Pregnant Guineapig!

[Animalz]

Ok, I have a pregnant guinea pig that I bought from a pet store (before reading that there are so many to adopt) and the pet store staff said that she might be pregnant as she was slightly fatter then the other guinea pigs and had been kept with her father and brothers.
Caramel has kept gaining weight and maybe about 2 weeks ago I could just feel the babies moving, ever since then the babies have been gaining size in Caramel's belly rapidly!

Recently, I went to check on Caramel and she was lying down, looking very tired, but I noticed that her legs were very wide apart.
I have only just noticed this since I went to see her.
Does this mean that she will give birth at any minute?

And is there any other signs besides from the apparent 'grunt' they give off before they give birth?

Please help as this is the first time I have had a pregnant animal (although I have done a lot of research).

I didn't really know what prefix to put this post in, there was no option to 'pregnancy' that I could see,sorry if I choose the wrong one.

[Animalz]

Ok,
Caramel has come to eat some carrot leaves and her legs arn't as far apart as I thought they were, it was just the way she was lying down, her legs are further apart then her front ones though.

I have read that when her stomach goes 'as hard as rock' that she will give birth soon.
Does this happen with all guinea pigs?
If it does, how long from being like this until she gives birth.
Thanks

[skinnyguineaus]

They do get very quiet the week prior to birth... Not much movement... Check to see if her pelvic bone is separanting... It maybe hard for you as you probably do not know whats normal... In between her legs near her "private parts" there is the pelvic bone. You should be able to place your finger in between the bone just hours before birth... Dont push in... Just gently place your finger there. While doing that please support her back

[Animalz]

Ok, I placed my fingers just above her butt, I couldn't feel much, but I presses a little bit harder and I could feel something hard, I can fit about 1 1/2, maybe 2 fingers.
Also, yesterday, her belly was like a soft and loose water balloon, now it feels like and tight water balloon.
I don't know how else to describe it, she is eating right now.

[bpatters]

Just checking, Animalz, have you baby-proofed the cage? The little ones can get out of the holes of a C&C cage.

[Animalz]

I'm assuming that was learnt 'the hard way'?
How do you baby proof a guinea pig cage?

How small are the babies?
I've seen pictures of babies about 1/3 of the size of the mum.

[skinnyguineaus]

Ok, I placed my fingers just above her butt, I couldn't feel much, but I presses a little bit harder and I could feel something hard, I can fit about 1 1/2, maybe 2 fingers.
Also, yesterday, her belly was like a soft and loose water balloon, now it feels like and tight water balloon.
I don't know how else to describe it, she is eating right now.

1 1/2 - 2 fingers and the tighter feeling of her belly are signs that birth is approaching... Some sow's pelvic bones spread almost enough to fit 3 fingers in between... Keep an eye on her today... It should happen soon. Don't pick her up anymore... You don't want to add stress to her life now Also make sure you have clean hand towels and a bulb syringe to clean out the babies nose in case she needs help with that
Baby proof the cage by placing card board/coroplast... around the cubes (if you use a C&C) check the site for baby proofing ideas.
Good thing that she is eating... She will need the energy!

[Animalz]

Wow! I really didn't think she was this close!
I will be home most of the day today.
Should she be put in a quiet area, or should I leave here where she is used to?

So she will be due either today or tomorrow?
Either in the morning or afternoon?

If there is a lot of commotion, will she hold off until it is quiet? Or do then come when they wan't to?

Should I clean out the cage today? Or will that stress her?
It is a little messy, or could I just put down some new bedding on top of the old, then once she has her bubs, do a complete cage clean!

I'm so frantic! I wish I could have one of you with me to help!

I have done lots of research in what to look for in GP births, it would be unfortunant of she gave birth when I wasn't around, and all of it was for nothing!
A friend was telling me that they knew someone who was holding her guinea pig, she looked down, and the guinea pig had one baby with her.

Thank you so much for all the help, even on short notice!

[Animalz]

I found this picture of a piggie with her pelice bones extreamly sepparated, he gave birth a few hours after this photo was taken. She gave birth to 6 pups, no problems, although this was a back to back breeding.
Caramel's legs arn't quite this far apart.

