Sophie Foal Watch 2005!

*January*
*Sunday*	*Monday*	*Tuesday*	*Wednesday*	*Thursday*	*Friday*	*Saturday*
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2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11 First sign of udder development. Hindquarters already quite soft.	12 Sophie is really interested in smells tonight. Udder is starting, although it has a long way to go.	13 Drinking lots of fluids, appetite really good. Udder is developing. Hindquarters really dropped off..	14 Another day of growing!	15 Quite restless tonight, foal seems be sitting in an uncomfortable position. No udder change.
16 No change to udder, still drinking LOTS of fluids. Sophie is very slowed down, very little energy.	17 Stormy night. Sophie is covered in sweat at ~ 8PM. Can't tell if it's early labor or stress over the storm. No udder. Checked through the night.	18 After rolling through the night and today, she seems to have gotten the foal repositioned. Sophie much calmer. Foal VERY active, kicking on the bottom of the belly.	19 Sophie is again covered in sweat tonight. No sign of any stress - no idea why. Sophie is standing funny. Slight udder development.	20 No substantial change. Acts like a very pregnant mare...Sophie is quite slowed down.	21 Sophie's hindquarters are really dropped off. She's sweaty again tonight, but doesn't seem to be stressed. Lots of "tail up" behavior.	22 Standing funny, looks like pressure or foal is making her uncomfortable. Udder developed some today, no where near foal ready. Lots of "tail up" behavior.
23 Sophie is again sweaty tonight. no real change to her udder, but the foal seems to be deeper. She's standing with her legs out behind her. This looks like late pregnancy behavior.	24 Foal is much deeper tonight. Standing next to her, you can tell the bulge has dropped down quite a bit. Sophie is very slow, breathing hard. No udder change.	25 Sophie is not herself. She seems a bit restless, uncomfortable and seems to be having a hard time breathing. Foal must be putting pressure on her diaphragm.	26 Sophie is wide, heavy and really slowed down. Some udder development today, although not dramatic. She seems close to the end of the pregnancy. She's a bit off her feed.	27 Udder has changed a bit - swelling in front of the teats. Sophie is still a bit off her feed. She's very much slowed down - not her usual energetic self.	28 Sophie stands funny with her hind legs "camped" out and her pelvis tipped. No real udder. Foal is quite deep - hollows in front of Sophie's hip bones.	29 Quite a bit of foal activity today - lots of kicks showing on Sophie's side. No udder change.
30 Udder changed a bit today, can't tell if it's just edema from the weight of the foal or the start of serious development. Sophie is very must slowed down.	31 No udder change today. Sophie is oddly affectionate, nickering and nuzzling.




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*February*
*Sunday*	*Monday*	*Tuesday*	*Wednesday*	*Thursday*	*Friday*	*Saturday*
		1 Sophie is quite restless tonight, roaming around. Lots of "tail up". No udder change.	2 No change, just bigger!	3 Appetite is off. No udder change.	4 Foal has shifted position and Sophie's belly seems more ponderous. No udder change.	5 Foal is sitting quite deep and back. Sophie is very slowed down. Slight udder increase.
6	7	8 Sophie is very heavy. The photos don't capture how deep/wide she is. No udder change.	9 Belly has changed shape - more pointed. She's developed depressions on either side of her tail head.	10 Milk veins are quite prominent on Sophie's belly. She's very wide and heavy. No udder change.	11 Sophie is still very wide...the foal hasn't settled as deeply as it will.	12 Foal is very active tonight, possibly rolling into a different position. Sophie is uncomfortable - tail held off to one side.
13 Sophie's belly is changing shape. She has deep hollows in front of her hips. Udder changed slightly. Sophie's behavior is odd.	14 No udder change. Sophie is very heavy, wide and slowed down. Her belly swings from side to side when she walks.	15 Udder changed a bit today. Sophie continues to carry this foal very wide - she's quite ponderous in width.	16 No udder change today. She has a slight mucus discharge that we'll be keeping an eye on.	17 Sophie is quite irritable today. Udder may have changed slightly.	18 Sophie is still irritable. She's bickering with her daughter in the next stall, stomping and roaming.	19 No substantial change today.
20 Sophie's belly has changed shape - looks like the foal has rolled over. It appears to be kicking down now. Appetite is off.	21 Udder change today Long way from foaling, but progress. Lots of "tail up", showing signs of pressure tonight.	22 Udder didn't change today. Butt pushing against the wall/stall front has started. Appetite is off.	23 Swelling in front of udder today. Sophie is acting like a very pregnant mare - restless, tired and uncomfortable.	24 Sophie is acting quite strangely tonight. The foal is sitting quite deep, Sophie's hindquarters have really dropped.	25 Slight udder change. Sophie is doing a lot of side biting, tail swishing.	26 Slight udder change. again today.
27 Udder continues to inch along...like last time, Sophie isn't rushing into an udder. She's acting quite odd (although normal for a very pregnant mare!)	28 No substantial change today.

