[Mrs Snoodles]

.... Just been round to see her.   She could barely get up, she managed but it was easy to see how much of a struggle it was.  We put her to the boar at 12 months and she was in good shape. I've been super careful not to overload her with food, even up to farrowing. 

She's a Bess large black and was put to our Super large black boar. Looking back through their pedigrees they are both from big litter lines.

She's huge and I reckon she has a lot in her.  Can I do anything to help her?   
If she is this big and struggling, I guess the whole birthing process is going to be difficult. Does anyone have any pointers on this......
Poor love.

...forgot to mention that she has poo ed in her sleeping area, quite a bit. I've cleared it all up but she must be feeling pretty exhausted to have done this. 

[HappyHippy]

Oh no, poor mamma 

How long has she still got to go Mrs S ?

I know it might seem cruel, but I'd make her get up and have a walk about (slowly) even if it's just spreading her food around so she has to walk to get it  Keep her moving and don't let her go off her feet - no matter how pittifully she looks at you 
Make sure her area is all clear of water/ice - last thing you want is her to slip at this stage.
Birthing won't neccesarily be hard for her (unless the piglets are HUGE - better with big numbers of small piglets for easier farrowing  ) but if she's a bit cumbersome and slow make sure there's a creep area and no straw blocking the piglets from getting to it once they do arrive.
HTH & hope mamma's feeling better soon (oooooh, can't wait for piccies  )
Karen x

[Mrs Snoodles]

She's inside and we've covered the floor with straw HH so  she won't slip.  I am going to make sure I am around for farrowing... When she gives birth, do you reckon I should move the piglets to the creep as a matter of course in case she squashes them (moving positions might be a problem) Or hands off and wait and see?   
Off again, in a couple of hours, I'll spread her food around more...... 
Another sleepless night ahead.  I feel for her though, just wish I could make things better.

Due date should be today.....

[HappyHippy]

Oh fingers crossed she doesn't hang about then 

I'd be tempted to get them onto teats asap - as long as she's fairly settled. Some mums just lie there barely moving, while others do a fair bit of thrashing about. See how she goes, if she's fairly chilled leave them with her (them suckling encourages the release of natural oxytocin from the sow and helps deliver the rest  ) and only move them if you have to (for their safety)

Regular checks and just keep an eye on her - I'm doing the same here 
Just going off out to feed them all now, I've been feeling quite 'antsy' myself today, maybe it'll be tonight for both of us  I'll check back later 

[Mrs Snoodles]

Good luck HH!!
The milk has just started coming in on the back teats so not long now before some of this weight comes off and starts wriggling around on the floor 

[Sudanpan]

Hope it all goes smoothly 

[Rosemary]

  and waiting for updates 

[cleopatra]

id make sure each one has a feed then pop it in the creep/heat til shes finished. suckling should help her contract so good for both..

[Mammyshaz]

How are things progressing mrs snoodles?

[Mrs Snoodles]

No good .   She's comfortable enough but now can't get up.  She's hauling herself around on her front legs.. She enjoying her cuddles etc but couldn't get over to the feeding area, no matter how much I encouraged her.   I'm wondering whether to call the vet but then I don't know what on earth they could do apart from trying induce her. 

.....and today, the weather is meant to be lovely and I promised my little boy I would take him the zoo. He really deserves it, he's been an absolute sweetie.  I so desperately don't want to let him down.

[SallyintNorth]

Let's hope your poor old sow is able to get on with the job so that you'll be free afterwards to take the lad on his treat.  Otherwise he's going to have to learn another of those 'life with livestock' lessons   

I am not experienced with farrowing sows, but if she were mine I would be at least calling the vet to talk on the phone - maybe there are some things the vet can tell you to do to check that there's nothing pressing on the spine and causing rear end paralysis, for instance?

[HappyHippy]

Oh no  I've not had this with any of mine, luckily they've all stayed mobile til farrowing.
I think, if it was me, I'd ring the vet and see what they say  If she's past her date it might be worth starting her off with some oxytocin, but I'm not qualified enough to say if that's preferable to leaving her.

Let us know what the vet says, sending you lots of positive vibes in the meantime 

[SallyintNorth]

I am quite certain no-one should give oxytocin without being completely certain there isn't a piglet stuck.  As I understand it, oxytocin gets the contractions going (again), but if a piglet is stuck (or presumeably the neck of the cervis isn't sufficiently open?) then it can cause real problems.

And the thought in my mind is that a piglet could be jammed against the spine causing the read end immobility.

[Mrs Snoodles]

Thanks guys. I'm off to see her again and see if I can get her moving.  Then I'm whizzing over to the vets to have a chat. I'll let you know...

[Mrs Snoodles]

After a chat with some of the staff at the vets I now feel a bit better.  At this stage of pregnancy not an awful lot can be done aside from giving her metacam for pain relief.   We are not going down this route as she is eating and drinking and ok in herself.

I made her a mix of ale/mash/bread/water in a bucket and she has just demolished it. 

It may well just be simply a case of her sitting/lying it out and us making sure she stays clean, fed and watered, keeping an eye on her.   Easier said than done though 

...I seem to specialise in BIG pigs  I wonder how many are in her.....  She is enormous.

My boy has been brilliant. He's happy t play lego and go to the zoo another day