retained placenta?

[greenhorn]

Hi everyone,

One of our gals had twins on this past Saturday. They are fine and she is acting fine, but I never did see her deliver the placenta. A couple of days ago, she had a small amount of blood and mucous sort of dripping out the birth canal and this has continued but in very small amounts. She seems to feel fine, but still looks a little pregnant (or maybe just fatter).

How can one tell if there's still something "in there"? I'm worried in she didn't deliver the placenta that she may hemmorage or something. Of course she may have eaten it or delivered it way out in the field, but is a little bleeding in the days after birth normal. I know it is in humans, after having 4 babies...wait that's TMI!

Thanks.

[kreddish]

My little pygmy Bella ate all the afterbirth, and did have some spotty bleeding for several weeks. If she is acting OK, eating and feeding the kids... I would not worry too much. Good luck and congrats on the babies And of course, when you get around to it... pictures please!

[pookshollow]

Unless you're right there, chances are you won't see them eat the placenta. Slight discharge is normal. If it smells really bad, then she has an infection, and you have an emergency. But I'm sure she's fine.

[RiverPines]

They all have discharge for awhile, a few weeks, after giving birth. They are no different than any other mammal including us humans.

If anything was retained you would know with 24-48 hours as she would get very sick, very fast from infection.