Prologue
My in-law’s have goats. Every year I wait and wait to witness one being born.
Chapter One
We are at my in-laws to visit. We do this most every Sunday afternoon because that’s what you do on Sunday afternoons around here. Today is hot and humid and we’re having fresh corn on the cob for dinner. Austin and I help husk it while Waylon plays close by.
After the corn is husked we take the garbage to the field to feed the goats. Almost immediately we see a mama goat in labor. I am ecstatic! It’s happening! Where are my shoes? Forget shoes!
I am running around and running my mouth. I go inside to get my camera. Waylon is unaffected.
Chapter Two
Soon Jim, my father-in-law, prepares a birthing suite which turns out to be a pile of hay. I am doing nothing to help except ask important questions like, “Does it come out of her butt?” and “What happens next?”
I am a goat birthing idiot.
The whole time it’s happening I can’t help but think about my own labor. I shudder as the goat bellows and lays on her side. She is uncomfortable. She is swearing. This is her first time.
At one point Austin notes how goat births are different than human births because the sister goats eats her mucus plug. I had been trying to ignore this fact, but now it’s all I can think about.
Chapter Three
An hour passes by and I am on close watch. I leave her side only once to get a drink. Apparently this is a long labor for a goat so I try to look sympathetic. Really I’m still thinking about my own 23 hour labor and how this goat should probably suck it up.
Everyone else goes inside except Gavin (Austin’s brother), Jim, and myself.
It is raining.
Finally her water breaks. The billy goat chews on his cigar like it is 1965. I try not to be annoyed at his ambivalence.
Chapter Four
It’s really happening. This young animal is about to be a mother for the first time. I hold my breath and soon enough, a baby boy.
l
l
l
Epilogue
It was gross and then it was beautiful. Tears were in my eyes. Every new life, a miracle.
***
that was awesome.
(also, i sounded just like the goat)
That is so awesome! I had chills the whole time. Thank you for sharing that!
Thanks for sharing. I started to tear up when the mommy goat began to lick her new baby. What a precious moment.
Wow!! I didn’t want to watch it and yet, I had to… amazing that you caught it on film…
Is it weird that it’s a goat and yet it reminds me so much of my own birth?! The miracle, that first face-t0-face, and oh, the pain… and to think we were just talking about baby #2 last night… oh boy!
Oh my goodness, that was so utterly amazing.
I am pretty speechless.
happy tears for mama goat.
Laughed out loud at the billy goat and “At one point Austin notes how goat births are different than human births because the sister goats eats her mucus plug. I had been trying to ignore this fact, but now it’s all I can think about.”
But really, this is pretty incredible. Witnessed a calf being born with the same amazement. Isn’t it weird how nature giving birth is really all the same?
Does it come out of her butt??
So I really didn’t want to watch that video but I’m glad I did.
I am a city girl, so animal births freak me OUT! I did watch the video though, I had to! I covered my eyes up a few times and then it was so beautiful and wonderful! THank you for sharing it with us!
Ahhh! I am so jealous. I waited months to write just such a blog about our goat this year. But alas, she waited until the day I boarded a plane to Seattle. Guess there’s next year! Loved the blog, as usual.
Wow. That was amazing. (I am glad that my babies had little, tiny soft feet, not hooves.:) Also, you always pick the perfect music to go with your videos.
I’m so glad you got it on video! Great story!
My husband heard the “baaa”s coming from my iPod.
Husband: Whatcha doin’?
Me: Watchin’ a goat being born.
Husband: Is that an effective use of time?
(says he, who spends countless hours watching TV, playing video games, and web surfing)
Me: Yup.
Yeah, when it was just the legs, it was a little uncomfortable to watch. But the second the head appeared, I felt the tears. And then when the momma goat licked her baby…definitely some waterworks. It’s so heartwarming to see this protective, nurturing side of a goat. My grandma used to have goats, and they were kind of mean, but I may look at them a little differently now.
So cool that you captured this. Good work, Kate. And good work, Mrs. Goat.
So neat! The part when your father-in-law held the baby’s head so the mama could see her baby was so sweet!
What is going on in the chapter 2 picture? Someone crawling around the barn roof?
ouch.
As much as I didn’t think I wanted to watch that video, I’m glad I did. A miracle indeed.
You always find a way to surprise. :)
wow. Birth can be so weird, but it’s so universal. Thanks for sharing this video.