Katie Van Slyke Says Bella Looks Different Again — And Another Night of Baby Watch Begins

Bella is still pregnant, But Katie Van Slyke’s newest evening check has delivered another collection of changes that are keeping the baby watch at full intensity.

At around 7:30 p.m., Katie found Bella still outside with the other goats. Normally, Bella would already have been moved into her private stall by that time, but Katie deliberately left her out longer in case she simply preferred resting on the dirt.

Katie had also been feeling sick throughout the day, so her husband stepped in to watch Bella while Katie managed to get some much-needed sleep.

When she came back out for the evening check, one thing immediately caught her eye:

Bella’s udder looked different again.

Katie knows she has said that repeatedly during the past couple of weeks, but this time she sounded convinced there had been another real change.

She also thought Bella might look slightly more dilated. Bella20.txtTXT

And those were only the first observations.

Bella had spent much of the day by herself.

She had been lying completely flat with her head down.

She had looked uncomfortable.

And Katie thought her body might actually be starting to change shape.

Still, after so many false alarms, Katie is refusing to declare that labor has officially begun.

Katie Left Bella Outside Longer Than Usual

Katie made a small change to Bella’s nighttime routine.

Rather than putting her into the stall early, she left her outside until around 7:30 p.m.

The reason was simple.

Maybe Bella preferred the dirt.

Katie has been trying to balance close observation with allowing Bella to choose where she feels most comfortable.

After so many evenings of bringing her inside, Katie decided to give her a little more time outside before settling her for the night.

That does not mean monitoring stopped.

Katie’s husband kept watch while Katie rested because she had been feeling unwell all day. Bella20.txtTXT

Katie’s Husband Took Over Goat Watch So She Could Sleep

Bella’s pregnancy has already cost Katie a lot of sleep.

During the previous night, Katie said she stayed up because she genuinely believed the babies might arrive.

That left her exhausted.

On top of that, she felt sick throughout the day.

Her husband therefore took over Bella duty for a while so Katie could nap.

Katie said she was very appreciative of the help.

It was another example of just how much the people around her have become involved in this extended baby watch.

At this point, keeping an eye on Bella has become a team effort.

Bella’s Udder Looks Different Again

Once Katie got another good look at Bella, she returned to the body part everyone has been watching for weeks.

The udder.

Katie openly joked that she knows she has said almost every day that Bella’s udder looks different.

But she remained convinced that it really did look different during this check.

She also thought Bella appeared a little more dilated.

Blossom, naturally, made inspection more difficult by getting her head in the way.

Even so, Katie felt there had been enough of a change to notice. Bella20.txtTXT

As always, she stopped short of saying this proved labor was imminent.

Bella has already taught everyone that one changed feature does not necessarily equal babies within hours.

Bella Was Uncomfortable for Most of the Day

Katie’s bigger concern came from Bella’s behavior.

She said Bella had been very uncomfortable throughout the day.

Katie had only seen her with the rest of the goats once while they were out in the pasture.

Almost every other time she checked, Bella was by herself.

That continues a pattern seen in recent updates.

Bella has increasingly chosen to separate herself.

She has also been lying down in more unusual positions.

During this latest day, Katie said Bella had been lying completely flat with her head on the ground.

That combination of discomfort, isolation and changing resting behavior kept Katie watching closely. Bella20.txtTXT

Last Night Looked So Convincing Katie Stayed Up

Katie then reflected on the previous night.

Bella had been doing several things that made Katie think kidding was about to begin.

She was lip curling.

Yawning.

Getting up and down repeatedly.

Sitting like a dog.

And Katie even thought she might have seen contractions.

That was enough to keep Katie awake all night.

The babies still did not arrive. Bella20.txtTXT

After enough nights like that, Katie is understandably starting to question every observation.

Katie Jokes That She May Be “Making Things Up”

One of the funniest moments in the update came when Katie admitted she might be overanalyzing Bella.

She joked that she may now be “hearing voices” and making things up.

That was not a literal claim.

It was Katie poking fun at how many hours she has spent staring at Bella, comparing tiny changes and trying to predict labor.

At this point, she has examined Bella from every direction.

Every change looks meaningful.

Then Bella remains pregnant.

So Katie is becoming increasingly reluctant to trust her own predictions. Bella20.txtTXT

Bella May Not Look Quite as Wide

Another new observation involved Bella’s overall body shape.

Katie thought Bella might not look quite as wide as she had before.

That immediately led to another theory.

Could one of the babies have moved upward toward the pelvis or birth canal?

Katie referenced the fact that she believes there may be two or three babies inside Bella and wondered whether repositioning could explain why her sides looked less full.

She also wondered whether that change might make Bella feel slightly more agile.

But Katie was careful to label all of that as speculation.

She openly admitted:

“I think I’m reading too much into this.” Bella20.txtTXT

So the changed body shape is an observation.

The explanation is only Katie’s theory.

The Exact Baby Count Is Still Unknown

The number of kids remains one of the biggest mysteries of Bella’s pregnancy.

Katie has spent much of the countdown expecting multiples.

At different times, she has leaned toward three.

The newest update referenced two or three when she wondered about a baby moving into position.

But there is still no confirmed final count in this transcript.

That will remain a mystery until Bella actually kids.

Considering how large and uncomfortable she has looked, followers are understandably anxious to finally find out.

Time to Put Bella Up for the Night

After analyzing enough body changes, Katie decided it was time to stop theorizing and simply settle Bella into her stall.

