We had one last cow to calve this year and she was at least a week overdue. We went on a trip for 3 days and debated inducing her before going but decided she was 3 1/2 years old and capable of calving on her own and we had people to watch her. We were certain she would calve when we were gone. Worried about it the whole trip (makes for a fun vacation...NOT). Got home and she had not calved, but yesterday we knew it was the day, hubby getting ready to go out of town for work, so of course it was then! She finally bedded down at 10 pm to calve, hubby saw the beginning of a foot starting to come, but she was still standing around and not in real labor. Went back at 11:30pm, she was calving working on getting head out. Hubby pulled skin off the calf's nose, it was alive, came and got me up, had to drive 3 miles to get the pullers and then we headed out to pasture. By this time (10-15 min. max), she had the calf out to the chest and we easily helped her get him out. We thought all was well but quickly noticed he was not breathing. We did all the usual things but to no avail. I saw his sides suck in 2 times and that was it. His head looked swollen. What do you think happened? It was only the 2nd calf lost in the 2008 year calving of around 40 head, but I hate to lose any.