Getting close now
Jul. 8th, 2007 11:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseNotes from the Mare Stare-arama: We've made more progress since dinnertime. Beads of "wax" on the teats--actually the sticky white colostrum, which leaks from the full-to-bursting udder and forms deposits pretty much identical to candle wax. Usually but not always an indication of foaling within 24 hours. She's plopping out little cowfloppy bits of manure, and kicking and glaring at her sides. These are indications of Stage I labor, which in a mare can go on for days, but in this one...well, not figuring to get much sleep tonight. S, who foaled her out last year, said she's quiet when she's in labor, doesn't circle and pace, so when she goes down, run out there--last year, when she did that, the feet and nose were already out when S got to the barn.
Actual progression is mare gets more agitated, water breaks, silver bubble of the amnion emerges, then you'll see feet followed by nose--at which point she is usually down, but not always. Pook was probably a standing birth, which I missed by about 10 minutes; he cracked his atlas on the way down. Unlike giraffes, foals do not need to land on their heads in order to get the systems started.
We are now observing desultory nibbling at hay, lots of tail-flicking (not technically contractions as in a human, but they are signs of the baby moving and pushing upward as it gets into "diving" position and prepares to be born--a rapid, inexorable process that should not last more than 30-45 minutes), and a distinct inward stare. When I washed her butt just now, instead of going Ooohh aaaah feels good, she gave me a disgusted look and went to stand in the far corner. Now she's in the middle of the stall, not looking very happy.
Oh yeah. We're close. Could lather-rinse-repeat all night and all day, but this won't go on any longer than that, I don't think.
We are now watching the cam closely. Yes. (Thank goodness for years of foalcam watching. One learns what to look for on the tiny little screen.)
ETAOld breeders' wisdom says that if nothing happens before midnight, you can get some rest; she won't foal that night. A little too much is happening here, so...
More caffeine. Yes.
Actual progression is mare gets more agitated, water breaks, silver bubble of the amnion emerges, then you'll see feet followed by nose--at which point she is usually down, but not always. Pook was probably a standing birth, which I missed by about 10 minutes; he cracked his atlas on the way down. Unlike giraffes, foals do not need to land on their heads in order to get the systems started.
We are now observing desultory nibbling at hay, lots of tail-flicking (not technically contractions as in a human, but they are signs of the baby moving and pushing upward as it gets into "diving" position and prepares to be born--a rapid, inexorable process that should not last more than 30-45 minutes), and a distinct inward stare. When I washed her butt just now, instead of going Ooohh aaaah feels good, she gave me a disgusted look and went to stand in the far corner. Now she's in the middle of the stall, not looking very happy.
Oh yeah. We're close. Could lather-rinse-repeat all night and all day, but this won't go on any longer than that, I don't think.
We are now watching the cam closely. Yes. (Thank goodness for years of foalcam watching. One learns what to look for on the tiny little screen.)
ETAOld breeders' wisdom says that if nothing happens before midnight, you can get some rest; she won't foal that night. A little too much is happening here, so...
More caffeine. Yes.
