Your Birth Alarm is sounding the alarm.
What do you do now?
Do you need to go to stable immediately? Has birth started? When should you intervene?
This article tells you what to do and when to take action.
Why is your Birth Alarm going off?
Birth Alarm responds to full side-lying of the mare during labor contractions – the moment when birth begins.
This is based on natural behavior of the mare.
👉 A notification means: always check immediately
Why responding quickly is important
Once the contraction (expulsive) begins, the foal is often born within 15-30 minutes.
👉 You must therefore:
- be on time
- intervene only when necessary
Step 1 – Go look immediately
✔ Go directly to stable or pasture
✔ Take your phone (and a flashlight, if necessary) with you
✔ Stay calm – you are on time
💡 Tip: combine Birth Alarm with a camera
Not every breeder has the barn right next to the house – and going outside several times a night is not always practical.
Many breeders therefore choose to combine Birth Alarm with a camera in the barn.
👉 This way you can first briefly see what happens:
- Is the mare lying quietly?
- Is she restless or pushing?
Based on this, you can immediately assess how urgent the situation is.
Please note that a camera is a tool, not a replacement.
👉 When in doubt, always go see for yourself.
Step 2 – First, see what happens
Notice:
- Is the mare lying on her side?
- Is she pushing?
- Is she restless (rolling, sweating, running)?
Possible situations:
- Birth started
→ Stay present and follow the process - Restlessness, but no birth yet
→ Stay close - Mare no longer lies
→ Possible early stage or no birth yet
What happens during a normal birth?
A birth occurs in three stages:
- Discharge – restlessness, walking, sweating
- Contraction (expulsive) (± 15-30 min) – mare lies on side, foal is born
- Afterbirth – usually within 1 hour, at the latest within ± 3 hours
Birth often starts after the water bladder is broken.
👉 Birth Alarm alarms at stage 2.
What is a normal foal position?
- two front legs first
- with the head in between
👉 Don’t see this? Call your veterinarian immediately.
When should you call the veterinarian right away?
Call directly at:
- no progress after 15-20 minutes of pressing
- no two front legs + head visible
- only one leg visible
- extreme agitation or exhaustion
👉 Having doubts? Always call.
Step 3 – Remain calmly present
✔ Keep your distance, but stay alert
✔ Provide tranquility in the environment
✔ Observe well
Your role: be on time and intervene when necessary
Step 4 – What if it’s not yet birth?
Sometimes Birth Alarm goes off without the birth starting immediately.
This can be done by:
- deep sleep
- Lying down without contraction (expulsive)
- early stages of birth
👉 This is often not an error, but an early phase.
✔ Always check
✔ Never assume it “will be nothing”
Are you getting more frequent unwanted notifications right before birth?
Then you can optimize this:
- use sleep mode
- with Premium or Premium Plus you can personalize the detection angle
👉 See how sleep mode works:
https://birthalarm.com/hoe-werkt-het
👉 Need help with settings?
Contact your resellers or Birth Alarm support – we would be happy to help you set this up safely and properly.
Step 5 – Check the mounting.
Is there no birth yet?
Check:
- Is the transmitter stable?
- Is the anti-roll girth or holder properly attached?
- Cannot shift the transmitter?
After birth: what do you pay attention to?
- foal lies upright within minutes
- usually stands and runs within 2 hours
- drinks within 2 hours (colostrum is essential)
- First manure (intestinal specimen) within 6-12 hours
👉 Is this not happening? Contact your veterinarian.
How do you receive a notification?
Depending on your model:
- 📞 phone (Lite, Premium, Mobile)
- 📱 app (Premium Plus App)
- 📡 receiver (Classic)
👉 Always the same principle: notification = checking
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always have to go look immediately?
Yes.
How fast does a birth go?
Usually within 15-30 minutes.
Can Birth Alarm go off too early?
The system responds to side-lying. This can sometimes occur outside of birth.
Tranquility begins with clarity
The moment your Birth Alarm goes off, you don’t want to hesitate – you want to know what to do.
Birth Alarm helps you be on time.
These steps will help you act with confidence.
Need help?
In doubt about your Birth Alarm or the situation?
Contact your resellers or our support – we are happy to help.