311 days

[peskee]

Please tell me that somebody has had good luck with a foal born this early. The mare bagged up overnight and dripping milk. Her vulva still tight, not a lot of relaxation around tail, a bit uncomfortable last night. Milk strip this AM says delivery within 12 hours. Vet was out. The foal is strong and very active, placenta thickness in normal range.She is on Regumate, SMZ's and banamine.......we sure need a lot of prayers and luck. I am sure your jingles will be heard here in PA. I hope I have many sleepless nights ahead. I will do anything to see a healthy happy foal.

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

Well I have never had a foal that early but I know some that have so I am sending my best wishes for a healthy foal! On a positive note I have had mare drip milk a week or more before foaling so maybe she will atleast hang on to the 320 days considering she is not overly relaxed in the hindend. I presume twins have been ruled out?

[twinlights]

We have a very healthy 4 yr old welsh pony who was born almost 4 wks early after a bout of placentitis (sp?). We had the mare on the regumate, smzs also. The foal came early anyway. She was weak, had cornial ulcers, very weak legs (looked like they might snap when she stood up), the dome forehead and velvetty coat of a premie. But she was a fighter and is a lovely little mare now.
Good luck! Sending jingles your way.

[Home Again Farm]

I have a mare that foaled at 313 days this year - tall, elegant and fully mature colt. I have also known other mares that had fully viable foals around the same time frame. Keep the faith. Be prepared, but hope for the best, and I will be jingling. :yes:

[camohn]

Rita my TB mare went at about 310 2 years ago. The foal was a redbag and was in the horsie hospital for 6 days but yes he did make it. He was too weak to stand and nurse for 6 days...needed to be bottle fed or to be held up so he could nurse and I have a day job/could not be home to do it during the day....so vet's office was the best place for him until he was stronger.He also had contracted knees that took 2 months to work the kinks out of so he had to be on stall rest for 2 weeks then solo turnout in a small paddock for 2 months to try and keep him kinda quiet between the fact he fatiged easily and the knee thing. He was between 2 and 3 mos old before he was strong enough to turn out with others. The mare's placenta had a fungal infection: vet said that the foal was not infected (fungus infection does not make it thought the umbilicus/placenta) but he was preemie in development due to the poor placenta condition. He said the prognosis is better for fungal than bacterial infections. She had BAD placenta quality with that foal. She is in foal again (this will be her last/she will be retired) and she is due 4/26. With what happened the last time I have been watching her like a hawk...has had more than the normal US etc. SHe was doing fine until her 9 mo US when it showed a mild placentitis. So far no signs of bagging up or any other bad things so I am hoping things go better this time....vet said she is not out of the woods......but I am still happy it looks not nearly as bad..... the hawk-like watching continues........she is on SMZs but not regumate. Vet didn't think the Regumate was necessary since her cervix looks good yet and we would stop in 30 days before her due date anyway. Last time when it was bad she started bagging up, soft cervix, discharge the whole 9 yards starting about day 280 so we threw everything at her then.

[MagicRoseFarm]

I have had two over the years at about 315.. one born in the field a BIG surprise as the mare had NO bag two days before, but then i learned to watch closer earlier... both were healthy and fine... Good luck!!

[peskee]

Every day is a good day. Milk strip test has gone back to 1 1/2 squares. udder not as tight slightly smaller. The mare is more comfortable, respiration good, temp is good, no further relaxation of hind end or vulva, and baby is very active. I haven't gotten much sleep but that is a small price to pay. Your jingles are working and greatly appreciated. I just hope we can get to April 1.

[clint]

Many jingles for you and your mare! I had a mare foal a full term healthy colt at 319 days and as you say, every day is a good day.

[dorthyinoz]

don't mean to hijack but my mare is due due the same time as yours and I am going through similar signs. Large bag, even after all day turn out, more friendly, ect. She foaled at 319 last pregnancy. You mentioned that the foal was very active, but mine is not. Does that mean anything?

[camohn]

don't mean to hijack but my mare is due due the same time as yours and I am going through similar signs. Large bag, even after all day turn out, more friendly, ect. She foaled at 319 last pregnancy. You mentioned that the foal was very active, but mine is not. Does that mean anything?

The only thing I have noticed with my mares personally is that the smaller foals at birth were more active than the big ones....I figure the big ones are so squished they have no room to move!

[BeastieSlave]

Jingles!
I have a mare who was born at 314. According to her breeder (and the pictures) she was small, but just fine.
Good luck :yes:

[alliekat]

Jingling here for your mare and foal.

[peskee]

The mare has regressed back to what would be described as normal.....I have never had this happen before. I must have caught it extremely quick. Still on guard about this all and counting the days.

[Jessi P]

Peskee I was wondering about your mare last night and this morning. I am so relieved to hear things are settling back down - I will keep my fingers (and legs! :lol:) crossed for you and your mare.

