Our Yankee having a baby?

BuckinAround · 02-22-2008, 07:51 AM

While feeding and doing the morning check this has happened overnight. It was not there at 7PM which was the last time I physically upclose checked her. Please let me know if this is normal or if she needs a vet.

And if this is normal look to you, I am talking about the swelling/lumps in her belly in front of her teats/udders.

bnttyra · 02-22-2008, 08:03 AM

From what I have read and seen, that just means she is really producing milk and getting ready. My mare is doing it too, in fact, she looks very similar. Edmema is common right before birth. If I am wrong, I am sure someone else will let you know. Getting closer!

me and morgan · 02-22-2008, 08:04 AM

Have you notice the baby moving lately? Has you vet been out since last time ? she really is changing quickly....

BuckinAround · 02-22-2008, 08:13 AM

no, no foal movement. A tiny bit but more like flutter rather than the bulging hard movements/kicks. Ive seen maybe two flutters at the bottom of her belly in the last two days.

This just scared me when I saw this. I just want to know if it is OK and normal. No she has not seen the vet in about two weeks. Im not sure of the date, I'll have to look. I had a vet out who was not her normal vet and she said soon. I have problems with vet care here. But she has been seen and cared for by vets. Its a long story.

So it is normal or not.......?? Do I need to watch for anything? Do anything?

Ok ACC, where are you.......you've been right on with my mare so far......lol

And imagine this, the next three days we are having heavy rains with 40-60 mph winds, expect power outages and downed trees. lol

gardenmum · 02-22-2008, 08:27 AM

According to what I have read, it is not uncommon for this to happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

Here are a couple items on it..

Edema in pregnant mares
Mild exercise is key to preventing swelling in a heavily pregnant mareSome mares in late pregnancy develop a lot of swelling around the udder, which may even extend forward along the flanks. Occasionally, the mammary vein along the lower abdomen becomes swollen as well, almost as far forward as the girth area.
This swelling-or edema-is an accumulation of fluid in the tissue spaces, caused by a disruption of the normal interchange of fluid between the capillaries, tissue spaces, and lymph vessels. The fluid is not able to move freely between the blood vessels and lymph system and tends to accumulate in the tissue spaces.
In the heavily pregnant mare, a large, distended, and heavy uterus may put pressure on the mammary veins, compressing them so there is poor blood return. The backup effect also puts more pressure on the capillaries and fluid tends to leak out. Inactivity and subsequent poor circulation accentuates the problem.

And this....

During their last 30 days of pregnancy many mares are sluggish, act depressed, eat less and generally just look huge and miserable.
As mares near foaling, there is often a plaque of swelling (edema) which develops from the udder forward along the under-belly. This results from interference with the mare’s circulation from the large weight of the pregnancy. Although this can become quite impressive as foaling approaches, it usually does not indicate a problem and resolves quickly after the mare foals. Often there is “stocking up”(swelling) of the hind legs as well, which also resolves quickly after foaling

Xiphias · 02-22-2008, 08:40 AM

Keeping Yankee in my thoughts and prayers for a safe and easy delivery!

Cathy

Ringo · 02-22-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiphias21034

Keeping Yankee in my thoughts and prayers for a safe and easy delivery!

Cathy

Same here! Sounds like it will be really soon. Hoping for a big healthy baby tonight!

Appylvr · 02-22-2008, 09:13 AM

My mare looked like that before she foaled. I was worried too and my vet said it was edema. It got better after she foaled.

accphotography · 02-22-2008, 09:29 AM

I agree with the edema assessment. Just means she is one step closer and is not pulling the "maiden with no milk" thing.

As far as not seeing/feeling the baby. If baby is in position, it's movements might be less obvious as it is more central and more contstricted in it's ability to move. I also wouldn't be surprised if there is some part of nature that relaxes baby shortly before birth so that it doesn't move around too much during the birth. They always seem quite tranquilized when they first get out. This is more theory than anything else though.

If your instincts tell you something is wrong, call a vet. I'm inclined to think she is just getting reallllly close, but I'd hate to be wrong. As I said, the edema doesn't concern me and I'm only concerned about the lack of movement if you are.

ACC

horsecrazy124 · 02-22-2008, 09:34 AM

our mare was acting just like that and she looked like that too and 2 days later.......

