Straddling the Fence Read Online Free Page B

his brothers hung on every word, catalogued every
action.
    Once she had the cow’s rump cleaned, she picked up another
bottle, wrestling with a grin. The grin won. “Lube is imperative. Use as much
as you think you need then add more. It can only help the process along.
Petroleum jelly will work in a pinch, but never use soap.”
    She slicked up her gloves before pouring her hand full and
smearing it on the cow’s vulva. “Next, you’re going to gently insert
your hand into her vagina. Cow parts are the same as girl parts, boys.” Sage
snickered. “They’re just bigger and aligned a little differently, but it’s
basically the same principal as when your mother gave birth to you. The cervix
has to dilate enough to allow the calf to enter the birth canal. If she’s not
dilating naturally after several hours, and especially after she’s expelled the
water sac, you can help her along manually by carefully manipulating the cervix
back.”
    Bellamy paused for a moment while she assessed that part of
the cow. “She’s fully dilated. Now I’m going to feel for the calf, see if it’s
in the proper birth position, which is forelegs and head first. The feet should
present themselves just before the head. Sometimes they get one leg forward and
one back, or both legs back. In those instances, you want to push the calf’s
head back and straighten the forelegs if you can. Any other presentation and
you need to call the vet until you get some experience with it.”
    She bit her lip as she felt for the calf. “The baby’s in the
right position, I think it’s just the size that’s giving her trouble.” The cow
mooed, making Bellamy chuckle. “We’re telling you, huh, Momma?”
    “Now it’s your turn. Whoever wants a go, lube up.”
    Eli dropped to his knees beside her and coated his gloved
hand.
    “Remember—be gentle.”
    Bracing one hand on the cow’s tailbone, he eased the other
inside. It wasn’t as weird or gross as he imagined, just different. The
process, her knowledge and calm demeanor, it all fascinated him and made him
more eager to learn as much as he could.
    “You’ll feel a thicker area of tissue lining the walls
several inches in.”
    “I feel it.”
    “That’s the cervix. It gets thinner as she dilates. There
should be very little resistance against your closed fist. Now push your hand a
little farther until you feel the hooves.”
    Eli smiled when his fingers touched the hard, sharp ends of
the small hooves. “Got them.”
    “Farther back, you should feel its nose. Don’t poke at it
too much.” When he nodded, she said, “Ease your hand out.”
    Another strong contraction hit the cow, making her grunt and
stir on the ground. Bellamy grabbed a set of chains. “I think we need to go
ahead and attach these and start pulling since the feet haven’t appeared yet.
I’ll show you the proper way to loop them around the legs once we get the calf
out. If you don’t have a set of pull chains, you can use rope, but make sure
it’s not twine or anything thin that can cut into the skin of the calf.”
    Something prompted Bellamy to speed up, though they hadn’t
been dawdling at all. Eli scooted back so she had plenty of room to work. When
she had the chains secured, she waited until they’d stripped off the slick
gloves, then handed one chain to Eli and Fritz took the other.
    “This part is very important too. Never snatch the
chains and never use a tractor or a truck for pulling. You apply steady
pressure, working with the cow’s contractions. When she pushes, you
pull, first one leg, then the other, like you’re walking the calf out. If
there’s just one of you, it’s okay if you’re not able to do it that way, but
always keep the chains taut. Don’t let the infant slip back inside. You’re
going to pull in alignment with the cow’s spine or slightly upward until the
head and shoulders are exposed. Once that happens, you’ll need to stop and turn
the calf ninety degrees in either