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There will probably be many who will outright disagree
with what follows in this article. I do not pretend to have all the answers.
But, during the past twenty years, I have found through trial and error and
sometimes through sheer frustration and desperation, that these methods have
worked well for me. Hopefully, this article will help those willing to try
something a bit different when faced with a difficult or seemingly hopeless
situation.
I have found that birthings occur more frequently
during the full moon and the new moon. More premature births or miscarriages
seem to occur during storm fronts and elevated temperatures accompanied with
high humidity. Whatever the method, getting these babies up and completely on
their moms is our main goal. |
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 Triple digit temperatures with
high humidity for an extended period of time triggered such a birth here at the
ranch last August 27th. We had a first-time pregnant mom, due October 20th.
This had been a one-time breeding, so we were sure of the date. The mother,
Windswept, gave birth seven weeks early, to a 10 pound baby girl.
This was an assisted birth - - the baby was
weak and lifeless. We cleared the mucus from the cria's nose and throat and put
her on oxygen for about half an hour. While on oxygen, we put the iodine on her
navel and vigorously towel dried her. This helped stimulate her and she
responded very well. Her temperature was 94 degrees. We put her on a heating
pad and continued to dry and warm her with a hair dryer. A baby can be
hypothermic in very hot weather - - always check their temperature! Not
registering a normal temperature as yet, we wrapped her loosely in a blanket
with the heating pad on medium and let her nap and warm up for about half an
hour, until her temperature registered 100 degrees.
 Now stabilized, we
tubed two ounces of Pedialyte (for human infants) every 2 to 3 hours for the
next 10 hours, changing to a baby bottle after the third tubing. At each
feeding, we would try to get the baby to stand and each time we were rewarded
with Fantasia, the cria, standing a little longer on her own. She was steadily
becoming more alert and inquisitive.
During this time, we milked the mother and
collected her colorstrum. This was a first time mother, so I applied hot
compresses to her teats to help with the flow of the milk and to comfort her so
she was more tolerant of me milking her. This procedure has been most
successful with moms that are unwilling to let their babies nurse or are too
sore to be hand milked or even nursed on. I also applied mineral oil to my
fingers so as not to make her sore while milking her. After the milk was
flowing nicely, I changed over to an old fashioned hand squeeze breast pump for
humans. Moisten the lip of the pump that presses against the skin with water or
oil to make a good suction. Press up, putting pressure on the llama and squeeze
and let it draw the milk slowly into the bulb. It make take several squeezes,
but when it starts to flow, it goes very well. The moms don't get as sore and
it really stimulates the milk glands with a deep suction like that of a baby.
Alternating now, between three ounces of colostrum and two ounces of Pedialyte,
but never at the same time and at least one hour apart. Fantasia took her
feedings every 2 to 3 hours apart for the next 24 hours. There were times that
I did not have enough colostrum. At these times, I would substitute either
canned goat milk (1/3 goat milk to 2/3 water) or vitamin D whole (cow's) milk.
Both of these work wonderfully well with newborn crias. We have used whole milk
for eight years without a problem.
 We have found over
the years, with a compromised baby, that we have fewer problems if we do not
use goat colostrum. The babies do not seem to be able to absorb such a rich
substance. It must just lay in the tummy and putrefy. If this happens, you have
compromised your baby even more than is necessary. Keep repeating - - less is
best! Small and frequent feedings! Give Pedialyte for dehydration and energy
and mom's colostrum for nourishment and some passive transfer, slowly allowing
the system to handle only a small amount at a time. We are trying not to
overload it. At 24 hours, we transfused. A passive transfer can still be
achieved through intravenous transfusion with llama plasma. This will give the
crias the protection they need until they can build their own immune
system.
At each feeding, after applying the hot
compresses to mom, we put the baby under mom's teats and helped her nurse. Even
though she could not stand on her own for long, this helped educate both mom
and baby. By the third day, Fantasia was on her mother completely, without
assistance. |
