Why helping a birthing sheep can be risky

Sheep are at particularly high risk of labour slowing or stopping if you intervene unnecessarily. Adrenaline directly inhibits the progression of labour and the release of oxytocin (the bonding hormone), so it can be detrimental to handle or stress a mother during labour, or when she's bonding with her lamb/s after birth.

In Blossom's case, she felt comfortable and safe with her owner and bonded with her lambs even while we were still stitching her abdomen.

However, if a ewe sees you as a predator, then just the act of handling the lamb immediately after birth can sometimes result in her rejecting it.

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Always watch a sheep in labour from a distance – approach with caution, calmly and quietly.

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Look for a water bag, and time the labour's progress.

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Talk to a vet if there's no sign of progress in the labour after 1-2 hours.