05/18/2026
This isn't the post I was planning to make.
Last night at 11:45, I went out to check on our pregnant goat to see if she showed signs of labor. She had just delivered a large baby boy and was in active labor. Her ultrasound from several weeks ago showed 3 babies so I knew we had a little ways to go and came out to sit with her while she delivered the next two.
As I settled in, I felt a sense of unease. Something didn't seem right. Maybe it is because I knew she had difficulty kidding in the past. Maybe it is because I have helped so many animals with difficult deliveries, I am acutely aware of everything that can go wrong. Maybe it its because I am anxious and tend to think of worst case scenarios. Whatever it was, it felt heavy.
When a goat who has kidded before, had multiple babies, and/or has already delivered the first of 3 babies, labor should progress rather quickly. I would expect anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes after the first baby is born. As 30 minutes came and went. At 45 minutes, with lots of pushing and no progression, my anxiety increased. I tried to remind myself that momma goats don't read the books and will do things on their on time. Once we passed 60 minutes, I knew I had to go in and check.
I washed, gloved, lubed up, and went in. The baby was breech and bent in way that was blocking the birth canal. He was also enormous, considerably bigger than his very large brother. I tried to reposition him several times before I was able to finally help pull him out. He was dead and had no eyes.
I knew she had one more baby to deliver. I was also acutely aware that her first baby needed to nurse and drink colostrum, the first milk that is essential for a newborn's survival. Momma was uncomfortable and wouldn't stand for him to nurse, so I milked her and tube fed her baby the much needed colostrum. Then I went back to check on the progress of the other unborn baby.
This baby came out easily. She was only about 10 inches long, malformed, and dead. Heartbreaking. Since she had 2 dead babies, the risk of a uterine infection is high, so I went inside to get her an antibiotic injection. When I came out less than 10 minutes later, she had pr*****ed her entire uterus.
I will not go into the details of the types of prolapses but this was the worst kind. She was hemorrhaging. Her uterus was completely abnormal in appearance. Even knowing her survival rate was poor, I tried several times to reduce the uterus and carefully replace it. The attempts failed.
As the sun rose, she laid with her newborn at her side and was euthanized.
I haven't slept in 45 hours. My heart is shattered. A baby goat is now an orphan, his siblings and mother are dead— all because of dairy. This sweet momma goat didn't have to die. She didn't have to have babies year after year that damaged her body. The loss of life is tragic and senseless. Delicious and nutritious plant based milk alternatives exist. Please look at this beautiful baby and consider trying one of the many alternatives- for him.
Thank you to Grace Reynolds, Logan Miller, and Liz Kenyon for all of your support and care last night and today. 💜
