Katie Says Bella Is Finally Reaching Her Safe Kidding Window — And Her Latest Changes Suggest Kid Watch Is Getting Close

Katie Van Slyke can finally breathe a little easier about Bella.

After days of asking her heavily pregnant Nigerian Dwarf doe to keep those babies inside just a little longer, Bella has almost reached an important milestone.

Katie revealed that Bella still had not delivered, and the following day would mark 140 days of pregnancy.

While Katie explained that approximately 145 to 150 days is closer to the typical due-date range she uses for miniature goat breeds such as Nigerian Dwarfs, reaching 140 days is especially meaningful because that is the point she considers a much safer window for the kids in terms of development and viability.

That means Bella has accomplished exactly what Katie had been hoping for during the previous several pregnancy updates:

She kept those babies cooking.

But now that the big milestone is almost here, Katie is noticing several changes that suggest the waiting game may soon transition into a much more serious kid watch.

Bella Has Almost Made It to 140 Days

For the past several days, Katie’s updates have carried the same underlying message.

Not yet, Bella.

Just a little longer.

At 136 and 137 days, Katie was clearly hoping Bella would avoid an early delivery.

Now, with 140 days almost here, that concern has begun to shift.

Katie still isn’t saying Bella needs to deliver immediately.

In fact, she noted that 145 to 150 days is more in line with the normal due-date window she expects.

But simply reaching 140 days means Katie feels substantially better about where the pregnancy stands.

After watching Bella grow increasingly uncomfortable and dramatically larger, the fact that she successfully carried the pregnancy this far came as a relief.

Katie said plainly that she feels “a whole lot better that she’s waited this long.”

At Least Two Babies Are Confirmed

The biggest remaining mystery is still the number of kids Bella is actually carrying.

Katie knows there are multiples.

She said the previous examination showed at least two babies.

That is the confirmed minimum.

But Katie has repeatedly questioned whether twins can possibly explain the size of Bella’s enormous belly.

That suspicion remained strong in this latest update.

Katie again said she believes there may be more than two kids inside.

Until Bella actually delivers, however, the exact number remains unknown.

Twins are confirmed as the minimum.

Anything beyond that remains Katie’s prediction.

And considering how wide Bella has become, Katie clearly thinks kidding day could contain a surprise.

Bella’s Udder Suddenly Looks Different

One of the first things Katie noticed during the new check was Bella’s udder.

Something looked different.

Katie wasn’t completely certain whether the appearance was caused partly by how Bella was standing, but she immediately noticed enough of a change to stop and inspect it more closely.

She has been documenting the udder from multiple angles every day because a dramatic increase in fullness can be one of the changes she watches for as kidding approaches.

Katie still wasn’t ready to declare that Bella’s udder had fully “popped.”

But she acknowledged that it looked different.

And at this stage of the pregnancy, even subtle differences become interesting.

Katie has a visual record from previous days, which allows her to compare how Bella looks as the pregnancy progresses rather than relying purely on memory.

By the end of the check, she still felt there could be more udder development ahead based on Bella’s previous pregnancies.

That is one reason she isn’t declaring labor imminent yet.

But the change was noticeable enough to make the countdown feel even more real.

The Tail Tendons Have Changed Too

Katie then performed another one of her regular checks around Bella’s tail.

This time, the result was noticeably different.

When Katie felt for the tendons, she commented that they were “not really there.”

That stands out because earlier updates had described them as still firm.

Katie explained that she checks Bella’s tendons only about once per day after someone warned her that excessive checking might contribute to premature softening.

Whether or not that concern plays a role, Katie has deliberately kept the checks limited.

The latest result nevertheless added another piece to the changing picture.

Bella’s body does not look or feel exactly the way it did several days ago.

Blossom Is Still Bella’s Personal “Midwife”

As Bella gets closer to kidding, one of the sweetest stories surrounding the pregnancy continues.

Blossom is still staying incredibly close to her.

Katie has jokingly promoted Blossom from sister to midwife and protector.

During the newest check, Blossom was again beside Bella, rubbing against her and remaining close.

Katie said this behavior happens throughout the day.

It has become so consistent that she feels Blossom has simply “been chosen” for the job.

Their relationship is particularly interesting because Bella and Blossom are maternal sisters.

Katie explained that they share the same mother but have different fathers.

And despite living with goats for years, Katie said she has never personally witnessed this exact type of behavior from her own herd before.

Why Is Blossom Acting So Differently?

Katie has a theory about why this pregnancy may be producing such an unusual social dynamic.

Normally, she has more than one pregnant doe at a time.

Often there might be two or three.

This year is different.

Bella is the only pregnant doe.

Katie wondered whether having just one pregnant goat could be influencing the way the rest of the herd responds to her.

