Worried - doe in labor? :(

cjb · #1 05/15/06, 07:38 AM

I posted last night that our doe was in labor and everyone said "you'll have babies tonight"... no baby/babies.

The kids and I slept in the barn/ in her stall! with her last night and, for hours she has been making pushing or complaining sounds. She was laying on her side, panting then holding her breath and grunting - but never bawling. No liquid is coming out, no babies. I was about to call the vet thinking she's in distress. However, I opened the stall/barn doors and she got up, walked out and started eating grass. She's now happily walking around munching.

Could she just be complaining when she's laying down? I know she shouldn't have to strain for hours and hours but its not like her first. The first time she bawled and had visible contractions. This time, I don't see contractions at all but I can see a baby moving.

Ugh. I'm confused and worried! Advice appreciated!!

Cliff

cmharris6002 · #2 05/15/06, 07:55 AM

My does lay around and grunt during late pregnancy. Often, so many things seem to show us they are ready but all we can do is watch and wait. I have one that is keeping me focused on her right now too

Most people say if you can see/feel the babies moving that you have 24hrs.

Do you know how to check ligaments?

Have you noticed any changes in her udder/teats?

Christy

cjb · #3 05/15/06, 08:07 AM

Her ligaments are gone. Her udder is full but it has been for days. I guess I misread her last night! She really appeared to be in labor. She's digging around in the straw, then laying down and grunting. She had a little discharge yesterday but it was clear and I don't see anything now. sigh.

So no reason to call the vet I hope? We KNEW she was in labor last year because her sides contracted, her back arched and she shouted at the top of her lungs. None of that now. I figure she must not be under too much stress if she's walking around and eating right now.

One thing, when she grunts she kind of holds her breath while doing it. That's why I wondered about straining. However, again, she then got up and walked around.... ?

cmharris6002 · #4 05/15/06, 08:20 AM

Yeah, the breath holding would get me going too. My doe has had 'gone ligs' with a sideways tail, on and off goo, her udder has been full but not about to burst. No milk in teats yet either BUT she is a first freshener so maybe her teats wont fill until she gives birth.

Anyway, I would watch her closely. You could always call the vet and see what they think, but if she is not in active labor now... Maybe what you saw last night was just some serious prelabor, babies lining up, starting to dialate a bit stuff like that

Cara · #5 05/15/06, 09:01 AM

Well, definately DO NOT take any of your children to the orthodontist. A couple weeks ago the last of my does to kid (I've been waiting to watch her for over a month) had them in 2 hours while I was gone. She had no goo showing and was happily munching breakfast when we left, when we got back 2 hours later she had one up and nursing, while licking up the other. UGH! And I've had goats for 5 kidding seasons.....she completely surprised me.

Hope she goes today for you in the hot, hot sun! It's supposed to be in the 90's for us, cjb.

Goat Freak · #6 05/15/06, 10:07 AM

We had a doe, the one that just kidded a couple weeks ago, that the first time she had a baby she made sure we KNEW she was in labor, this time, her second time, nothing, we checkd on her twice before heading off to bed, nothing, other than a REALLY full udder, my mom heard a baby, which we have not had a newborn cry in around 6 months, we headed out, and sure enough she had plopped out 2 babies without us knowing. Good luck, i think that your girl will go soon. Good Luck. Bye.

Freeholder · #7 05/15/06, 11:19 AM

Mine have all 'surprised' me this year, too -- I knew they were close, but not showing enough signs to spend the night with them. Then I'd go down in the morning to do chores, and find new wet babies, only a few minutes old. Then they'd have the rest of them. All except the last one, who kidded in the middle of the night -- I wouldn't have found that one till morning, either, except I heard something and decided to get up and check on her.

Kathleen

Sweet Goats · #8 05/15/06, 11:47 AM

OK, how is she doing? It has been a couple hours and I was hoping you would say all if fine and you have beautiful baby(ies). Keep a eye on her.

Tell her we all said that is enough and to have them NOW!

cjb · #9 05/15/06, 11:50 AM

I wish she would just listen that well!

No baby/babies yet. She is very uncomfortable but I don't see contractions at all. She has some little tiny bit of whitish discharge but can only see it when i open her up a bit and look. Now, the other doe is licking last year's baby that we kept and its not even hers! Maybe they'll both deliver today. We'll see.

