Siblings born with different birth days

[DownHome]

This is a follow up to the goat with the postpartum infection. We took her to the vet they did a sono and cleansed her with an iodine rinse. Nothing suspicious came out. I bounced her after her birth and felt nothing. The vet felt her and felt nothing.

Tonight I had her on the milk stand and I wanted to feel her just to see if she was still sore because today she started limping on her back leg. When I put my hands on her there was that familiar football feeling like you would feel after a birth. My first thought was OH NO we missed getting a dead baby out of there, but to my amazement it is moving?!?! Seriously, I kept my hands on her for a good 5-10 minutes. Whatever it is it moves. Feels just like little feet moving around in there like they do within the last month before delivery.

Is this even possible? Should I be very concerned and is there anything I can do to help her at all. Will she need any special supplements? or am I completely crazy and there is no way this is possible.

[nehimama]

This sort of happened with one of my does this past kidding season (minus the vet visit). To my complete surprise, the cervix was still open 24 hours after delivering triplets!!! Went in & pulled a dead doeling. I'd advise you to try to "go in" & try to deliver that baby! Good luck & keep us posted, okay???

[BlueRose]

This is interesting. Please keep us informed.

[mygoat]

... what is sono? Sonography? As in, ultrasound?

The rumen does move, but that is a long time for movement. I've never thought it felt like kicking either, more like a 'turning'.

There IS a situation which I believe is called a fermentation pregnancy - extraordinarily rare, but does occassionally happen. Had a local cow make it in the paper because I believe a month (or something) after she calved, she calved AGAIN with a different perfectly normal calf. Essentially she managed to still ovulate the next heat cycle AFTER conceiving at the prior heat cycle, and conceived AGAIN. 2 separate pregnancies.

As stated, extremely rare. If a 2nd kid is in there and alive, it is likely pure luck that it's 'connections' are still intact. Usually the uterus cleans completely out during parturition, even if there is a 2nd separate offspring at a different point in gestation. It could either be conceived at the same time and didn't make it out, or a whole different conception.

Extraordinarily rare. If you're seriously concerned, I'd perhaps start calling around to pet clinics and/or large animal clinics and ask if they or a vet they know has experience with sheep/goats or could do an x-ray... I do know that vets doing ultrasounds on goats/sheep can be innacurate until they get the hang of it.

[Doug Hodges]

I need a follow up on this one. Whats going on?