As Alex my new and simply stunning Dexter heifer arrived …
… as Tima, the kunekune gilt, completely out of the blue, without any prior warning whatsoever, went into labour. She had no udder, was not wide or obviously pregnant. She never created a nest. She was eating and drinking like there was no tomorrow. And she kept pushing her body under straw. She slept all day like that. And it was not cold. She was in labour.
By six in the evening she was in full labour. By 6.30 I was able to help Tima by pulling that first and only piglet out, but I was too late. The piglet was dead. Still-born. And dead is dead. Dead does not come back to life. There is no reviving dead. In the end you have to lay that body in the cloth, wrap it and put it aside, then turn and start fighting for the living.
She gave birth to that sole stillborn piglet, then she began to bleed, not much, but constant, then she began to shake. I have never seen a pig shake like that. She was in shock. Her body was shuddering and her legs were out of control shaking. I wrapped her in my jacket then ran back to the house for a blanket and warmed her with that as well. I filled a hot water bottle and put it underneath her. Then lay down beside her. Slowly the shaking diminished and she drifted into a deep natural sleep, then she began to snore. And as her snores mingled with the snuffles of Tane, who had been asked to stay in the corridor for the duration, the whole barn began to breathe a sigh of relief.
By eight she expelled the afterbirth and I checked her hourly . Still she slept with her head under the covers refusing to get up. After midnight when she was clean I brought Tane back in with her. Who do you want to see at this time of your life? – someone who loves you. Of course. Luckily for Tima the one who loved her was her mate.
Tane got Tima straight up out of the bed with his nose. I brought in some corn – a rare midnight snack and after fighting over that, Tima had a good long drink of water laced with molasses. Then so did Tane. Then they rearranged the bed into a double and went to sleep. I rewrapped Tima in her pig blanket just to be sure. She said, Thank You. Tane said, where is my blanket and Tima kicked him from under the covers.
Sad that we don’t have pile of cute mini Tima babies but in the end my loyalty it to Timatanga Moana. It is sad that her baby died. But I cannot tell you how glad I am that Tima is ok.
As I walked back to the house through the dark after midnight it began to rain. Ton left the barn and ran ahead to the house. For the duration of Tima’s ordeal Ton had stood by her gate. (Boo stayed inside) Even as I moved back and forth Ton stayed outside Tima’s pen. As we jogged back through the rain that last time I wondered how he had come to the conclusion that her ordeal was over and he could join me in running for home this time.
What can we learn from these animals? I wonder. Get over stuff and get on with life? Do the job then move to the next with a smile. Toughen up!
Alex we will talk about tomorrow. She is a stunner. A wooly mammoth in miniature. She immediately made friends with Naomi and as I was working with Tima in the next stall these two laid down quietly together and went to sleep. She is not as naturally friendly as Carlos so I will have to train her over the winter. If all goes well she will be a milk cow and milk cows need training as we all know!
Losses are part of life. We know them, we bow our heads to them for a time of mourning or remembrance. But life is alive. Pick up your head – It is ALIVE – for the living, this short life of ours. Fight for it!
Thank you little piglet born still and without life. Your wee life was worth it.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
101 responses to “Stillborn”
I’m pleased Tima is OK. I wonder how much they know and how they feel. I guess we will never know.
The piglet was definitely premature – Maybe there had been two which would have been likely and lost that one earlier maybe in the field – she was missing for a while yesterday.. At the moment she is sleeping cuddled up to Tane, quite peaceful. Living in the moment. c
Love Alex’s cute wooliness, but she doesn’t look very friendly at first glance. So happy to hear our Tima is up and about and OK, but have to admit to shedding a tear over her lost baby. Love,love Laura
Oops, meant to say Happy Thanksgiving to USA farmy family and fellowship. Laura
Alex is timid. So today I will get the halter on her (which she will not like) then we will start some training asap – we don’t want another Elsie! She does come into the barn though and has the good mannerrs of Naomi to copy.. c
A lovely post C. Animals do have much to teach us, if we only would listen. I hope Tima remains OK.
