after a confirmed pregnancy did you fret and get into a panic it was all going to go awfully wrong? or is it just me?

I did this time, but that was because my bitch's litter sister lost her pups a few weeks earlier. My breed doesn't usually have problems but I was SO worried. In the end all went well. :)

aww thats so sad :(, im glad it all went well for you in the end :)

Pretty much every time I had a bitch in whelp.   And towards the end I'd look at them waddling around, huffing and puffing and ask myself why have I done this (to you).   I'd suggest there would be few people, who cared for their animals, who didn't worry.

Just put everything in place, and try to keep calm!!

yes thats how i feel, asking myself why have i done this to her. everything is in order which makes me feel more at ease

Every time but even more so since I lost an entire litter. Scanned for a big litter at 6 weeks - delivered 3 dead puppies. Stuff of nightmares.

Oh yes both times! My current breeding hope isn't even in season yet and I'm already quietly panicking! :-p

My bitch has ten days to go and it is all I can think about.  You feel such a responsibility, rightly so, it is our doing that they are in this situation.

I have bred a few horses over the years, and it was extremely stressful, they carry their foals for eleven months and are not particularly adept at giving birth!

I will relax (a bit) when hopefully puppies and mum are safe and well, and have got through the first two weeks.

>   And towards the end I'd look at them waddling around, huffing and puffing and ask myself why have I done this (to you).

Yup!  I recognise that feeling!

Think you always worry till the bitch has safely delivered, then you worry till they get through the first two weeks, then when they go to their new homes. You never stop really.
But that is only how it should be, just take a deep breath, make sure you have everything ready and have someone with you to help at the whelping.

I'm not a breeder myself, but I'd been waiting two years for a puppy from a bitch I was in love with! She was due on Valentine's day...the due date came and went. Her breeder took her to the vet and after three examinations by three different vets, the puppies were all confirmed dead inside her :( Very sad news. They are going to autopsy the pups to determine what might have happened. But it's unlikely they will breed from this bitch again now.