That process went fairly smoothly.

Most of the other goats remained outside, with Buttercup being the exception.

Katie was able to close the door and encourage Bella into her designated space.

Once Bella entered, Katie made sure she had everything she needed.

Food.

Alfalfa.

Water.

And most importantly:

the camera. Bella20.txtTXT

Another Night Under Camera Watch

Katie plans to keep an especially close eye on Bella overnight.

That has become standard procedure at this point.

The camera allows Katie to monitor Bella without constantly walking into the stall and disturbing her.

If Bella lies down, gets restless or begins showing clearer labor behavior, Katie should be able to see it.

And after the previous night’s near-total lack of sleep, remote monitoring is particularly useful.

Katie can watch without physically hovering over Bella every minute.

A Birthday Dinner Became Goat Watch

The Bella countdown has also continued to take over other people’s plans.

Katie mentioned that a birthday dinner had effectively turned into goat watch.

The people around her have become part of the monitoring crew, helping with Bella whenever necessary.

That reflects how unpredictable the final days have become.

A normal dinner can turn into checking a goat.

A planned trip can be postponed.

A full night of sleep can disappear.

Bella has become the center of everyone’s schedule.

Katie Is Ready for the Babies

There was no hiding Katie’s impatience by the end of the update.

She said it plainly:

“I’m so ready. I’m so ready to have these babies, Bella.” Bella20.txtTXT

After weeks of buildup, that feeling is understandable.

Katie has monitored Bella’s belly.

Measured her.

Checked tail tendons.

Watched the udder change.

Monitored appetite.

Tracked isolation.

Stayed awake overnight.

Changed plans.

And still, there is no birth announcement.

Bella Still Has Plenty of Attitude

One reassuring detail came right at the beginning.

Bella was still trying to headbutt everybody.

For a goat who has looked extremely uncomfortable, she still has enough energy and attitude to act like herself.

That does not tell Katie when kidding will happen, but it does show that Bella has not completely lost her typical personality.

Katie continues to observe both the serious and funny sides of her behavior.

Blossom Is Still Involved in Everything

Of course, Bella’s pregnancy update would hardly feel complete without Blossom inserting herself.

When Katie tried to get a better look at Bella’s body, Blossom’s head was once again in the way.

Throughout this pregnancy, Blossom has become something of an unofficial supporting character.

She has hovered around Bella.

Stayed nearby.

Interrupted checks.

And generally made sure she is involved in whatever Katie is doing.

This latest evening was no different.

Katie Is Trying to Stop Predicting

One of the biggest differences now is Katie’s attitude toward predictions.

Earlier in the pregnancy, she frequently tried to determine whether “tonight” might be the night.

Now, every sign comes with a second thought.

The udder looks different — but she has said that before.

Bella looks less wide — but maybe Katie is overthinking it.

She thought she saw contractions — but no babies came.

Bella has forced everyone to become more cautious.

Instead of declaring labor, Katie is documenting changes and waiting for Bella to make the answer obvious.

The Camera May Finally Catch the Moment

For tonight, Bella is safely set up.

She has food.

She has alfalfa.

She has water.

She has her stall.

And she is under camera surveillance.

Katie will continue checking throughout the night.

She also said she posts updates on Snapchat, while subscribers will get to see the babies first when they finally arrive. Bella20.txtTXT

After all these days of waiting, there is a good chance the cameras will become the first clue that the pregnancy has finally transitioned into labor.

Could a Baby Be Moving Into Position?

Katie’s speculation about Bella appearing less wide may become one of the most interesting things to watch.

If her body shape genuinely changed, something inside may have shifted.

Katie wondered whether one of the babies could be moving toward the pelvis.

But again, that is not confirmed.

It could simply be Bella standing differently.

The babies could have repositioned in another way.

Or Katie could be seeing what she desperately hopes to see after weeks of waiting.

That uncertainty is exactly why she continues to watch instead of making another firm prediction.

Bella Has Everyone Guessing

The remarkable part of this pregnancy is how many times Bella has appeared close.

One day the udder looks dramatically fuller.

Another day the tendons seem nearly gone.

Then she isolates herself.

Then she barely eats.

Then the appetite comes back.

Then she lies flat.

Then she acts completely normal again.

Bella has produced enough mixed signals to make even Katie doubt herself.

And because each goat and each pregnancy can progress differently, the only definitive answer will come when labor actually begins.

Another Night Begins

So Bella enters another evening still pregnant.

Katie is tired.

She is sick.

She is ready.

Everyone helping her is ready.

The stall is ready.

The camera is ready.

The only one who has not committed to a schedule is Bella.

Katie can speculate about body shape.

She can study the udder.

She can watch for dilation.

But she cannot choose when those babies arrive.

“She’s Gotta Have Them at Some Point”

Katie ended this update the same way so many Bella updates have ended:

The babies have to come eventually.

After everything she has observed, that is the only prediction Katie can make with total confidence.

Bella has spent more time alone.

She has looked more uncomfortable.

Her udder appears different.

Katie thinks she may look more dilated.

Her body may be changing shape.

And once again, she is sleeping under a camera so Katie can watch every move.

Whether this is finally the night remains unknown.

But Katie could not sound more ready for the waiting to end.

Bella is tucked into her stall, the camera is running, and everyone is watching. Now all that is left is for Bella to decide when it is finally time to meet those babies. 🐐❤️ Bella20.txtTXT