Is today the day - calf on the way??

[amysflock]

I just checked Bridgit this a.m. while my car was warming up (part of my normal pre-commute routine)...and I _think_ today might be it! She's not quite grunting, but sort of catching her breath on her exhales, has some thick mucus (about 3 inch string), sort of golden brown color, and while I was over scritching Sheila good morning about 30 feet away, she rolled over to her side and curled her tail up kind of funny.

It's pitch black and I don't want to try to get her up when I can't see very well, so I have called in "cow labor" to work, turned off the car, put my work stuff away, and am waiting for daylight to check her again.

I'm cautiously excited...

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Good luck! I hope things go well and you get yourself a nice healthy calf today. Dare we hope heifer?

 

[wynedot55]

hope you get you a heifer calf.

 

[amysflock]

Yes, a heifer would be great, although we also hope for a boy from one of the two girls so that we can raise a steer...named Mr. President, perhaps?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

 

[wynedot55]

 

[Thewife]

Yea Amy!

Is DH home from elk camp, to give a hand if needed?

 

[amysflock]

He's still there, but has his phone on vibrate and is awaiting further word. He's coming home for the night anyway, so will come home earlier if I need him to.

I've been out in the paddock with the girls and am not feeling confident one way or the other as to whether or not Bridgit is really starting labor. She seems very itchy today, scratching her face and back repeatedly all morning, and right now is eating hay, although she doesn't seem very into it. I'm going to see if I can just "work from home" today rather than take a sick day so I can stay here, just in case.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Sometimes they don't show really good signs and it's just your gut feeling. I've had a cow deliver 115 # calves backwards with us pulling and her eating like nothing is going on!

Although, it's interesting when you need a vet and they ask why and you can only give them gut feeling.

 

[amysflock]

I do feel like I have to go on my gut feeling, and yet since I have NO experience with this, I feel like I shouldn't trust my gut! O, the agony...