Morning Rene --I read your post the other day and was concerned for you -- but I refrained from posting as I didn't want to seem like a know it all or get into any undue conversations on here.
Here is what my initial reaction was --
Being a hfr -- everything is first time for them of course, the process involves alot of stretching of tissues that have never been stretched before. As they get close to calving, the cervical plug will start to dissapate -- giving the large amounts of discharge you seen her give off, along with small amounts of blood as the tissues start to dilate and loosen up. Again, a normal process.
There are at least a hundred full time cattlemen and women on this board room, my self included, and we see this all the time. Hfrs are fickle some times, they start and then they stop for a week, they start and stop and start and stop -- but when everything is ready --they WILL calve. I am always there to help a hfr if needed, meybe too much some times.
My first thought on this hfr was -- your vet was entirely over zealous -- I would have never called and had you bring her in simply with the comment there was blood in the discharge -- at least without first seeing her. Secondly, to induce a hfr simply on a piece of paper called a DUE DATE was insane. Due dates are at best a great tool to GUESS when she MAY calve, but that is about it.
If they induced her, then I trully have no idea why in heck they let her loose a calf -- that makes no sense to me. She should have -- and most likely would have -- had that 75-80 pound calf -- if not by her self then with some assistance. The induction process works --yes -- BUT -- if done at the wrong time and incorrectly -- the calf simply is not in the proper position to get out of there. My gut is telling me she was most likely still a week off from having it -- but not being there -- I can't say for sure.
I am really sorry you had to go thru that with her and still lose the baby -- uncalled for at best.
I can only hope your vets of choice now have a few stiches of thier own on thier posterior -- mine for darn sure would have had SEVERAL. hehehe
I didn't write this to further upset DL, so please don't be offended, this was not directed towards you or any of your comments.
I hope every thing goes well with her recovery and you don't have a sterile cow after it's all done!
Best of luck form here on -- Terry