Concerned for Bertha.

[adamanteus]

Bertha, my big T. radix is about to give birth and judging by the size of her this time, it's going to be a huge litter.
She seems to be struggling and in some distress. There is a lot of body twitching and undulation, she is obviously in some discomfort.
I just found this little still-born underneath a log, it must have been born over an hour ago, but no others are making an entrance yet.
I'm worried for her.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll228/adamanteus_bucket/2009_0416stillbirth0006.jpg

[Stefan-A]

It certainly doesn't sound good. :(

[guidofatherof5]

Bertha is in our family prayers. Keep us informed.

[drache]

oh James
that baby does not look good at all and that amber coloured stuff looks like a jelly bean that got squished around
I hope she's okay and it's just a momentary hold-up
can you make a warm water bath available to her without getting her stressed?
is she moving around?

[adamanteus]

The amber coloured stuff is the remaining yolk that the baby hasn't absorbed. The poor little thing does look a bit messed up, but that will be because it had begun to dry out. I have soaked it in water and opened it out a little for the photograph and to check that it was correctly formed. I think it was perfect, apart from the fact that it's dead.

[MasSalvaje]

I wish you, Bertha, and her offspring the very best James! Keep us posted.

-Thomas

[Snake lover 3-25]

goood luck! fingers crossed for a safe delivery......

[Sid]

I hope she has the rest OK and they do well. Fingers crossed, James.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

wow, omg, that is nasty! that doesnt look like any stillborn I've ever seen even after it dried up! maybe you re-wet it after it dried?? I saw something similar once when a female eastern was giving birth, but all of the babies were dead. They had all actually started to rot inside of her and all came out smelling awful and mushy and bellies turning black from decaying. It's a wonder she made it! Fingers crossed for you!!!

[adamanteus]

I stayed up with her most of the night, but nothing else has happened. She seems much more settled and comfortable now.
It's going to be a long day at work, until I can get back and check on her!

[Stefan-A]

That's good to hear.

[Snaky]

Fingers crossed that it will go well from now, James.

[gregmonsta]

Crossing my fingers for her mate.

[adamanteus]

Home from work. Bertha is curled up quietly. She seems contended (and VERY fat).

[reptileparadise]

Good to hear she is doing better right now.

I had it happen with a parietalis last year. One young was born (alive) on day one after that it lasted for two more days before the rest was born. On day two and three, the female showed no signs of 'discomfort', on day four...all babies (all three....) where born within an hour.


Good luck, I'm keeping my fingers crossed

[dashnu]

Sounds like she will be ok James, hoping for healthy babies for you and her!

[Zephyr]

She's in my prayers.
Maybe tone down the heat a little in her enclosure?

[lestat]

Hope she does ok. Good luck, fingers crossed

[Quibble]

I too am keeping her in my prayers, and keeping my fingers crossed.
-sends a hug full of hope-

[adamanteus]

Another 24 hours later, and still no change. She seems fine.

[drache]

if she seems fine, that's a good sign

[gregmonsta]

Fingers crossed for her and the litter mate :)

[Repfanatic]

I hope she is doing better. Good luck with her and her offspring. I hope everything turns out well.

[NikkiSixx]

sad... i hope she makes it, and her little ones. big hugs!

[KITKAT]

Hi James,

This will happen when a fetus dies before they are ready to be born. The snake will expel the dead fetus in order to prevent decay inside the uterus.

Let us know how it goes... if she seems to go into labor and does not produce them, try giving her a big bowl to soak in.

KITKAT

[count dewclaw]

Any news, James? Is Bertha still "cooking" those babies?

[adamanteus]

Still no news, LeAnn. She's just laying around looking fat! She seems happy and healthy enough though. I guess she's just not due yet.:confused:

[adamanteus]

This will happen when a fetus dies before they are ready to be born. The snake will expel the dead fetus in order to prevent decay inside the uterus.

Of course this could only happen if the dead fetus was the 'first in the queue', which seems like a bit of a happy coincidence. I'm not convinced that's the answer.

[Zephyr]

I always wondered about the "first in the queue" fetuses; they certainly seem more vulnerable than the ones, say, near the middle of the mother snake.

[adamanteus]

I don't understand your thinking, Kyle. In what way would they be vulnerable?

[gregmonsta]

The narrowing towards the tail might compact them more and make them more vulnerable to pressures exerted from the muscles, body functions and other pressure as the siblings start to fill up the space. Could be possible?

[count dewclaw]

Judging by how she looks, there must be quite a few babies in her. Glad to hear she seems to be healthy. I guess I'll just have to wait (probably easier for me, than you) to hear how things progress. Hoping for lots of healthy little ones.

[jitami]

Fingers crossed here James. Hope all's well.

[adamanteus]

Thanks, Tami. I'm sure it will be. She kept me in suspense for weeks last year too!

[anji1971]

Aww, poor thing!
Best wishes, James. Hope everything turns out well now.

[adamanteus]

Still nothing from Bertha, although she does seem rather agitated tonight. Earlier today she accepted some trout pieces from the forceps. She is huge now, and incredibly 'lumpy'.
It's been almost two months since the still-birth, and 113 days since the last (observed) sexual activity.

[gregmonsta]

Wow ... :) think there must be a conspiracy :rolleyes: ... garter moms ganging up on their Brit owners and making them wait :o

[count dewclaw]

Thanks for the update, James. I almost asked yesterday, but was afraid no news was maybe bad news. Hopefully she'll be popping those little ones out real soon. :)

Greg, I don't think it is just the British garters making their owners wait. It has been 102 days since Azule died, and I don't think he was doing anything in the breeding department for at least a week before that....Penny just keeps getting bigger.

[zirliz]

I hope all goes for you and your snake

[Snake lover 3-25]

good luck!

[reptileparadise]

113 days...Could be any day now!

[drache]

should be any day now
fingers crossed