for mom's teats. She already got a little bit in when we intervened to get her mouth on a teat, but it seems like it might take a little while for her to figure everything out.
