A Sows Pelic Bones

Question
I Have Recently Figured Out That My Female Guinea Pig Is Pregnant.I Had Bought her From A Seller (Not From A Pet Store) And I'm Having Trouble Telling If Her Pelvic Bones Have Opened Yet.Can You Give Me Some Tips?

Answer
The gestation period for a guinea pig is around 70 days. If you don't know when she conceived (and we usually don't) you can get a ballpark due date by when you feel babies moving.  You will feel them about two weeks before delivery, sometimes a little sooner but not much.

If you pay close attention you'll also see her belly begin to spread and get a little dip from her backbone to the sides of her belly. That's when the babies are beginning to drop into position. To feel the pelvic bones put her on a table or hard surface. Put your hand on her back and gently slide your first or second finger down her spine to the genital vent. You can feel the two pelvic bones on either side of your finger.

They are usually about 1/8 of an inch apart and fairly rigid. When they begin to spread you can almost slip your finger between them. They will be about 1/4 in apart. Don't press and don't try to spread them. Just feel softly enough to get a sense of how far apart they are. They will feel a little loose to you. Again, I can't stress enough that you don't want to put any pressure on those bones or it may hurt her.

The ligaments begin to soften and allow for the spreading of the bones in preparation for delivery. They usually spread about 48 hours before delivery.  Again, these are estimates and aren't written in stone, but in my many years of raising cavies it's been pretty predictable using that technique and time frame.

Most deliveries happen in the wee hours of the morning. Once labor starts it moves quickly. Most litters of four or five are completely delivered within one hour. So she doesn't waste much time once the process has started.

When the babies are born the sow will not nurse them and will even ignore them sometimes for several hours. Do not intervene. When this happens she is not completely finished with the birthing process and usually has an afterbirth to pass.

Once she has cleaned out she will begin to care for the pups. It's nature's way and sometimes it seems like she's never going to get near those babies and you're tempted to want to start feeding them or helping her out.  Leave her be.  She knows what she's doing. It's almost as though she knows her milk isn't good until she's completed her job.

Keep your camera ready, you're in for a delight. Cavy babies are the cutest things you'll ever see.  Little miniatures of their parents with a mouthful of teeth, eyes wide open, all their fur on and great big ears. She won't mind you handling them. Just be careful because they can wiggle and jump right out of your hands.

Please let me know when they arrive and by all means post a picture.