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An Alpaca Birth

One little nose,

two little toes;

That's the way it usually goes

Thanks to Jeff Merrifield for these lines.

1. First-time mother Mira has been looking uncomfortable all morning - restless, alternately walking and lying down.
Finally she started pushing, and soon a foot appeared.

2. Nose and toes appear - perfect.

The head is curved down, the top foot is beside the left ear.

3. A pause in labor is common;
Mira gets up and takes a walk.

6. The new cria doesn't look very good at all...

4. I get impatient and try repositioning the cria - sometimes the shoulders get stuck, and rotating the cria a little bit can help get things moving again.

But not in this case. I just have to wait.

7. ...but she just needs to get some starch in her legs.

5. Labor restarts, and things happen fast.

8. The Happy Ending.

Everyone is very interested in the arrival of a new herd member.

I was used to lambs presenting in a very organized manner - nose resting on top of toes and "diving out.".
Alpacas...it looks totally twisted, but it all works out.

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