Understanding the Different Lamb Birthing Positions for a Successful Delivery

As usual, time has gotten away from us again.😳 We'll get the hang of this blogging thing yet. In the beginning, it's easy to make sure there's a new post each day, but as time goes on, it's very easy to lose that momentum and forget to write a post for a day or two...or five.

Our ewe Lainey is due any day now, probably within the next week, and things are ramping up for our (and her) first lambing season at Tyler Farm. We wanted to have her sheared in time for this, but as our luck goes, we've had one issue after another with the whole shearing process.

Since this is something we need, today's post is a quick one about the lambing birth positions for those who are also new to lambing.

This was taken from the website Sheep 201, and a more in-depth article can be found here.

Normal presentation

Normal delivery is when the two front feet appear with the head resting between them. Rarely is any assistance needed. However, a small ewe may have trouble delivery a very large lamb. In this case, gentle assistance may be needed. You should pull the lamb downward during her contractions.

Backwards

A backwards (hind legs first) delivery is also a normal delivery. It is common with twins and triplets. You should never attempt to convert a backwards delivery to a "normal" frontwards delivery. Turning a lamb around can result in death of the lamb or damage to the uterus. Plus, it is not necessary.

Elbow lock

An elbow lock is a "normal" position except the lamb's elbows are locked in the birth canal. You will need to push the lamb slightly back into the birth canal to extend the legs.

Leg(s) back

One leg back

Both legs back

If one or both legs are back, you need to cup the lamb's hooves in your palm and bring them forward. A small lamb may be pulled with one leg back. If you are not able to bring the legs forward, you should slip a lambing rope onto one or both limbs and push the head back far enough to allow the legs to be drawn forward.

Head back

If the front legs are forward, but the head is back, you will need to push the lamb back into the uterus, so you can turn the head around. You should attach a lambing rope to each leg so you don't lose them. The lamb should not be pulled out by the jaw. A lamb with a broken jaw cannot suck and will likely die. You can use the eye sockets to pull the lamb's head.

Breech

A "true" breech birth is when the lamb is positioned backwards, with the rear legs tucked under and only the tail near the opening. A breech birth is common when the ewe has been straining for a long time and there is very little discharge and only a small water bag.

To deliver a breech lamb, the first thing you have to do is bring the rear legs forward by cupping the fetlocks in your palm. Once the rear legs are forward, you need to quickly deliver the lamb because once the umbilical cord breaks, the lamb will begin breathing and could risk drowning in its own fluids.

Simultaneous births

Four front legs

Front and back

Sometimes, lambs are presented with their legs intertwined. Before attempting to deliver these lambs, you need to determine which legs belong to which head. It may be necessary to repel one lamb to allow easy delivery of the other. Ewes carrying triplets often have a higher percent of malpresented lambs, so flocks with high lambing rates require closer supervision during lambing.