March

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1
Moving Day!

2

Moving Day!

3

Settling in to the new barn. Sophie is calming down now, finally starting to eat.
4

5

Sophie is adjusting quite well to her new home.

6 - Day 315

Foal is quite active tonight. Sophie's hindquarters have really dropped off. She has hollows next to her tailhead.
7 - Day 316

Sophie's behavior has changed. She's bickering with Djinn (who she's been turned out with) and is oddly affectionate.
8 - Day 317

Sophie's behavior continues to be odd. She has hollows next to her tailhead, looks closer to foaling than her udder says she is. 9-Day 318

Photo shows how sunken Sophie's croup is. Foal is quite active, not yet turned. Udder is changing, slowly.
10 - Day 319

Udder is inching along. Sophie's appetite has really picked up. Her mood is still odd - although typical for late pregnancy. 11 - Day 320

Udder developing slowing. Mucus discharge tonight, quite heavy. Sophie's mood is odd. Appetite is good.. 12 - Day 321

Sophie acts like a mare coming down the home stretch. She's quite hollow next to her tail. Slight udder change, still a long way.

13 - Day 322

Udder is developing. Milked a bit tonight: yellow, thick with no salt. Sophie's mood is still odd, she's quite restless and oddly affectionate.
14 - Day 323

Photo shows how her croup has flattened. Milk is yellow-white, bland, slight salt. Quite thick. Udder not full. Milk looks closer than her udder says she is.
15 - Day 324

Belly changed shape today. Sophie is acting odd, not herself. Milk still yellow/cream colored, sticky but slightly salty. Udder no where near full.
16 - Day 325

Moved into the foaling stall tonight - just to adjust to it. Milk very thick, yellow and sticky. Unusual. Udder fuller, but not near full. Very restless.
17 - Day 326

Milk is still yellow, syrup-like. Very slight salt. Hollows deeper next to her tail head, tail has no resistance when lifted up. No udder change.
18 - Day 327

Milk is still yellow, syrup-like. Belly has changed shape, quite deep. Sophie's mood is very odd, restless, lots of "tail up". Udder not full at all.

19 - Day 328

Milk is still yellow, syrup-like. Sophie has started "butt pushing" and kicking at her belly. Udder filled some today, no where near foal ready.

20 - Day 329

Udder is developing, but still is quite small. Milk is cloudy white tonight, sweet, bit of salt. She's been restless all day, acting very close, even though udder says "not yet." 21 - Day 330

Udder is still is quite small. Milk is skim-milk white, very thick, slight salt. Not much milk, typically would see much more udder with white milk. Hollows by tail. 22 - Day 331

Udder has increased, not full. Milk is honey-colored and consistency. Bland. Sophie is quite restless. Foal quite active, has rolled into foaling position & is kicking down. 23 - Day 332

Udder increased, not full. Milk is skim-milk white. Thick, slight salt/sweet. Sophie is quite restless and has been rolling today. Tail swishing, belly kicking. 24 - Day 333

Milk is the color & consistency of honey. Bland/sweet. Foal active tonight. Photo shows hollows next to tail head. She's quite sunken. Looks closer than udder says. 25 - Day 334

Milk is back to skim milk white. Slight salt, mostly "milk." The foal seems to have moved again - probably into position. Sophie stands funny, walks funny from pressure. 26 - Day 335

Milk is back to honey color/consistency. Bland. Sophie is off her feed and quite restless. Lots of tail up & sideways. Foal quite active early in the day, quiet this evening.

