The season we all look forward to each year is quickly approaching us.  I’m talking about the time of year when we finally get to see why we’ve been feeding those expectant mothers every day for the past few months. It’s time to see all the hard work pay off and welcome some new life into this wonderful world.  As you all take the proper steps to prepare, I wanted to put together some helpful tips to make sure everyone is ready!

Things to have ready in the barn

• Warm birthing area for the mother and newborn
• Proper bedding to provide a clean and dry environment
• Dry towels, Water Bucket, Flashlights
• Plastic gloves or OB sleeves
• OB lube, OB chains and handles, Twine/Rope,
• Hemostats (useful for clamping bleeding umbilical cords)
• Large syringe/Turkey Baster/Child’s Boogie Sucker (for cleaning mucus out of respiratory track)
• Vetrycin Super 7 or Iodine for dipping umbilical cords

Here are my recommendations when it comes to monitoring the delivery process

1. Mother Nature has been doing this a lot longer than you or I, so allow her some time to handle the situation “herself”. Without constant interruption.
2. First time mothers should be making some progress at least every hour.  Experienced mothers should be making progress at least every half hour.
3. Try not to assist/monitor too much. Every time the birth canal is entered it causes more inflammation and too much swelling can hinder the delivery process.

Dr. Yarde’s THREE Reasons you should ALWAYS CALL FOR HELP

1. Delivery is not progressing normally, “you’ve checked”, and DON’T KNOW WHY
2. You know why the delivery is not progressing normally and YOU CAN’T FIX THE PROBLEM
3. You are able to fix the problem and you know the MOTHER AND NEWBORN ARE GOING TO NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
   1. Mother is in distress/tired from process and may need IV fluid therapy
   2. Newborn(s) are distressed/injured from delivery process
   3. Noted that something didn’t feel right when correcting the problem