The most important thing she needs is something to make a nest with when the time comes. If out on pasture that can be some long grass that she will tear up or if in a pen then make sure you provide straw or hay. Normally 12-24 hrs prior to farrowing she will be very busy making her nest - or at least she should be!
Depending on the temperatures when farrowing you may want to provide a heat lamp for the piglets if she is in a pen. Pastured pigs will often head off to the woods etc to farrow.
Her teats should/will fill up & sometimes they can look enormous for a couple weeks before delivery but normally do not harden until a couple days before delivery.
By now she should be looking round. I have 2 out there that are due mid to late January & they are definitely looking pregnant but no filling up of teats yet.
You should be able to be there when she farrows if you want to be but just sit quietly & be patient. Sometimes they can go a long time between births. Don't panic! Remember also that a pig has 2 horns & will always deliver one horn & an afterbirth followed by the other horn & another afterbirth. There can be a long gap between the 2 horns. When the piglets come out they will still be attached so do not pull. Allow them to slide out by themselves - you can clear the sac from their mouths/noses etc if necessary but do not pull them until the umbilical has broken naturally. They will be struggling to get up & will do so on their own. If you are not there, don't worry - your gilt will probably do fine by herself.
She will not be that interested in the piglets until she has finished farrowing so it may appear that she is ignoring them but she is busy. She should allow the piglets to drink & that will actually aid her labor. Once she has finished she will want a long drink of water. If you leave the afterbrith there she will probably eat it or if that grosses you out then pick it up. We will sometimes dispose of ours for predator reasons PLUS sometimes they get all covered in straw/mud etc so the sow does not eat them.
Most of all, relax, take a deep breath & enjoy those new little squealers when they arrive.
Liz
