[Jacob-list] False labor???

[stonecroft235 at juno.com]

Here's a question for the many experts on this list - have any of you
ever had a situation where a ewe appears to be in labor, and then it
stops, resumes a day later, then stops?  Chloe, a 3 year old who has
lambed twice before with absolutely no problems, is presenting with this
off/on labor.  On Thursday afternoon she was laying in the meadow,
chewing her cud, but I could see obvious contractions and even some
straining on her part - with only a rounded, pink bulge under her tail. 
I put her in the barn in the lambing pen - the bulge disappeared and so
did the contractions.  I put her out in the meadow with everyone on
Friday  & didn't observe anything unusual.  On Saturday, again we
observed her having contractions - she is not restless with these, but
laying contentedly and chewing her cud.....no ground pawing, no
restlessness or distancing herself from the rest of the sheep....and on
Saturday these contractions appeared for 3-4 hrs. off and on.    She is
eating well, drinking well, active, appears normal in every way -
however, from our observations of her with the ram, she most likely was
one of the first ewes bred and would be due to deliver any day.  Am I
seeing Braxton-Hicks contractions?  Should I be concerned and do an
internal exam ---in the six years we've had Jacobs I have never seen this
happening.  We have pretty much been taking the position that as long as
she appears comfortable and well, we are not intervening - what do you
think?  Is it possible for a ewe to have a "sympathetic" reaction to
another ewe delivering - Chloe's mother delivered the day before this
started and the two of them are very close, nearly inseparable - is it
possible for her to react sympathetically but not be totally ready
physically for delivery???    If you recommend an internal exam, please
be specific in what I would be looking for - I've got the gloves, the
lubricant - but have never had to help with any of our ewes before so
have no experience......calling the vet would be an option, although
that's an option we generally try to avoid because of expense (and their
knowledge of sheep is pretty limited - I usually end up telling them what
I think the diagnosis is, what I think should be done to fix it - they
agree and charge me $80!!!!!).

Thank you!!!!

Sue Martin
Stonecroft

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