[Gpdd] HEALTH: Surprise

[Penny Charlesworth]

Congratulations to the mum to be and to her aunty Lily.

I do hope that all goes well with the pregnancy and birth.

I leave pregnant piggies in with their friends. To separate your girls might stress Zoe and that is the last thing that you want when she is in pig. You can move them all into a larger cage later. Other sows in the group rally round and help with the babes even if they cannot feed them and the babes learn all about being piggies from the surrogate aunties.

I follow Peter's advice and offer a dish of wholemeal bread soaked in milk to  pregnant piggies. Some refuse it, some lap it up. I continue to put in the dish when the babes arrive. I know that some GPDD members will disapprove of this practice but it works for me.

I offer raspberry leaves to the mum to be during the last trimester. These are thought to lead to easier births and may stimulate milk production when the time comes. When one considers the size of a baby piggy, it seems to me that the mum can use all the help that she can get. Sow thistles ( sometimes called milk thistles ) are good for lactating sows too.

Hugs for Zoe and good luck.

I'll be catching up on all the missed GPDDs soon, when my son has transferred all my data to my new laptop which arrived yesterday.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.





> Life comes full circle.  In the midst of new deaths on the GPDD and Newsweek I announce that our foster pig Zoe is pregnant!
> 
> We found out for sure last night when Joe and I felt and saw movement in her belly.  She must have gotten pregnant right before we got her the end of March, beginning of April.  She and our other foster Lily were among a group of ten found dumped in a field in Hopkinton, MA.  There were males and females in the group.  No sign that Lily is with pig.
> 
> I only feel movement in one side so I think there is only one, maybe two pups.  She is in a cage that is 27 x 32 inches with Lily right now.    Should we take Lily out when Zoe has her babies or before or leave her in?  They have been living together since we have had them.  They do have tiffs once in a while but no biting, just chasing around.  We do have a bigger cage we can but Lily, Zoe and babies in if needed.
> 
> Many years ago our first GP Tribbles got pregnant by accident and had four pups.  So we do have some experience, but that was a long time ago. 
> 
> I have read all my GP books and feel we can handle any emergency.  Tribbles delivered her pups with no problem.  We weren't home and missed the birth.  I hope Zoe will be more cooperative and have them when we are home. Peter Gurney's book mentions giving the mom to be bread soaked in milk.  Anyone do this?
> 
> Joe and I are so excited!  Baby GPs are the greatest!
> 
> Dee
> Mom to Jodie (what, I'm going to be an aunt?) and foster mom to Lily, Zoe and ?
> Save the earth - it is the only planet with chocolate!
> 
> 
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