HELP...Dark brown Goo

MountainMama · #1 02/11/07, 08:47 AM

This is my first goat birthing. Virginia is still eating this morning then I noticed a two foot glob of dark brown goo coming out. Most the photos I've seen online are a lighter color. Is there a problem? HELP!!!!

I've got my helper at the stall while I came in to check. I'm taking the laptop out to the barn now.

Blossomgapfarm · #2 02/11/07, 08:56 AM

This is my first birthing season as well. We have had two sheep deliver - no kids yet. I was worried with the first sheep because the fluid was DARK - almost black. The lamb was covered with nasty meconium and was yellow for several days but she was just fine. My neighbor, who has raised cows and sheep for years later told me that with the stress of winter, it is normal for the fluid to be dark and not to worry about it in the future. Hope this helps. I will pray that all goes well with the momma and you this morning.
Dawn

Patty0315 · #3 02/11/07, 09:33 AM

Do not panic. Yes most are lighter. Just wait and see not much more you can do anyways. As long as labor begins and progresses normally. Have pleanty of towels and a syringe to suck out the goop if needed. If you cannot get a kid started in a last ditch effort craddle it upside down supporting the body and neck well. Swing it between your legs fast. This will force fluid from the airways.

patty

MountainMama · #4 02/11/07, 11:39 AM

Thanks! No change yet but she is acting like it won't be long.

Idahoe · #5 02/11/07, 12:17 PM

I agree, it might be meconium staining, where the baby poops while still inside. The only problem with that is if it gets inhaled in great quantities. Use a bulb syringe and really suck out the nostrils and mouth ASAP when baby is born.

Blossomgapfarm · #6 02/11/07, 04:45 PM

How is she doing?
Dawn

MountainMama · #7 02/11/07, 04:50 PM

It has been a long day and I'm worn out. She has shown all the signs of labor all day but doesn't seem to be in any pain. She suddenly lets me touch her belly and udders, which she normally does not. Her brown goop was really thick and fell off about 3 hours ago. Since then it has been replaced with clear and amber colored goop. She is pawing the ground, yawning, shaking her head and getting up and laying down a lot. Hope she has them before dark! I'm more excited than she is!

Patty0315 · #8 02/11/07, 05:09 PM

Hehe silly you. Put on a coffee pot !

Blossomgapfarm · #9 02/11/07, 05:29 PM

Am so excited for you!

Dawn

MountainMama · #10 02/11/07, 07:17 PM

Coffee is on. Just tucked in my children and got DH off to work. I guess I'll be outside most of the night. Wish I could do something to speed up the process. She gets mad when I leave for a minute so I better hurry back. My Golden Retriever is so jealous that I have been in the pen with her all day. He won't stop barking & one of the hens got out and he almost had chicken dinner. Luckily I was at the barn so I saved the chicken. He did get a bunch of feathers but the hen is fine.

Back to the barn. It is dark and cold but I'm taking my lounge chair & coffee this time. Her due date is tomorrow so she will probably wait until midnight.

sixstrothers · #11 02/12/07, 05:45 AM

Any babies yet?

southerngurl · #12 02/12/07, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixstrothers

Any babies yet?

Shhhh, she's probably still sleeping in that lounge chair.

vtfarma · #13 02/12/07, 09:06 AM

sleeping or not... any babies yet?

Cheryl in SD · #14 02/12/07, 09:40 AM

There should be babies by now! If not there is a problem!

vtfarma · #15 02/12/07, 11:37 AM

Agreed Cheryl. Not that I am an expert.

MountainMama · #16 02/12/07, 06:46 PM

Still no babies. I'm so tired I can't walk. She is acting fine but still showing signs of labor. I called the vet and he says to just watch her and call him if there is a problem. I had my neighborhood goat expert come check on her and she said she looked fine to her. The vet said if she isn't showing signs of distress that she should be fine. The goop has slowed down today but is still coming and she is still eating. She has wanted a lot of water all day which is unusual for her. She was acting more in labor yesterday than today. Hopefully she will have them tonight! I never knew goat birthing was so stressful! Her udders are huge.

Update soon!

southerngurl · #17 02/12/07, 07:13 PM

Make sure she doesn't have too much pressure in her teats, my grandpa's goats' teats got too full before she had the baby and were SO sore. She wouldn't allow the baby to eat, and they hurt so bad. One took a week to heal up.

MountainMama · #18 02/13/07, 02:10 AM

It's 3:19 am and we finally have a huge water bubble coming out. Maybe this is it! It is clear and I don't see any hoof yet. Back to birth watch!

sixstrothers · #19 02/13/07, 05:12 AM

Ok, it is 5:30am ...........any babies? Hope everything went alright. Keep us posted. Good luck!

MountainMama · #20 02/13/07, 05:33 AM

The bubble bursted about 3:45 am. No sign of any babies. I finally reached in to see if I could feel anything but I didn't feel anything that felt like a goat. Just mush. I have a feeling that this isn't going to turn out good. I called one vet at 4:30 am and another at 5:30 but no one will call me back. My neighbor suspects the baby or babies are dead since she isn't trying to push at all.

She is still acting fine and sitting up munching on her hay. I guess the vets will call me back when they get up. I am very sad but still hoping for the best. Maybe she will surprise me.