27 - Day 336

Udder developed today. Still not full, but progress. Milk is honey color & consistency, with some white cloudiness. Sweet/bland. Sophie is restless, biting her sides, kicking at her belly. 28 - Day 337

Slight udder growth. Milk is cloudy white, still very thick. Slightly salty. She's holding her tail sideways much of the time, standing funny. She spent a very quiet night last night, and is quiet again this evening. 29 - Day 338

Small amount of wax, although the milk was back to "honey" by evening. "Powder sugared" teats. She's doing the squirrel tail movement, holding her tail sideways...classic last days of pregnancy signs. 30 - Day 339

Udder slightly larger. Milk is now clear, syrup-y and sweet. Very thick and sticky. Sophie is acting more normal tonight than last, although she stands funny, walks funny. Hindquarters very soft.. 31 - Day 340

Udder slightly larger. Milk was skim milk white at 6PM, at 8, back to clear, sticky, thick. Behavior typical for late pregnancy. She's doing a lot of tail swishing, stomping, roaming the stall.

April

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 - Day 341

Udder slightly larger. Milk was skim milk white at 6PM, at 8, back to clear, sticky, thick again. Foal has changed position, photo shows how much flatter Sophie's sides appear to be. She's quite peevish tonight. 2 - Day 342

Udder grew quite a bit today. Milk was clear/thick this morning, skim-milk white at 6 and at 8:30. She's off her feed and has been irritable all day. Rolling during turn out, pawing and bickering with the other horses..

3 - Day 343

Udder slightly larger. Milk has been skim milk white all day. Udder fuller, but no where near foal ready. Will she wait 'til the foal arrives to drop her milk? 4 - Day 344
Udder coming very slowly. Milk is still white, but not much of it. Acting very much like a mare at the end of the pregnancy - walks funny, stands funny. Where's the milk? 5 - Day 345

Foal is bumping back at the croup - quite active. Looked like it was trying to get into position. Milk...not yet in any quantity. Is white, but not much of it. Udder is fuller. 6 - Day 346
Udder looks fuller, but not much milk. What is there is thick, sticky. She's quite odd this evening, affectionate and restless. Quite soft hindquarters. Foal in position. 7 - Day 347
Foal quite active this evening. Udder feels fuller, but there isn't much there. It is sticky-sweet, but not much. Sophie's behavior continues to be odd, acting like she's getting close. 8 - Day 348
Finally real udder growth! Udder is 2/3 full now, coming up fast. Milk is skim-milk color, slightly salty. Sophie was restless much of the day. Getting closer. 9 - Day 349
Udder made a lot of progress today. Quite full and warm tonight, but only got a few drops of very thick/sticky fluid. Sophie is acting odd, foal is in position, bouncing way back.

10 - Day 350

Udder substantially larger, although impossible to milk any out.   She's doing a lot of "butt pushing" the walls. Udder starting to come up between her hind legs. 11 - Day 351
Udder slightly deflated today. Milk is cloudy, sweet/salty. Very intense. She's doing the "squirrel tail" movement and holding her tail sideways.. 12 - Day 352

Udder developed a bit. Calcium under 50 ppm. Sophie's behavior is very odd standing funny, tail sideways, swishing. She was balky coming in for feeding. Odd! 13 - Day 353
Calcium at 50 ppm. Photo shows how her belly has changed shape - she looks smaller, almost tucked up. Lots of tail movement, belly kicking, usual "nearing the end" 14 - Day 354
Calcium at 50 ppm. Foal very active this evening. Sophie acts like she' s in early labor, we'll watch closely through the night, even though calcium says "not tonight." 15 - Day 355
Calcium at 50 ppm. Milk more plentiful. Yellow, sticky, bland. Very little white, however. Sophie is acting VERY odd, perhaps because Djinn has foaled. 16
Calcium still at 50 ppm. Yellow, sticky, bland. Slightly more white, however. Sophie has been acting like early labor all day, restless and belly-kicking..

17 - Day 357

Udder substantially larger, nearly foal ready.   She's doing a lot of "butt pushing" the walls, tail swishing, belly kicking. Milk is white, thickening, bland. 100 PPM Calcium. 18
Udder foal ready.  Milk white, plentiful, thickening. 175 PPM Calcium. She's in the home stretch now. Lots of butt pushing, tail swishing, etc. She's very interested in Djinn's foal. 19

Ready! Calcium is at about 300 PPM. Udder is full to bursting, lots of white milk, thick. Deep hollows next to her tailhead, baby can be seen bouncing back on the croup. Probably tonight. 20
Calcium is at about 500 PPM. Dripping milk, restless, pacing. She's passing a lot of loose manure, squatting and showing us that she's uncomfortable. I'll be surprised if we don't meet her foal tonight.. 21
Sad update: Sophie's foal was born with a birth defect and was put down at birth. 22 23

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