Yes you are right. Tima is up and eating and drinking like crazy today – back to her usual self .. c
RIP little piglet. So thankful our Tima is ok!! ❤
Alex is beautiful, those lashes! And I just want to bury my face in that fur! 🙂
She is very soft – I really love her hair do! Carlos is just the opposite all black and shiny, which makes me wonder if he was clipped for showing? I must ask Britta.. I really like the wooly look! c
Ah, life can be so harsh. Poor Celi, poor Tima. But I think you have forgotten something: “Who do you want to see at this time of your life? – someone who loves you. Of course. Luckily for Tima the one who loved her was her mate.” Luckily, Tima also has Celi, who loves her, and cares for her, and warms, cleans, feeds and holds her at moments like these. The little lost piglet also has something else to teach us, which is that Tima can be a mother, there’s nothing wrong with her equipment, and Tane also seems to have done his work. And your lovely Alex is a gorgeous woolly girl, hopefully she’s just shy, not unfriendly.
Beautifully said Kate.
I agree. And your comment is beautiful too, Cecile.
You are right Kate, this does bode well for next summer – the piglet was prem and i am wondering whether she took a kick from Naomi. Though they are in the same field often, Tima like Poppy goes through fences (or rather under fences) like a cat. It is possible.
Celi, this is why we love you! No matter how difficult or sad you day proves to be, you share it with us, but find a lesson in positivity from all that has happened in the hours and day before. We know Tima holds a special place in your heart, I am thankful she has come through this ordeal and hope in the future she and Tane can work the magic again with a healthy squealing litter. Hugs of Thanksgiving for you and yours on this special day!
Yours is beautifully said too, Grannymar. Thankful for your sentiments.
I am certainly giving thanks that Tima is fine. Seems fine anyway. Thank you Grannymar.. c
I am so glad you and Tima came through this. What a sad and unexpectedthing to happen. I did shed a few tears. I do hope she gets back to full strength soon, and I epxect you need to catch up on some sleep. Beautiful Alex – isn’t life sad and wonderful and beautiful too?
You are right – that is a perfect way to put it Tanya.. have a lovely day ..c
Oh my. Oh my. The incredible lightness of being. Such a story, and so beautifully told. Alex is spectacular.
Did you see that movie Charlotte? I loved that movie.. c
The Fellowship has said everything that I would have said. I hope Tima has a good recovery. love, ViV xox
Morning Viv, I just went to check on her and she leapt up in her usual fashion, she is a wee bit annoyed that she is being kept inside for the day though! She loves rain. c
Unlike me.
So sad for you and for Tima. What a sad story. Oh my. You told it in such a touching way. – Lovely Boo though.
And fluffy Alex already in friendship with Naomi. I just can shake my head in awe. I am surprised how mature Naomi looks.
Have a good day, Celi.
Irmi, what a beautiful photo of you! c
Irmi, It is wonderful to see your face!!! Much love to you and all, and a Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating it. Our turkey will be ready in three hours. Gayle
Thanks to you both! Makes me happy. 🙂 (Wasn’t it high time to end anonymity?) – And sorry, I did not realise that Thanksgiving is t.o.d.a.y. So – a little bit late – Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
I think this day provides a great opportunity to mention that the Fellowship is such a special community that I love very much and that I am very thankful of for all that I get here and what I can learn here everyday!
Especially many, many thanks to you, Celi! You are such a treasure (or gem or jewel) …
What a stressful evening you had – made all the more difficult because you had no idea Tima was pregnant…. then the sadness of seeing the poor little baby who didn’t make it… then the bleeding and Tima going into shock. I hope you had a strong slug of whiskey after it was all over. I loved how you covered Tima with your coat, ran to get a blanket and then lay down beside her. I’m sure the warmth of your body – plus the warmth of your heart – helped her pull through. Wishing you a wonderful Turkey Day and sending you big cyber hugs. PS What a gorgeous heifer. I know we’ve all fallen in love with her a first sight, just as you did.
This was the other reason I let Tane back in with her – so he could keep her warm for the rest of the night.. I hope you have a gorgeous day Cecile.. c
Thankful that Tima is ok. Poor little thing. That is a lovely cow!
Are you feeling a little better today? Not as stressed i hope.. c
Alex is so beautiful. So sorry about the little piglet but I am glad Tima is alright. Hope you all can get a little extra rest.
I am not one for resting – in fact I would RATHER be out in the barn – today looks like a Get Your Housework Done day! A few unusual days and it becomes such a mess! c
Hugs all around.
You have had your fair share of nights like that hon. thank you for that hug! c
Welcome Alex, she is beautiful. Such a mystery surrounding Tima, but your instinct and midwifery skills cannot go unnoticed during that remarkable event. Thank you for saving our girl.
Yes, that baby was premature, I think she encountered some misadventure though she is unmarked.. something happened to cause the piglet to be born too early and it would not surprise me if there had been another lost earlier.