Another beginners question from me; my bitch has had some stringy, clear discharge when she pees today. I'm hoping this is not imminent of labour as she's due on Friday! From what I understand, it happens a few days before the birth? Should I be expecting them on Wednesday? It's a large litter if that makes any difference, and a maiden bitch.

The plug seems to come away at varying times near the end of the pregnancy. Being a large litter she may be having difficulty keeping them all in, I would be keeping a close eye on her from now on.

Has she changed shape, do the pups seem to have moved towards the "exit"?

They're a little less active now, but still kicking. She's not started panting or digging at all; but I know bitches vary so she may not do this much.
I'll definately be keeping a close eye! I'm following her everywhere she goes, just in case.

She's ever so slightly wider, so perhaps they're starting to shift it; so far they're still up in the ribs still. I wish I could post a picture, she's ever so large now, but comfortable. Drinking more and eating more, too.

>I'm hoping this is not imminent of labour as she's due on Friday!

Try not to worry, even if she isn't due for a week.  Pups are perfectly viable, and I have had several bitches give birth at 8 weeks.  Normal whelpings, and no problems with the pups.

Pups usually quieten down as they move down , lull before the storm.Some maidens will go 4 days early . her temperature may drop a few degrees in preparation (but not all bitches do ) just like not all nest , pant or scratch.

I had one bitch last summer that didn't do any of the 'normal' whelping behaviour, she slept soundly all night, got out of the whelping box was sick, her waters went as she was being sick and first pup arrived 2 minutes later.  She had all 6 in just under 3 hours.   I was ready and watching, but just really shocked at how quickly and no obvious signs that they were on their way.

Blooming heck Sharon, I would have panicked!

Thanks Jean, I must admit the fact that your girls usually go early has been a source of comfort for me, I think she's going to go on Wednesday and would like her to wait until then!

My old cocker did this too, Sharon.  I didn't have a clue she was in labour and she just sat down and had her first pup on the kitchen floor in the middle of breakfast on a school morning.  Bedlam!!!  She then continued to beg for food!!lol.

My friends medium sized bitch, when pregnant with an average sized litter, began loosing mucus about a week before too.  Still whelped on the correct date but I remember my friend having to take a flannel out walks to wipe the mucus after a wee.  yuck!  The things we do!

I've been doing that, yep! Wiping her up after; luckily she's a clipped breed so I've already taken down her trousers and lady bits. Yesterday she had her last belly clip, 10 in reverse, all over her belly! Naked now!

Right, will put the kettle on as I've clearly got ages to wait.

I've just taken her temp, yesterday it was 36.6, just taken it now and she's at 35.7; eep!

>she's at 35.7; eep!

Deep breaths, deep breaths!  :-)  :-)  :-)

Is that possibly a sign though? I mean...I don't want to think she's going just by that, what if it pops up again?

*toddles off to get on the hot tin roof*

You need to look at the pattern that the temperature makes - take it 3 times a day during the last week.  An individual reading will tell you nothing.

It has indeed popped up again to 36.9, so will have to start writing them down to create the pattern. Thanks WC. xx

Any progress today?

So far she's digging a little before settling down, which is odd because she doesn't normally do that. Other than that, not much; ate a little this morning and has been conked out all day other than that. Pups have been kicking a bit less, and moving downwards so she's getting a waist again somehow. Sigh, we wait!

Thanks for the update.

The digging and pacing can go on for a few days,I was aware of short contractions, I took my girl to the vet with my first litter,her second because I was worried and was told that all was well[ she said most breeders miss this stage because they are not watching the bitch so closely]she went into proper labour the next morning at 8am and had first pup at 23.40hrs., several phone calls to the vet and my mentors in between.

Is she contracting at all, the real labour ones are stronger and last longer than the contractions I had been feeling early on which was the pups moving into place.

So far I haven't noticed any, and she's fairly comfortable, but it's entirely possible I've missed them! She just looks so skinny, her spine can be felt fairly easily and so can her hips, she hasn't eaten well all through this pregnancy, but now she looks even worse where the pups are moving down!

She hasn't really paced much either; I can't tell if she's pacing or waiting to be let up onto a lap in the evenings. She settles once she's up on someone's lap or asleep in her whelping pool.

Thank you so much for your advice and help; I'd be lost without this forum!

The pups are like parasites,they take all the nourishment they need at the expense of the dam.

Of all the whelping videos I have watched none of the bitches made the noise that mine does when pushing a pup out,sure they could hear it the other side of the country, it sounds like a seal,no way she could whelp without me knowing about it.

I have read so many stories of pups being born over night in the room where the owner was asleep and on some occasions actually in the bed with their sleeping owner who has woken up to the pups all having a good feed and Mum looking very pleased with herself.

Oh lord, don't say that, lol! I hope that doesn't happen! Tomorrow is day 60; should I stay up with her tonight just in case? I don't want to miss it! Watching her like a hawk now for any signs of nesting or panting.

I'm glad it's normal that she's so skinny, she's getting steak tonight for tea, lucky minx.

I have no idea how much noise she's going to make; she's always whinging at me, she's quite vocal in that aspect, whinnying and such, but doesn't bark terribly and the first time I've heard her howl was in this pregnancy! Perhaps she'll do it again, I hope not at 3am! ;)

>should I stay up with her tonight just in case?

A big 100% yes from me.  If she went into labour with you asleep, and if she got into difficulties and needed a vet, you would never forgive yourself.

Too true; right, guess I can dip into those fruit pastels sooner than I thought! Thanks lovely. xx

I agree that you need to be close by,I take mine to bed[covered with shower curtain and a piece of vet bed] so if they moved I was aware and check if anything was happening or they were just changing position,otherwise I slept in the bed in the whelping room and had to get out of bed to go and look at her if she wasn't visable,I never go into a deep sleep,it's like when you have a baby,one eye and ear is open to any changes.

Keep calm or your anxiety will be passed to the dog and may lead to her delaying her labour if she doesn't feel contented and safe.

I've been sleeping like that with her recently, jumping when she jumps, etc! But I don't trust myself, so will be napping on the sofa tonight whilst my OH snores on.