It's been an interesting day. I've never had to go in and assist a kidding before, but I honestly don't think Sil and the kids would have made it if I hadn't done so this morning. The kids were stacked on top of each other, and I am pretty sure I had the doeling's nose and the buckling's hoof trying to come out together at first, though the doeling may have just had one leg back. It was so tight in there that I was really struggling to figure out what I was feeling. When we finally got the doeling out, the buckling tried to come with both front legs back. The doeling (lighter color) weighs 9 lbs., and the buckling (darker) 9.4. There was a point where I was kneeling there, holding the doeling's front legs as I waited for another contraction, and thinking, 'she is never going to fit'.
The vet and an experienced goat friend were both unavailable, so my heroic parents came out and helped. It was really a three person job. I don't know that my dad has ever delivered a goat kid in his life, but he stood there and very calmly told me what to do. I was so tired and flustered I was thankful for the reminders.
The kids are gorgeous. They have both been active and taking their bottles really well. The doeling has one of the cutest faces I've ever seen. I'm calling her Sunday, Sunny for short. The buckling has one swollen eye. I think I must have accidentally poked my finger into it as I was easing him back to get his sister out. He's a trooper, though.
Poor Sil was very sore after my clumsy efforts, but I gave her some banamine and preparation h, and she perked up pretty quickly. She is still not eating like I want to see, but at least she nibbles on all the delicacies I keep offering her. Her placenta was finally starting to let loose when I came in a little bit ago. I have been milking her to stimulate contractions, then pasteurizing the colostrum for the kids. I think it's very unlikely Sil has CAE, but I'm raising her kids as bottle babies, just in case. I'll be testing her as soon as she's recovered from this whole ordeal. The kids are in a little pen where she can see them and talk to them, and I think they are helping her to stay perky. She even took a short stroll around the yard this afternoon, once the painkillers had kicked in.
We've still got a long road to go, but I'm hoping that now Sil can focus on getting better and rebuilding her body after all this rough stuff. And of course, we are all enjoying the kids!