Post by may1802 on Sept 25, 2015 4:40:50 GMT -5
Well, let me start by saying that we have had one other calving on our property, so we have seen 1 textbook calving but we are still pretty new to it all. When we bought Bluebelle, we were told that "she was due on Aug 23, but that she was field-bred so that might not be completely accurate". She has been bagging up nicely for a while now. Occasional mucus for the last few days. Yesterday morning, I would not have said her pins are gone, but she is a bit "fluffy", so I'm not completely sure how different that would look compared to our thinner girls.
Last night, when I went out to do my evening check, she seemed agitated. She kept swishing her tail and every several minutes she would swing her head around to her side. There was quite a bit of mucus and she couldn't seem to get comfortable. She kept alternating between laying and standing again. She didn't seem to mind me hanging out watching her. No sac and no sign of feet. No straining or obvious pushing. Other than the tail/head swishing, no obvious contractions. Doing lots of cudding. This went on from ~10:00 (when I first checked on her) to ~12:30, at which point I decided to go to bed. I set a 2 hour alarm. Apparently I slept through the alarm, b/c next thing I know it is 4:45. I go out somewhat expecting to find a calf on the ground, but I can't tell that there has been any change, except that now she doesn't really want me around. She keeps walking off, further into the trees.
Is this all early labor (again no sign of the sac)? Should I be concerned about a malpresentation?
Of course, she would choose the night my husband heads out of town for the weekend....cows
Thanks for any advice/wisdom you have to share!
ETA: According to her previous owner: she is 7yo, bred to a jersey, and never had any trouble calving.
Last night, when I went out to do my evening check, she seemed agitated. She kept swishing her tail and every several minutes she would swing her head around to her side. There was quite a bit of mucus and she couldn't seem to get comfortable. She kept alternating between laying and standing again. She didn't seem to mind me hanging out watching her. No sac and no sign of feet. No straining or obvious pushing. Other than the tail/head swishing, no obvious contractions. Doing lots of cudding. This went on from ~10:00 (when I first checked on her) to ~12:30, at which point I decided to go to bed. I set a 2 hour alarm. Apparently I slept through the alarm, b/c next thing I know it is 4:45. I go out somewhat expecting to find a calf on the ground, but I can't tell that there has been any change, except that now she doesn't really want me around. She keeps walking off, further into the trees.
Is this all early labor (again no sign of the sac)? Should I be concerned about a malpresentation?
Of course, she would choose the night my husband heads out of town for the weekend....cows
Thanks for any advice/wisdom you have to share!
ETA: According to her previous owner: she is 7yo, bred to a jersey, and never had any trouble calving.