Bloody mucus?

[mspj]

I have a pygmy ready to birth. Day 147, her first freshening.

Ligs gone since last night, very restless today. I have only seen her do a few small pushes, small amount of white mucus on and off all day. I've spent most of the day in the barn with her. Just went to check on her after about 30 in the house and she now has a bloody/brownish mucus. Is this normal or should I do something?

Any and all advise is much needed.

 

[Latestarter]

If she's been actively pushing and started this last night, I'd be concerned. Is she in active labor right now? Has she (vulva/vagina) started opening up? Has she started presenting the birthing sac? She may have a kid stuck and presenting wrong. Have you checked with your finger(s) at all to see if there's anything trying to come out?

 

[Latestarter]

@Goat Whisperer @Southern by choice @babsbag @frustratedearthmother @Pearce Pastures @animalmom Hopefully someone with more experience will be on shortly.

 

[Southern by choice]

If it is amber then it sounds like she is progressing normally.
Bloody... well something may not be right.

Can you get a picture?

 

[Southern by choice]

Tagging @frustratedearthmother as she has had pygmys for years and they can be a challenge in kidding sometimes... hope she chimes in.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Like SBC said - if it's amber colored, and not true blood colored she's probably fine and just getting started. If you suspect a problem it never hurts to do an internal 'finger sweep' just to see how things are progressing - especially with a pygmy.

However, if she's not pushing hard...and I mean full blown, hind leg stretched out, bawling hard, then she's probably not in any distress at the moment. Pygmy's tend to take their time compared to some of the bigger does that I have now. They seem to take a little longer to get into full-blown hard labor, and I've learned to appreciate that. I'd rather them go slow and have a little time for babies to reposition if needed than to start pushing hard, have that uterus clamping down and cram those babies up into a little ball that is a nightmare to untangle!

So, don't be afraid to wash up and check. If you hit a dead end then she's not dilated yet and isn't ready to start hard labor. If you can feel a waterbag and she's not pushing hard yet just let her continue to do her work. IF she's dilated and you feel baby parts that aren't progressing with her contractions you will likely need to help her.

Let us know how she progresses!

 

[mspj]

Not actively pushing, just small pushes. More pink than bloody, very uncomfortable. A lot of what sounds like teeth grinding.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Sounds like she's getting started, just not quite ready yet.

 

[mspj]

Hopefully not my much longer. She is starting to push harder now.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Exciting!