So glad to hear things are going well (knock knock) for you and your girl. :cool:

[TrueColours]

Crossing my fingers that she continues to cross her legs and not allow that foal to pop out anytime soon ... ;) ...

God - dont you just HATE when they do stuff like this to us!!!

[peskee]

Thanks for all the positive thoughts everyone.......TrueColours I love that stallion of yours

[TrueColours]

TrueColours I love that stallion of yours

Thanks so much peskee ... :) ... I really appreciate it ...

Keep us all updated on your mare and hopefully in a few weeks you'll be reporting on a gorgeous foal being born ... :)

[TrueColours]

How is she doing?

Enquiring minds want to know ... :)

Hoping that no news is good news!

[peskee]

She is doing great.......we are thinking happy thoughts for her to hold on three more days......almost there. I will keep everyone abreast of her status. Thanks for asking. I can only say that mare owners have to check their girls twice a day for changes to try to stop things like this from progressing. I know how extremely lucky I am to have gotten to what I hope will be a good out come.

[TrueColours]

Oh yay!!! What a terrific update! :)

Happy thoughts for more foal-free days for her ...

[camohn]

Good luck and hope the foaling goes uneventfully. My mare w/ mild placentitis hit 311 today and is thankfully doing nothing yet (although she did start to go off her feed this week so looks like she is getting uncomfortable)....but fingers crossed and I am starting to go check on her more often and hope SHE holds out for a couple weeks yet!!

[peskee]

Isn't it just nerve wracking and so emotionally draining but it is so worth it in the end.....good luck and keep us informed.

[camohn]

Sure is! This will be her last baby so I am -hoping-this is a healthy one! After this she is retired regardless. She is a TB and has had all Paint or TB foals. This is her first (and only!) WB foal. If all goes well I will be the one with the 22 YO mare to be inspected (yikes!)

[srg]

Hi, Dee,

Just saw this post. I am throwing all my positive thoughts your way that your mare hangs onto her precious foal as long as necessary. Please keep us updated! I have definitely heard of mares delivering before 320 days and still having a fine result. I am hoping yours will cook as long as necessary. HUGS!

[peskee]

Thanks for the good vibes Shari........we are now weaning her off of Regumate.......she is a beautiful Swedish/ISR WB in foal to Contucci. She had an amazing filly last year. How are you? PM me and let me know.

[CurlyLindsay]

Good thoughts and jingles for you! My 18 year old foaled a perfectly cooked filly at day 314 last year so it's absolutely possible. I've been told there is a correlation between older mares and shorter gestations.

[Leather]

Keeping fingers crossed for you as well!

I don't usually frequent SHB, but my friend's mare developed placentitis so I've been lurking to learn as much as I can.

The mare bagged up and began dripping milk around day 300--she was ultrasounded and had thickening of the placenta, so was put on Regumate and SMZs.

This Sunday is day 320, and she will be removed from the Regumate a little while after that.

I keep joking with my friend that after this scare the mare's going to turn around and hold out until 370 days. My friend is not amused at the thought of being on foal watch until the middle of May. :lol:

(Mom is a 17 h Shire/TB and dad is a 17.2 h TB, so baby will need plenty of time to cook!)

[peskee]

Well things did not go well. We lost a beautiful filly. She was delivered via c section last night. The mare is still retaining the placenta so please we need jingles for her. She is definitely not out of the woods by a long shot. The foal presented with a foot and nose and we tried every thing so did New Bolton. We lost the filly right after the delivery. I am tired and distressed with three more mares to foal. It is just horrible. This business can sure take its toll. Off to bed now we were up all night. My vets, New Bolton and myself have done everything humanly possible to save this foal, it was just not meant to be. Go hug your mares and your foals for me please.

[spacely]

I am so sorry for your loss. Jingles for the mare. :(

[FLIPPED HER HALO]

OMG, I'm so sorry! Good thoughts coming your way for the mare!

[Edgewood]

So, so sorry:sadsmile:. Jingling for your mare.:yes:

[Home Again Farm]

Peskee, I am so very, very sorry.
:(

[A Horse is a Horse]

I was just reading through this hoping for a good update. I am so sorry on the loss of your foal. Sending lots of jingles for your mare.

[clint]

Peskee, I'm so sorry. :( Jingling like mad for your mare.

[Tasker]

Condolences and massive jingles heading your way... :(

[llsc]

I'm so sorry. Let us know how the mare is doing.

[Laurierace]

Shoot, that was definitely not the update I was hoping for. I hope your mare recovers quickly and fully.

[TrueColours]

Peskee - I am so so sorry for you and your mare and the beautiful filly as well ... :cry:

{{{HUGS}}} and I hope the mare comes through okay as well ...

[Castlegate]

I am so sorry for your loss...will be jingling like mad for your mare!

[camohn]

awww. Was hoping it would have a better ending.

[quietann]

peskee, I am jingling like mad for your mare. And so sorry to hear that you lost the filly.

(and trying not to cry at my work desk!)