Predicting foaling in maiden mare

[RaeB]

I have 2 mares pregnant this season, one has had 2 babies before the other is maiden. They were bred within 5 days of eachother in may and are due any day now. Both have fully developed udders with milk in the teats.

The maiden lost her mucus plug yesterday and her milk has been a pale yellow/golden (more pale today) sticky. I havent tasted it but with the amount of stickiness I’m assuming its sweet (will be tasting tonight to confirm). Her belly has lost size in the past few days and she had a few false labors last week. I’m camping out in the hay shed and checking on her every hour.

My other mare has looked like she is ready to go for over a month now. She has edema under her belly so it’s hard to tell the shape. There is definitely less movement but still little kicks. Her milk is pale and sticky as well. She is HUGE!

I tried doing a pH test but couldnt get an accurate reading (according to my tests they were both under 7 last week which makes no sense).

Just wondering what your guesses are.

I’m thinking this week forsure, I have a final exam on Thursday so theres a 99% chance they will both go at 2am Thursday morning

[Laurierace]

Why do you think them being under 7 makes no sense? Milk test them and find out what their pH is. I also test for calcium as I find the calcium starts to climb before you see a significant drop in pH so it gives you a better idea what’s going on.

[SnicklefritzG]

My mare foaled out at New Bolton, where they kept track off all those things. The biggest sign ended up being my mare’s restlessness. She was normally very quiet in her stall, but the day before foaling she became very nervous and started pacing. She did this even more the morning of, so we figured something would happen soon.

[JB]

I’m also curious why it doesn’t make sense for the pH to be under 7 with all these signs and the timing.

How exactly did you do the test? Did you just drop a few drops on the strip, wait the few seconds, and check the color? If so, that’s how you do it Does the strip have a reading for the 6.2 range? If not, it might be worth getting ones that do.

It’s Friday now - how are things?

[RaeB]

@JB

I’m also curious why it doesn’t make sense for the pH to be under 7 with all these signs and the timing.

It’s Friday now - how are things?

We have one foal from my mare. The only real sign she gave was waxing. She didn’t pace or turn off food (she actually laid down and gave birth where she could munch during the process). She tested at 6.2 last week but it sounds like I did it wrong. I read somewhere that you are supposed to dilute it 1:6 per milk to water. I will have to try to do straight milk on my maiden mare and see if theres a difference.

We’ve also had some snow over the past weekend, someone told me that they can hold off until the environment is just right, not sure if they could hold off that long but they could also explain why my results are weird.

My main worry is that the babies are born healthy with a good bond to mom so one down one to go. It’s my first time so probably stressing more than I should.

[JB]

It’s the calcium test which needs the dilution, and it must be distilled water Milk can be tested while diluted as well, but it doesn’t have to be.

And for sure, the mare/foal combo can have some reasonable say as to when she foals. It’s not uncommon to see mares go longer than their “normal” if the weather has been unusually cold, and even to see them go earlier if things have gotten warmer than usual already

That’s great that one is out and healthy, and so funny about the mare!

[Rooty]

I always used FoalWatch rather than the test strips. Worked great for 12 out of 14 mares foaled at my place. 3 went over the 3 days of testing over the 200 I think it was ppm. 2/3 were the last 2 times I used it and it made me wonder if Chemetrics had changed something.

[Laurierace]

@Rooty

I always used FoalWatch rather than the test strips. Worked great for 12 out of 14 mares foaled at my place. 3 went over the 3 days of testing over the 200 I think it was ppm. 2/3 were the last 2 times I used it and it made me wonder if Chemetrics had changed something.

I used that with my first couple or foals but since it only tracks calcium I don’t use it anymore. I still like to track calcium but found tracking pH as well to be even more informative.

[Rooty]

Interesting. My last baby is 10 now, so I’m sure technology has evolved!