Just Ask Val
 | ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
Stay tuned for Val's daily blog: a friendly, funny and sometimes
crazy look into the daily life of an alpaca farmer! Get all the
latest news and updates here...
( You know we had every intention on this being a daily blog and that in itself is rather funny as the anyone living the life of a farmer says { right, daily? I don't think so!}
April 18th 2008
Wow! It sure looks like spring is finally here in NewHampshire! Lots of sunshine and warm temps, looking forward to the birthing season and breeding season! I have my cria kit all packed, "Who's Due" list, and now we wait and watch! Time to brush up on all the seminars, books we have read , and get out our camera's!
Oh, and I thought that maybe a funny birthing story might start the year off good! To those of you who know me, I do usually start with ... did I ever tell you... ?????
So if you want to hear just keep reading, if you don't click to another page! :)
This happened when I was relatively new to the whole birthing scene as far as alpacas go. A dear friend who agists her alpacas here was away at a show. I had been keeping a close eye out for her dam and was determined not to miss the birth and to be able to take great pictures. Sure enough on a bright and gorgeous fall day, Chris (the alpaca) started making several trips to the poop pile. Yeah I thought my heart skipping a beat , definitely in labor! I took out my baby book, got the cria kit, and tried to pretend I wasn't watching! (ha)
Anyway sure enough I soon saw a little nose peeking out, and now really excited I called my friends cell phone. YOU ARE HAVING A BABY!! We were both so happy, she just said "take pictures for me! ". So I did. I snapped away! Then I realized that this huge (weighed nearly 23 pounds) baby was about to hit the ground! Good grief I thought I have to make it have a soft landing! (I was new remember!) I had already taken a quilt and put that under the impending spot, but no I was not happy with that, so I put down the camera, went to graciously "catch" this long legged long necked little critter and proceeded to slip on the quilt which was very slippery from the impending birth, fell flat on my back and well... the baby had a real soft landing! That baby landed square on top of me! Never could have had a softer landing! Who knew? Needless to say, I was pretty shocked! But in the end a healthy gorgeous baby boy came into this world with a soft landing, so I guess it was all just worth it!
Questions or comments? email Val here.
I'd love to hear from you! ~ Val
