Now we wait and wonder...

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #1 03/02/07, 09:00 AM

I now find myself in the same boat as a few other posters - the waiting and wondering game.

We have two does due, one on Monday and one very close to that same time but not sure as we never saw her bred. (We just know because we didn't have a buck at the time and borrowed one for a while)

Well, Mary the FF La Mancha/Nubian is due on Monday. Today she's yelling her head off. When we went up to the barn.. she's standing there with the butter wouldn't melt in my mouth look.

We fed. She ate. Usual greedy personality still there. BUT.. she had ligaments yesterday quite strong. Now I cannot find them! I checked twice to make sure.
No discharge.. lol!

Julianne the Nubian that is most certainly due very soon (and the earliest due date IS Monday March 5th) - well, she's had a discharge now for at least a week, maybe two. And I have yet to even FEEL her ligaments during this last two weeks, so there is no telling just when she'll domino.

Soo.. guess we'll need to keep an eye on this pair. Julianne is herd queen, Mary bosses everyone else but her. They are the two we started out with first and everyone else has been added in months later.

Wonder if they will kid together.. I'm thinking that when one goes the other will as well.

What fun.. and to top it off, my folks about 45 minutes away have planned a big family dinner for tomorrow mid-afternoon. I guess it all depends on how the girls are acting just before time for us to leave.

HazyDay · #2 03/02/07, 09:24 AM

I was told if I think a doe is in labor, and I diddn't work for me because she wasn't in labor. To wash your hand very good (did it 4 times with heavy cleaning soap) Put a lub on it (valsine I used) Keep your hand very clean (put sandwitch bag over my hand) and put 2 fingers in about 2 or 3 inches. This will start her pushing, and if the babies are coming this will start it all!

Sweet Goats · #3 03/02/07, 10:15 AM

I totally disagree with Hazyday. LEAVE HER ALONE! The only tome I "go in" is when I think there is trouble.
I have one Doe, that for three years, I NEVER saw a discharge. So don't let that fool you. I also had a Doe that I fed grain, she ate most of it and 20 minutes later she delivered twins. Again, do not go on the "she has stopped eating thought". Do you have a baby monater in the barn so you can hear them? That is how I knew one of mine was delivering. I heard her "push" very loud, and I was out there in 30 seconds, and the baby was born, then came the otherone. I have also totally missed the deliveries with the monater on.
Good Luck. I say get some coffee, chocolate and join the waiting game.

Blossomgapfarm · #4 03/02/07, 12:21 PM

It is one thing to assist with a labor and delivery - it is another entirely to try to start labor. Hazyday, the doe goes into labor, contractions cause the cervix to dilate and once she is fully dilated she begins pushing to deliver the babies. You would not want her to start pushing until she is dilated - her body just is not ready to deliver yet. If you started her hard pushing before she was ready, she could exhaust herself before she completes delivery and possibly tear her cervix.

I did have a fully dilated doe with only the head presenting that stopped pushing. When I checked her, she did start back pushing but her body was ready for the delivery already.
Dawn

Mommyto5 · #5 03/02/07, 09:57 PM

I feel for you!!! We played the waiting game for about 3 weeks. This was our first kidding...so when I saw the first discharge, I assumed we were within a few hours. Well...I was wrong!!! So, off and on for the next three weeks, I would think, "today's the day." I kept feeling for ligaments, but again, since this is my first go around, I wasn't exactly sure what it would feel like when they disappeared. Well...yesterday, I could touch my fingers together when I felt around her tailhead. Then, this morning, she was very noisy!! But, it wasn't until 4:30 this afternoon, that she had a discharge. She started laying, and getting up, laying and getting up. Then, by 5:30 she was pushing!!! By 6:15 we had two beautiful doelings! So, our wait for this doe is over!!! And the outcome was wonderful! NOW...it's time to start waiting on doe #2!!!! LOL!