Here is the link: http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html

[skinnyguineaus]

Clean the cage and put soft clean bedding on it. I use towels when i know its close just because it is easier to clean out the mess from the birth And it is soft for the babies.
If you are going to lift her support her back well! I have had moms hold their babies in for a LONG time after I seen the two finger separation. It could be tonight or not Its is a waiting game now.
Most of my GP's births have happen at night. Not sure if that is typical

[Animalz]

Well, I have her on my lap now, she is very interested in the keyboard, I can feel the babies moving inside, I can't really see what I'm typing because she keeps blocking my view.
Anyways, I checked her pelvic bones again, this time I followed the bone with my finger and I can only fit 1 finger between them.

At the moment she is licking something from her butt... and is wriggling around trying to get cozy.

Her belly is firmer. Do GP's drink a lot of water before they give birth?
This morning, I though I saw a contraction (the 'ripples') but thinking back, It was probably just one of her babies moving around.
My family is having a bit of a bet at how many babies she has, I think 3, my sister 4, mum 2, my brother 5 and my dad 6 babies.

I definitly know that she has more then 2 because I can feel them moving from diffrent sides of her belly.

[skinnyguineaus]

Yes they drink a lot of water! Don't hold her... Put her back into her cage until she has the babies... Even if it takes a week! It is not good for her to be lifted, or stressed with interactions.
1 finger usually means a week away in my experience.
Keep me posted! I hope you win the bet. 6 babies would be a lot of work for you to ensure that all of them are getting enough food.
Take a look at this post on hand feeding so you start having an idea... In case there are 6. She only has 2 glands that produce milk and all of them need to eat you would be the other 4.
http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

[Animalz]

Well, dad got the short end of the straw there, but I would be exited as long as she stays healthy, and the pups, or even pup, are healthy!
If she had as little as 1 I'm sure she would spoil it, if she had as many as 8 (which I hightly doubt), I would be sure to find excelent homes for them!
If she does have 3, would 2 be on the sides and the third in the middle?

[skinnyguineaus]

Tell dad if she has 6 and he wins he needs to help out with feeding. LOL
3 usually feels like 2 on the side and one in the middle as you mention more would be two in each side... They get so big; I even have a hard time telling how many are there.

QUALITY!HEALTH! never quantity

[Animalz]

Yeah, I'd rather her having 1 guinea pig, perfectly healthy, then 8 sick, deformed, malnourished or still borns.

I really hope I can be there when Caramel decides "it's time".

[skinnyguineaus]

Yeah, I'd rather her having 1 guinea pig, perfectly healthy, then 8 sick, deformed, malnourished or still borns.

I really hope I can be there when Caramel decides "it's time".

You rather have 2 when they have one the baby tends to be really big making the birth hard on the mom.
How old is she? I'm sorry I didn't ask that earlier

[foggycreekcavy]

Don't be too quick to jump in and handfeed. Moms usually manage quite well feeding all the babies on her own, even large litters.

Sometimes there will be a baby that is smaller and weaker, and doesn't try hard enough to get the food it needs. In that case I would handfeed, but not in others. As long as the mom is getting the nutrition she needs, she will provide enough milk for the babies.

[trexgorawrrrrr]

I agree with foggy, don't be too quick to jump in and start hand feeding.

I highly doubt she will have 5+, I would say that 1-3 are normal litters. It's always good to be knowledgable on a subject, but don't stress yourself out if there isn't anything to stress out over. Do you have a photo of her? Just keep in mind that sometimes guinea pig's natural instincts do not kick in for 24-48 hours. Babies are born with enough reserve to hold off until mother's instincts kick in, but just keep an eye.

Do you have a scale? I would suggest buying a scale so that you can weigh the babies when they're born, and also after to make sure they're gaining weight. If someone isn't gaining weight, seems to be pushed off to the side, or you notice is maybe weaker I suggest coming back for advice/reading up on hand feeding then.

Please keep us updated on how she's doing, and when she has the babies!

One thing I would do now is find a cavy savy vet now just in case. It's always a good idea to have those people on hand. Good luck!

[skinnyguineaus]

Again, read the link educate yourself. It is all there!! It is importante to know what to look for as the weight gain that early on is SO small!

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

[Animalz]

if one baby wasn't getting enought milk, I would probably allow it one on one time with mum.
If anything was to go wrong, I'd tell you people about it!
I can't believe how much you have helped me!

I have read the hand feeding site twice, thanks for the link!

I'll post some pics later.