Overdue labour? URGENT

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D - 25 Aug 2004 23:54 GMT

Sorry if this isn't an urgent problem, I haven't been able to find any info
anywhere else.

Ok, as I write this, I'm waiting for the vets to open, just hoping I can
catch someone in another timezone reading this right now who can help.

it's 8:34am here, thursday morning. I'm in Australia

My newest girl, Sophie, is estimated to be about a year old, it seemed her
water broke about this time yesterday, (wednesday morning) when I looked at
her bedding, there was a watery mark which a splotch of blood in the middle,
she was bleeding from the vagina, which was dilated about 2mm.

then nothing. 8pm last night, she was still dilated, but had cleaned
herself.

A friend who is a vet referenced a specialised rat medical book (haven't got
the title yet) which suggested that rats can hold off pregnancy until they
are safe/relaxed/etc as a survival mechanism. She suggested putting sophie
in a dark quiet room (we did already, but moved her to a room at the other
end of the house so outside noise wouldn't bother her) to let her take care
of things overnight.

This morning, nothing. No babies, no blood marks to suggest she'd eaten the
babies, And she still looks pregnant. She's cleaning herself right now, but
I didn't want to disturb her to see if she's still dilated.

Has anyone else ever had this happen?

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*Lana* - 26 Aug 2004 05:12 GMT

> Sorry if this isn't an urgent problem, I haven't been able to find any info
> anywhere else.
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Has anyone else ever had this happen?

Hello, yes, I have heard of this happening. Here's what you should do
while you're waiting to take her to the vet...
Grab a clean rag or two and stick that into the cage along with some
cotton balls. Make sure you do not disturb her after you put those in
until you take her to the vet. If she has already begun making a nest
for herself then she should be close to giving birth. However, be sure
not to touch the babies if they are born in which case it will stress
the mother out and she will protect her young. You can begin to touch
them in a couple of days. Hopefully she'll give birth to them before
you go to the vet!!!! Good luck with Sophie!!!!!!

*Lana*-Mother to two rats

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D - 27 Aug 2004 05:47 GMT

Thanks for the advice, all the panic came to nothing tho.

We got to the vet's, she said it could've just been stress or trauma.

She hasn't bled again since, but we're keeping an eye on her.

The vet could feel a lump, but said it's either one baby, or her bladder.

> > Sorry if this isn't an urgent problem, I haven't been able to find any info
> > anywhere else.
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> *Lana*-Mother to two rats

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J&S Bouchard - 26 Aug 2004 15:15 GMT

> Sorry if this isn't an urgent problem, I haven't been able to find any info
> anywhere else.
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Has anyone else ever had this happen?

Usually birthing takes place in a couple of hours.
One sure way to see if she's in distress, offer her some treats, if she eats
it, she should be fine, if she doesn't eat it, then she's in distress. Does
she move around a lot? Is she active? If so... then she's not ready to give
birth yet. How many days has she been pregnant?
Also, make sure she has nesting materials like paper towels.

Signature

Joanne
Mom to 12 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / August 2004

Overdue labour? URGENT