help! lactating mummy is losing weight!

[jaydee88]

Hey guys! All 8 babies are doing great as far as I can tell for those of you who read my last post.
But I'm getting a bit worried. The babies arrived Sunday morning and I weighed mum on Monday I think it was and she weighed 225g then she went to 205g the next day and mow today she is 195g... is this normal? The babies are only 4 days old... I'm getting a bit worried as I've never bred before so I don't know! She's looking a little skinny
She seems to be eating fine and drinking and is her usual mischeivious self!. She's drinking lots at the moment as I type this though... I charged her water bottle to a new glass one and just swapped it back as she seemed to almost be sucking on it to get water out... the water Sempt to come out for me but now she won't leave her old plastic one now I've put that back. Could she be dehydrated? If she's not been getting any out of the other one. Could that make her lose weight? I never thought that glass one would give her any trouble as water seems to come out when I push the ball thing...
Thanks guys
Jess
Xoxox

[jaydee88]

I'm sorry, that last part didn't make any sense. What I meant is that while I was writing that I was sat with her and I've recently (Sunday- day of birth) changed her water bottle from an old plastic one to a fancy glass one and I just noticed that she was practically sucking it to get a drink. So I took it off and tested it myself... Water seemed to be coming out. Not as much as the plastic one (as they are a bit drippy anyway) so I swapped it over to the old plastic one and she must have been drinking for about 5 mins!! Could is be why she's lost a lot of weight? If she's not been able to get sufficient water from the glass one? Or is it normal for her to lose that much while lactating? Xoxoxox

[yasmin]

Yes, dehydration could possibly account for at least some of the weight loss. I've had this happen to my goos' water bottles as well. I'm paranoid now. Whenever I go past them, I check to make sure all of the water levels in each of their water bottles (I have four 'cages' of degus) are going down. When I can't check the water at least every 6-8 hours, then I provide them with two sources of water (they'll drink from a small dish of water) just to be safe.

I never weighed my moms after they gave birth so I don't know if this is usual but 195 g seems low. Please keep weighing her daily and keep us informed. Maybe some sunflower seeds and extra oats will help her gain weight if indeed those babies are draining her reserves.

I hope that someone with more experience can provide their input. This must be very worrying for you.

[jaydee88]

Thankyou so much for your reply. I felt so awful when I saw her practically trying to suck the water out of that bottle... I felt so guilty that I'd not noticed it sooner. I honestly was so scared she was going to die leaving me with her 8 babies. I love dobby and dent know what I'd do without her.
The strangest thing has happened though. After the non stop drinking marathon she did... she ate loads of food and within a few hours she looked plumped up... so I thought surely she can't gain weight that fast so I weighed her and she'd shot back up to 225g! I was so please. I honestly thought something was seriously wrong.
Massive sigh of relief!
Also I was worried she wasn't spending enough time with them and feeding them enough as whenever I was there she would go out of the way to ignore them. But now I know she is doing her job as I stayed with her a little longer and just sat observing her and she spent most of the time making the nest comfy and feeding and chirping to them and keeping them warm... all while stuffing her face at the same time!! But it was great to see as I haven't really seen her do that properly yet. At least I know she's doing her job when I'm not there now. I worry too much me!!
Jess
Xoxox

[jaydee88]

Don't** and pleased**. Gosh typing on this phone is awful!! Xoxox

[Kins]

I replied on your other thread, but it sounds like you have it under control now, great news!

Well done

[yasmin]

So happy to hear that she's gaining weight again. Yippee!

[jaydee88]

Thanks everyone! Kins... I just replied to you on other thread without reading this first oops!!
The little fattie has now shot up to 240! What weight should be healthy enough for her to stay at?
I'm so relieved it's under control. I as so worried. I couldn't go through another death so soon. Especially not my Dobs... she was my original! I could see the whole family fall apart... mummy dies then all babies drop off... that would have been the worst experience of my life... I'm so pleased they are all doing so well... I'm not a very lucky person! Xoxox

[Kins]

I'm so pleased to hear she's doing so well. I wouldn't worry about her weight going up a little, better for her to be slightly over than under (250g-300g is the 'recommended ideal weight' for a degu). Sounds like it's all under control though!

Good work!