Foaling Question -- Water Breaking AFTER Delivery

[Jill]

Hi, Everyone --

I was curious if any of you have had a mare deliver a foal, and then the water broke afterwards? After the foal was fully out? That is what happened here when Maddie delivered Trooper... She had or nearly had a prolapse of her uterus (it wasn't pushed outside of her body but was at her cervix and had to be pushed back and "unfolded" by the vet).

With all that was going on, and with Maddie subsequently rejecting the foal (restrained her every 1-2 hours for 3.5 days so he could nurse before putting him on formula), I had almost forgotten that was something odd that had also happened. Harvey or I mentioned it to the vet who came out that night and she remarked, but I can't remember really what she said. There was just so much going on right then and for the next few days it's all about a blur.

Has the water broken for any of your mares following the foal's delivery? And if so, or if you've heard of this, what's the cause, etc.?

Thanks!

Jill

 

[Kim~Crayonboxminiatures]

Jill--I know you've had a lot on your mind, but to clarify, do you mean it was a red bag (placenta didn't break open) which is the technical term for the water not breaking, or do you mean the amniotic sac that the foal is in didn't break open?

 

[Jill]

I'm probably not smart enough to know what I mean yet!

The sack broke open on its own and was that normal "white" opaque color. He was out to his shoulders just about when we got out there and that part was out of the sack, where we could see him w/o the sack over him. He was listless and we thought he was dead for about 30 seconds until we saw him flutter his eyes.

Maddie foaled about 3wks early -- been watching her with a buzzer at night but this was evening and I didn't think she was that close. Once we got him out (helped pull him, not sure we needed to), then the water gushed out.

There was a bit of time on the phone with the vet that we feared Maddie was delivering twins and I had to check to be sure there wasn't another foal (was worried about sedating her further in case that would delay her delivering another).

 

[ontherisefarm]

more than likely there was still amniotic fluid in his sack that came out after he was foaled. It's not all that unusual. My mares usually only expel a little fluid at a time when foaling instead of a great big gush all at once but sometimes mares will have more fluid than necessary which might be the reason for all of her extra cramping. I have also heard of it happening with foals that come out with slight leg problems.Probably just a coincidence. Matter of fact I have had mares not even have the fluid come out until just as they were laying down to actually push out the foal.

 

[Jill]

Thank you!!!

This makes sense what you've just said and he did have a front leg that was very knock kneed at first (prefectly straight now, thank God!)

Also, my own little sister is pregnant with her third baby and 1st daughter (finally, this is what she's hoped for each time). She is being monitored as she has extra fluid and is now seeing a specialist. I probably won't tell her it sounds like possibly the same thing my horse had

But I know this puts my sister at risk for premature delivery, which Maddie did have (310 days).

 

[ontherisefarm]

Your welcome... I have heard of instances of this in big mares and our minis.

I am wishing your sister a healthy little girl and praying there is no bad reason for her extra fluid.

 

[Jill]

Thank you, Alicia

Robin's seen this specialist, on Monday, and he felt there was no reason to be concerned and will monitor her the rest of her pregnancy. Both her boys were in the 98th or so percentile in size (big) and she and her husband are both tall. The specialist thinks most likely there is more fluid due to the baby being bigger than typical. There were 8 "real bad" things that can cause this in human pregnancies, and all have been ruled out (phew).

 

[StellaLenoir]

Dont know if you would want to tell your sister, but with my last baby, I had tons of fluid, and my belly expanded to crazy proportions , my baby turned out to be over 10 lbs!

And oddly enough she almost was born in the sack (without my water breaking) and there is an old wives tale that it means the child will have the gift of clairvoyance. But in the end the doc broke my bag of waters at the last min and with tons of pushing my gigantic but perfect daughter was born.

Maybe your little trooper will be psychic?

And I wish your sis the best with her pregnancy and delivery!

 

[Janis]

Hi Jill,

We had that happen with our last delivery. The baby had one leg back and was a very tight delivery. We couldn't get his leg forward and thought we had already lost him. Our mare had lost a little bit of fluid but when he was finally delivered - there was a gush! We just thought that it was just so tight and he was in the birth canal and the fluid couldn't get out. Thank God our baby was ok.

Janis

 

[ontherisefarm]

Thank you, Alicia

Robin's seen this specialist, on Monday, and he felt there was no reason to be concerned and will monitor her the rest of her pregnancy. Both her boys were in the 98th or so percentile in size (big) and she and her husband are both tall. The specialist thinks most likely there is more fluid due to the baby being bigger than typical. There were 8 "real bad" things that can cause this in human pregnancies, and all have been ruled out (phew).

So glad that they ruled them out....Hopefully she has a smooth delivery and doesnt need an ice pack for too long..

 

[Jill]

Thanks, ladies

Robin's sons were both right around 10 pounds... so she's expecting her daughter to be big as well!!!