She also questioned whether Bella’s status within the group matters.

Bella is effectively the alpha.

Katie described her as their leader.

And normally, Bella can apparently be the one making life difficult for some of the others.

Now that she is heavily pregnant, however, the social dynamic seems to have temporarily softened.

Katie even joked with Bloom and Briar about whether they have been enjoying their break from Bella being mean to them.

From Bossy Sister to Heavily Pregnant Mama

That contrast makes Blossom’s behavior even sweeter.

Bella isn’t simply another quiet goat being comforted by a friend.

She is normally a strong personality within the herd.

Yet as her pregnancy has progressed, the other goats — especially Blossom — appear to have become unusually gentle and attentive around her.

Blossom rubs on her.

She stays nearby.

She acts almost like a guard.

And Katie says it isn’t just something she happened to capture for one video.

It happens all day long.

Whatever the goats understand about Bella’s condition, the behavior has become one of the most memorable parts of this pregnancy countdown.

Bella Is Extremely Wide

Then there is the belly.

Katie could hardly ignore it.

“Look how wide she is,” she remarked while trying to get a better look at Bella.

The doe has become enormous over the course of the pregnancy.

And that dramatic size is one of the main reasons Katie keeps returning to the possibility that there may be more babies than the two already seen.

Katie has previously talked about Bella carrying unusually deep.

Now, looking from behind, her width is equally striking.

It doesn’t prove that triplets or another larger litter is coming.

But it certainly keeps the speculation alive.

Katie Still Isn’t Calling It the Final Udder “Pop”

Despite all the changes, Katie is being careful not to declare something she can’t confirm.

She does not yet know if the udder has reached the dramatic final fullness she expects.

She looked at Bella from behind, compared her with the previous daily checks and ultimately said she wasn’t certain that this was the pop.

That caution matters.

Bella is closer.

Her body is changing.

But Katie is not claiming she is actively in labor.

She still believes there may be additional changes ahead.

At the same time, she admitted that she doesn’t think they can count on having Bella pregnant for too much longer.

The Daily Pregnancy Checks Have Paid Off

One of the interesting things about following Bella’s pregnancy this closely is being able to see the progression in small stages.

Several days ago, Katie was primarily hoping Bella would stay pregnant long enough to reach the safer window.

Then came increasing udder fullness.

Loosening around the hips and rear.

Growing discomfort.

A dramatically expanding belly.

And now her tail tendons feel noticeably different while the udder itself has taken on a new appearance.

No single change automatically answers the question of when Bella will deliver.

But together, they show why Katie believes the herd is getting increasingly close to kid watch.

Katie Can Finally Feel More Comfortable

For Katie, perhaps the most important development isn’t something visible at all.

It is simply the number on the calendar.

140 days.

Bella has almost reached it.

Katie had repeatedly asked her to make it through these last few days.

Now she has.

The more typical due date may still be farther away, but Bella has reached the stage where Katie feels much more comfortable about the babies’ development.

That means the tone of the countdown can finally change.

Instead of hoping labor doesn’t begin too soon, Katie can start preparing more seriously for when it does.

Could There Really Be More Than Two?

That question is unlikely to disappear before the babies arrive.

Katie knows the ultrasound showed multiples.

She knows at least two are present.

But based on Bella’s appearance and Katie’s previous experiences, she remains unconvinced that the final count will stop there.

She directly stated again that she thinks there are more than two inside.

If Bella delivers twins, Katie will finally have her answer.

If a third kid appears, however, her instincts will have been right all along.

Either way, the mystery is approaching its conclusion.

Kid Watch Is Getting Real

Katie ended the update with perhaps the clearest description yet of where things stand.

They are “for sure getting closer to kid watch.” 01.txtTXT

That doesn’t mean Bella is confirmed to be going into labor tonight.

It doesn’t mean the babies will necessarily arrive tomorrow.

But the countdown has entered a different stage.

Bella has almost reached 140 days.

The tail tendons are changing.

The udder looks different.

Her body is extremely wide.

Blossom remains glued to her side.

And Katie herself no longer believes they necessarily have much longer to wait.

Bella Has Done Exactly What Katie Asked

For several days, Katie’s request was simple.

Wait.

Keep the babies inside.

Let them develop.

Get to Monday.

Bella appears to have done exactly that.

And now Katie can shift from worrying about premature kids to watching for the natural conclusion of the pregnancy.

There may still be days left.

There may be twins.

There may be more.

And Katie still has no definitive answer about exactly when labor will begin.

But after watching Bella every day, one thing is becoming increasingly difficult to deny:

The babies are getting close.

Blossom is still standing guard.

Katie is watching every change.

And Bella’s long-awaited 140-day milestone has finally arrived.

Now the real kid watch can begin. 🐐❤️