Hi Jo Ann, you are so funny!!!
Hi All, Jo Ann is just fascinated with this whole thing. I love you Jo Ann.
My husband & I listened to our "kit(s) to be" heartbeat(s) a few nights ago. Dr. Mike is a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and we are really big on listening to all of the hearts in our chinnie herd. He uses a special stethoscope designed for preemies/newborns.
So, the other night "Mia, my soon to be momma" came out to visit me and sat quietly on my lap. I gave her some loose alfalfa hay to munch as a distraction. I had actually already put the end of the stethoscope in the palm of my hand between my forefinger & middle finger facing upward. I kind of just let her come over it and sit belly down on my palm. Mike found the kit(s) heartbeat(s) right away, then I listened. It was totally amazing to be able to hear these little, very quick heartbeat(s) inside of their momma. The beats are very soft & really quick, not nearly as strong or loud as mommas, so it is hard to tell how many kits are actually in there at this point! We'll find out soon enough!
Now keep this in mind.....Mia is a very calm chinchilla and is used to coming out willingly and being handled. She is very attached to me and trusts me! So this whole thing works well with her. She is also familiar with a stethoscope. But, some pregnant mommas may not be so complient. So, if you ever decide to listen to the baby heartbeats inside of momma, make sure you begin very early on to get mom used to a stethoscope. Do not want to stress her out. Be extremely gentle and let her belly gently rest on your palm with the head of the stethoscope between your fingers face up and level with the palm of your hand...not sticking up and poking her.. Never poke or probe the belly. Never chase her around the cage trying to catch her! Any stress can cause her to abort the babies. I have a female or two I would never even attempt this with if they were pregnant!!!