So, normal to have laying down and grunting? wow.

mary,tx · #10 05/15/06, 12:07 PM

Some of mine will lay around grunting off and on for the last month, especially if carrying a big load (like triplets.) It's not pushing, though, just grunting.
You can also see the little dab of white discharge for at least a couple of weeks before kidding, in my experience.
Good luck. I hope she kids soon, so you can stop worrying.
mary

**mygoat** · #11 05/15/06, 02:36 PM

The doe varies... the day I saw major dialation, grunting and the little bit of WHITE goo, My doe went into labor. Actually only a couple hours later. So watch her really really close!

cjb · #12 05/15/06, 04:34 PM

still nothing. She's laying around in the heat and grunting a bit - but no other changes. I guess I misread her completely. Don't know why she keeps digging in the straw then! I have her outside right now because the barn is just too dang hot!

Hopefully, she'll have them this evening while its nice and cool.

Rosarybeads · #13 05/15/06, 04:45 PM

Yeah, I had a couple grunters this year myself, and I was always thinking they were in labour. Particularly one was pretty melodramatic about it, and she didn't have hers for another 3 weeks! LOL But if the bag is filling out, I would say that's about the best indication, the other ones can be off, but if you know how big the doe's bag typically gets before, then you have an idea how close she is getting. I am still waiting for three of mine to have babies, the rest have all had them, some for a couple of months.

TexCountryWoman · #14 05/15/06, 05:10 PM

I had two "Melodramatic" grunters this year too, LOL!

They each had triplets and you would have thought they were gonna have babies at anytime for several weeks. I knew their exact due dates though, so I had no real worries. The udder will get shiney tight, or should prior to delivery. When they lay down, many of them will gape open in the back with the pressure for a good while, days or weeks even, before they go into labor, just all the pressure. Then when they stand, they close. Look for stringy discharge and a change in the angle of the tail. it is normal for them to paw the ground and "nest" for a bit prior to actaul labor too. I have a doe cycling today who is pawing the ground and digging a nest and she is NOT bred. The doe will start calling and "talking to her babies" when she is in labor. Her voice will be different. Probably not every single doe, but many. If you are really in tune with your animals, you will hear it. A doe i used to have, now deceased, would lick me all over, like a cat while she was in early labor and did not want me to leave her (a Lamancha). Please keep us posted!

cjb · #15 05/15/06, 07:25 PM

Oh, I wonder if I'm getting triplets.

Weirdly, her back end is way more open now and it looks like there's a bulge showing but it is not a bag or baby - just looks like more of "her". This is a new development. Her ligs are gone, I can put my fingers around her tail bone and she is obviously very uncomfortable. Today - she is licking the poor yearling (her daughter) constantly and she now has cowlicks everywhere

I guess she COULD be days off but I hope not - she's so uncomfortable. She has whitish liquid dripping out of her now - but not a whole lot.

sigh. Maybe she's not EVEN pregnant - I'm wondering if they'll ever come out! Nah - she's huge - she's got like a dozen in there ;-)

Freeholder · #16 05/15/06, 07:40 PM

Stay with her, or at least check on her every few minutes, or you'll miss it! She's getting REALLY close now!

Kathleen

**mygoat** · #17 05/15/06, 08:16 PM

that licking thing has me thinking she's in labor... Mine did it too while in labor. stick with her.

cjb · #18 05/15/06, 08:44 PM

I will but its so dang boring!! ;-) I'm just looking for one good contraction. Her vulva sure looks weird, though. Very open with a bulge and some wetness that's thickish and white. Feels like she's never going to pop but I swear she will if I so much as run to the restroom (I can see her from where I am right now...)

So - do you guys separate yours? Her yearling daughter is sticking by her side and she doesn't seem to mind. I wonder if the yearling will be too rough with the babies? I'll just have to watch.

Take care and send prayers this direction.

sancraft · #19 05/15/06, 09:33 PM

Any news. I'm on pins and needles watching this thread.

cmharris6002 · #20 05/15/06, 09:35 PM

She sounds just like my girl who had triplets! She was so open with a dark 'bubble' a couple of times I thought it was the baby! Anyway, the more babies in there the more pressure AND the more drama

If it makes you feel any better my little doe is making me crazy too. She is ready to go ANY minute...

Christy