02-22-2008, 08:03 AM	#422
bnttyra Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ARIZONA Posts: 2,314 Images: 76 Blog Entries: 18	From what I have read and seen, that just means she is really producing milk and getting ready. My mare is doing it too, in fact, she looks very similar. Edmema is common right before birth. If I am wrong, I am sure someone else will let you know. Getting closer! __________________ *Tyra Hounds & Horses* *"Patience is knowing, it will happen in time"* http://web.mac.com/bnttyra/TYRAHOUND...M/Welcome.html

02-22-2008, 08:04 AM	#423
me and morgan Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bouse,Az. (in the middle of no where) Posts: 1,409 Images: 278	Have you notice the baby moving lately? Has you vet been out since last time ? she really is changing quickly.... __________________ Morning Star ,my light,my life, my friend forever. I will miss you ! I see it, I want it,I whine about it I get it,,, Im not spoiled .Im well taken care of.. Barney has changed my life,because I changed his...**

02-22-2008, 08:40 AM	#426
Xiphias Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maryland, horse country USA Posts: 16,506 Images: 627 Blog Entries: 29	Keeping Yankee in my thoughts and prayers for a safe and easy delivery! Cathy __________________ Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! http://www.freewebs.com/xiphias21034/ I was on HGS the day we made 2 million posts and 3 million posts

02-22-2008, 09:13 AM	#428
Appylvr Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 6,987 Images: 307	My mare looked like that before she foaled. I was worried too and my vet said it was edema. It got better after she foaled. __________________ ~Tonya~ Teak~Coco~Baylee~Dolly~Rosie~Shilo~Jazzy A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist

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02-22-2008, 07:51 AM	#421
BuckinAround Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California, USA Posts: 317 Images: 78	While feeding and doing the morning check this has happened overnight. It was not there at 7PM which was the last time I physically upclose checked her. Please let me know if this is normal or if she needs a vet. And if this is normal look to you, I am talking about the swelling/lumps in her belly in front of her teats/udders.

02-22-2008, 08:13 AM	#424
BuckinAround Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California, USA Posts: 317 Images: 78	no, no foal movement. A tiny bit but more like flutter rather than the bulging hard movements/kicks. Ive seen maybe two flutters at the bottom of her belly in the last two days. This just scared me when I saw this. I just want to know if it is OK and normal. No she has not seen the vet in about two weeks. Im not sure of the date, I'll have to look. I had a vet out who was not her normal vet and she said soon. I have problems with vet care here. But she has been seen and cared for by vets. Its a long story. So it is normal or not.......?? Do I need to watch for anything? Do anything? Ok ACC, where are you.......you've been right on with my mare so far......lol And imagine this, the next three days we are having heavy rains with 40-60 mph winds, expect power outages and downed trees. lol

02-22-2008, 08:27 AM	#425
gardenmum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 403 Images: 103	According to what I have read, it is not uncommon for this to happen. I wouldn't worry about it. Here are a couple items on it.. Edema in pregnant mares Mild exercise is key to preventing swelling in a heavily pregnant mareSome mares in late pregnancy develop a lot of swelling around the udder, which may even extend forward along the flanks. Occasionally, the mammary vein along the lower abdomen becomes swollen as well, almost as far forward as the girth area. This swelling-or edema-is an accumulation of fluid in the tissue spaces, caused by a disruption of the normal interchange of fluid between the capillaries, tissue spaces, and lymph vessels. The fluid is not able to move freely between the blood vessels and lymph system and tends to accumulate in the tissue spaces. In the heavily pregnant mare, a large, distended, and heavy uterus may put pressure on the mammary veins, compressing them so there is poor blood return. The backup effect also puts more pressure on the capillaries and fluid tends to leak out. Inactivity and subsequent poor circulation accentuates the problem. And this.... During their last 30 days of pregnancy many mares are sluggish, act depressed, eat less and generally just look huge and miserable. As mares near foaling, there is often a plaque of swelling (edema) which develops from the udder forward along the under-belly. This results from interference with the mare’s circulation from the large weight of the pregnancy. Although this can become quite impressive as foaling approaches, it usually does not indicate a problem and resolves quickly after the mare foals. Often there is “stocking up”(swelling) of the hind legs as well, which also resolves quickly after foaling

02-22-2008, 09:29 AM	#429
accphotography Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 4,349	I agree with the edema assessment. Just means she is one step closer and is not pulling the "maiden with no milk" thing. As far as not seeing/feeling the baby. If baby is in position, it's movements might be less obvious as it is more central and more contstricted in it's ability to move. I also wouldn't be surprised if there is some part of nature that relaxes baby shortly before birth so that it doesn't move around too much during the birth. They always seem quite tranquilized when they first get out. This is more theory than anything else though. If your instincts tell you something is wrong, call a vet. I'm inclined to think she is just getting reallllly close, but I'd hate to be wrong. As I said, the edema doesn't concern me and I'm only concerned about the lack of movement if you are. ACC

02-22-2008, 09:34 AM	#430
horsecrazy124 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Forest Hill, Louisiana Posts: 180 Images: 25	our mare was acting just like that and she looked like that too and 2 days later.......