“Hey.” That was the opening, the first line in the text message beamed directly to Alex the Shearer. While most people are pouring themselves a civilized second coffee, I was crouched behind Fat Amy with my phone pointed at her nether regions. I knew Alex would be up, I just thought it was my duty to warn him about what was coming.

Snootch Watch is what I call the process of trying to guess when my very pregnant ewes are going to divest themselves of their passengers and introduce those babies to life on the outside. There are a couple of things I’m looking for –

1. The most reliable indicator? A considered — and frankly inappropriate — too-long stare at a ewe’s vulva. As lambing approaches, everything changes. The colour goes from a pale seashell to a flushed pink, tissues soften and the whole region becomes. . . erm, generous. There’s swelling, relaxation and — there’s no elegant way to say this — a fair bit of wobble in the walk
   
   Nature, she is not subtle.
   
2. Mudder udders! This year, two of our mamas-to-be are first-timers and often, first-timers can be a little late to bloom – but that can change fast. Last night, there was nary a hint of anything in Juniper’s undercarriage and today, doth mine eyes deceive me?? Behold!! There is an udder! A little one, just a tiny little filling but there it is! As we get closer, that udder will get bigger and her teats will get pinker and take on a shiny pearliness. O yes, I’m comparing teats to semi-precious gem stones. This is my life now.
   
3. There is also a less measurable — but equally reliable — indicator: everyone is SO OVER it. Our first lambing season back in 2021 was presided over by Claire, our original and unforgettable Border Leicester matriarch. She sashayed through early pregnancy, stomped through the middle and spent the final trimester high on her dudgeon, deeply offended by everything happening inside her.
   
   Juniper is following suit. While Marion chows down nearby, Juniper mooches over and leans her full weight against my leg, asking for long, even-pressured strokes down her back. I can tell she’s regretting her November romp. . . I don’t think she believes Banjo’s wooing was worth any of this.

As we get closer to the Big Day, I’m hovering like a metaphorical stork over my darling girls. I know they’re going to be brilliant mothers – both Juniper (Jenny) and Marion (Maude) had exceptional mothers. And for these, the homestead’s very first grandbabies, it all feels like it’s wrapped in a whiff of something especially special.

Stay tuned! If you’re interested, births will be recorded on our Day-to-Day chore tracker first.

Snootch Watch: What I’m Actually Looking For (Practical Checklist)

This is what I’m actually eyeballing as we get closer to baby day:

Vulva Changes (The “Pink and Wobbly” Phase)

• Noticeable swelling and softening
• Colour shifts from pale to deeper pink
• Tissue looks relaxed and slightly elongated
• Mucous discharge (AKA stringers!) may appear in the final 24 hours

Udder Development (“Bagging Up”)

• Udder begins to fill (can happen quickly in first-timers)
• Teats enlarge and become more defined
• Skin appears tighter, smoother, sometimes shiny
• In the last 12–24 hours: udder may feel firm and full

Pelvic Ligaments (The Hidden One)

• Area around tail head softens
• Ligaments on either side of the tail seem to “disappear”
• Tail head may feel loose or slightly raised

**This one takes practice — but once you feel it (or so I’m told), you don’t forget it. I’m still not as proficient at this as some of the more experiences shepherds I know**

Behaviour Changes

• Restlessness (getting up and down, circling)
• Separating from the flock or seeking a quiet corner
• Pawing at bedding
• Turning to look at sides or belly
• Increased vocalization—or, sometimes, unusual quiet

Timing Reality Check

First-time ewes can be unpredictable and there have been times I’ve thought, “O! Something’s happening!” only for nothing much to happen at all. On the other hand, things can go from “nothing much” to “lamb on the ground” like a snap of your fingers. That’s how Juniper made her entrance, actually. I sat with Jenny for most of the morning, went in for a sandwich and came back to find Juniper’s twin brother Jethro in the straw and Juniper barreling into the light.

This is a Tending post — a practical look at our tools, methods, routines, and on-the-ground decision-making. It’s not a one-size-fits-all how-to, and it isn’t meant to substitute for local knowledge or professional guidance. It’s just what we’ve found useful and what we’re doing here on our farm, in our conditions, with our sheep (and alpacas), written down plainly in case it helps. For more about why we do things the way we do them, the philosophy that informs our process, you’ll find those posts in Living.