Newborn and Premature Kid Tips: Interventions When Things Go Wrong

By Deb Haines

How premature are the kids ?

This is very dependent on each situation, If they are 10 days or less premature, the chances of survival are much greater. but if they are over 10 days premature, more problems will surely be encountered. keep in mind, A kid born at 140 days is much more likely to survive than a kid born at day 130 or even 135. There is a difference between a premature kid and a kid born normal due date range, but is small and weak. Check the teeth and a premature kid teeth will not be very visible.

The greatest problem encountered with premature birth relates to the lungs. Inside the lungs are tiny little balloon-like structures called alveoli. Inside the alveoli is where the actual oxygen transfer takes place and if these alveoli stick together and don’t inflate, there is no transfer of oxygen to the blood. A chemical called surfactant tells these “balloons” to inflate, but it is not produced in sufficient amounts until very late in the pregnancy. Surfactant keeps the alveoli from sticking together. Without surfactant, the lungs may inflate once and then are unable to stay open. They stick together. There simply is no oxygen transfer taking place.

Taking care of a premature Kid

1) When a kid is born premature it does not have the ability to regulate its own body temperature. So, the temperature regulation needs to be provided by you. Need heating source

Don’t leave the kid out in the barn to fend for itself. You need to regulate the kids temperature by providing warmth, heating pads, heating lamps… keep heating pad covered not to burn baby and check often… keep heating lamps far enough way to not over heat baby. Normal Body Temp Range = 102-104

2) Premature kids need to be propped up sternal… keep in mind lungs are not fully developed ,breathing problems are common in premature kids because the lungs are the last major organ to develop fully and laying on side can put more pressure and difficulty breathing…. Here is a link below of what I use to prop up sick or premature kids by folding towels a certain way…. works like a charm and can set over a covered heating pad if need.

Link…. https://ruralveterinaryoutreach.org/2025/05/22/keeping-a-sick-weak-preemie-goat-kid-up-sternal-how-to/

2) Premature kids you will notice many times, do not have teeth through gums yet. The kid may not have a sucking reflex and may not be able to nurse on its own. The mother probably does not have quality colostrum at this point either.

Tube feeding becomes a must then for baby to survive.

Weight is important on these premature kids so that you do not over feed … keep in mind ….3 to 4 oz per 5 lbs of body weight every 4 hours… Example…2lb baby would get 2 oz every 4 hours… it’s 20ml per one pound . The problem with over-feeding kids the milk or replacers is they can actually get a fermentation going due to too much and cannot process it fast enough and then get a kid bloat (not a gas bloat like an adult in the rumen, but an abomasal fermentation and curdling of milk)

Warm the milk you are feeding to at least 100 to 102 degrees( can check temp with thermometer)… do not tube or bottle feed COLD milk.

Here is a link below on how to tube feed and what is needed.

Tube feeding… http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1998/eb1998.pdf

PLEASE NOTE: Nothing other than colostrum, REPEAT, nothing other than colostrum is needed in a newborn/premature kid

There is NO pharmacy with a plethora of drugs in nature, and the kid’s GI tract is not designed for all of the things that we have devised….give them only what thy need…colostrum first 24 hours and then raw goats milk, raw cows milk or a good goat kid specific milk replacer.

There are no magic shots, potions, concoctions or cures for prematurity. Many times due to the stage of development their bodies just aren’t ready. Or their lungs can’t sustain life.

Many times with premature kids, by providing the main importance of warmth and nutrition many premature kids within 10 days or less premature, the chances of survival are much greater and go on to become adults.

Note… useful tool is a goat gestation calendar to help you keep track of breeding date and when to expect a kidding.Helps especially for newbies

Link to gestation calendar …. http://www.americangoatsociety.com/…/gestation…