Assisted Parturition Flashcards
What questions when examining ewe
What equipment
History: 1. How long in labour? 2. How many lambs expected? 3. Given birth before and if so were there any complications? Appropriate equipment 1. clean hands 2. arm length gloves Examination: 1. examine vulva and say looking for bag, feet, discharge
What are the stages of normal parturition
- Dilation of cervix
- Delivery of foetus
- Expulsion of foetal membranes
What is the first stage of normal parturition?
Dilation of cervix
- Uterine contractions begin
- cervix is dilating and foetus moving into position
- ewe appears restless and seeks to isolate feom rest of flock
- once fully dilates foetal membranes forced through cervix and into vaginal cavity = “water bag”
- rupture of waterbag = end of stage 1
What is the second stage of normal parturition?
DELIVERY OF FOETUS
1. strong uterine and abdominal contactions leading to expulsion of foetus- usually within 1 hr of waterbag
What is the third stage of normal parturition?
EXPULSION OF FOETAL MEMBRANES
1. continuing uterine contractions (and the action of PGF2-α and oxytocin) assist the
delivery of the foetal membranes.
2. Retention of membranes = serious so important to check completion
When do you intervene?
- When the foetus is obviously abnormally positioned (e.g just one leg, or just a head visible
- If no progress is made 30-60 minutes after the end of first stage labour (after foetal
membranes have ruptured). Intervention in horses is recommended if no progress is made
within 10-15 minutes. - If multiparous species and more than 30 minutes has elapsed between offspring
- If there is abnormal discharge
- If prolapse occurs
What do you need to think about before intervene
- IS there need to?
a) don’t dive in too soon if cervix not fully dilate = harm
b) Mal presentation?
c) Physical barriers e.g. ring worm - is lamb alive, dead, stuck, anterior or posterior?
- is dam well, unwell, damaged?
What do you need in a lambing kit
- lubricant
- lambing ropes
- lambing snare
- Clean water adn soap
How do you describe the position of the lamb
- presentation, position, posture
Presentation
- Longitudinal
a) anterior (soles face downwards) (limbs bend same way)
b) posterior (soles of hoof upwards) (limbs bend in oppo ways) - Transverse = across pelvis rather than within
What is important to do with a posterior presentation
- DEliver rapidly as high risk of asphyxiation and more likely to be damaged during delivery
Position
- Dorsal: Foetal spine to maternal spine
- Ventral: Foetal spine to maternal belly
- Lateral: Foetal spine to the dam’s side
Posture
head and limbs flexed or extended
What to do after delivery
- Ensure the lamb has a clear airway and is breathing – stimulate if necessary by gently
swinging upside down (ensuring head is supported) to clear the birthing fluids from airways - Allow the ewe to smell her lamb as soon as possible, this increases the chances of a good
bond - Check for more lambs – even if scanned as a single (mistakes do happen!) Ballot the
abdomen and examine per vaginum - Check the ewe for any damage – internally and externally
- Check the ewe has milk, and that milk let down is occurring
- Treat the umbilical cord of the lamb (lots of different potions are used, usually containing
iodine or chlorhexidine, more on this in clinical years) - Ensure the lamb feeds –
What deos a lamb need to drink in the first few hrs
200ml/kg (20% of bodyweight) of colostrum in the first
24hrs
