Going on her 3 ties my girl is on one of these days. Today she looks sore, can't get comfy sits then moves constantly. She's been sick (bile) about 4 times now & has the runs. We aren't leaving her alone & just trying to keep her comfortable.

Does this sound like early signs? I haven't done the temp because I wasn't comfortable doing it incase I hurt or stressed her, also I've read on here it isn't 100%

Defo this is it!! Waters gone & shaking

Wishing your girl a safe delivery  of pups. Good luck

1st pup out no placenta etc though. Mum cleaned & did cord herself

Good luck! It is all worth it she sounds like a fabulous mummy xx

Hope all goes well x

How long Inbetween each pups?

Ideally no more than 1 hour in my breed.  If unsure take vets advice.  Good Luck x

That's been an hour now

What is she doing just now? Have you got the first pup on feeding - this will help contractions?

She's lying feeding having contractions occasionally.

Mine ( Gundogs think Andrex)! Very from half an hour to 3 hours between pups as the norm. Hardly ever see placentas ,they gobbles them up when the waters break for next pup usually.

Ok thank you she's sleeping

Still no puppy & occasional contraction

Don't worry

So long as she is not contracting and straining for a long time all is fine and she will whelp at her own pace.... If I get a lul I take them out for a wee around the garden but keeping puppy number 1 feeding will stimulate contractions.

Pup two arrived half in half out his bag

Not sure how many we are having vet just said at least 2

Puppy no3 born all 3 have been born either out or half out their bags. Is this normal

Yes, completely normal. They sometimes burst on way out.

Still on off contractions. How do I know when she's got another or it's just uterus contracting back down?

Axe97  CHILL!         Oh how I love telling that to someone else, so much easier than doing it myself.  LOL

Seriously, she sounds as if she is doing just fine.  As someone else has said, it is good that she is nursing as it certainly helps make things easier for mums' contractions.  I would be more concerned if she seemed distressed, so I would give her more time before getting too worried?

Good Luck and Congratulations.  It's a truly magical time.

Just seen your next question.  Her uterus isn't going back down just yet, she may have more to come.

Her contractions will, however, be ongoing for some days after whelping.

Haha...... Jean you are so right!!

Axe... You may see contractions for a while after she has finished.....I've had several push out a placenta several hours after last pup and the contractions can be quite strong for a placenta...

Sounds like everything is going very well.

Ooh how exciting, well done on the first three! Hetty went a bit under 2 hours between each of hers, and Ellie her mum was exactly 2 hours. Don't know if breed makes any difference. In both cases they seemed to settle very obviously after what turned out to be the last one, though of course I was on red alert for anything else happening for several hours after.

No 4 shot out looks under developed cake out alive but isn't showing any signs of life tried for 20 mins still am

He didn't make it

He also had a cleft pallet.

So sorry..... Sounds like there was nothing you could have done and it was for the best. It's the price we pay for a sometimes heartbreaking hobby :(

I cant believe I missed this!! Wow you and your girl did fab

Sorry about your lost pup but it wasn't meant to be. Better he came out not knowing the pain of starving from his cleft palate.

Oh dear sorry to hear that. Must admit I was relieved my lost one was clearly hopeless from the start, must be heartbreaking to struggle to save one :-(

Thanks guys

Yeah it was hopeless and when I seen his mouth I knew it was for the best. He looked abnormal too :-(

My girl has been amazing!! So proud of her. When does her milk come in? Puppies seem to be sucking & getting something but when I squeeze her teat nothing comes out?

Don't 'milk' her - the newborn puppies don't need lashings of milk and if it comes down too fast, she could run into mastitis.   The act of suckling will stimulate milk production at the rate the puppies need.   And a quiet litter is usually a content one.    Nature knows, usually, how to provide for the number of puppies - reading books before my first litter, and it turning out to be just 2 puppies, one DOA, I panicked when my bitch refused to eat!    No need - she 'knew' she only had one puppy to provide for and he had more than enough with the entire 'milk bar' to cater to his needs - I just had to rotate him so all the teats stayed kind-of drained.

If you are a novice breeder, it might be a good idea, as is best practice, to take mum and her puppies to your vet for a shot to clear out any birthing matter she may have retained - and he can check the litter for abnormalities you might have missed.    If you don't want to take her into your vet's office (stress and risk of infection) perhaps he'd call and give her a shot at home.

Sorry to hear about your pup.

Thanks for your great advice & help I appreciate it. Going to go to vets tomorrow. From what I saw she got all placentas out. Will be good to get them all checked x

Yes I took Hetty because I wasn't sure if there had been a placenta with the dead one. She's had remarkably little discharge though, much tidier than her mother was. Have to say this litter is not particularly quiet - they are all strong and healthy and suckling and gaining weight very well, but when they roll away from a teat or Hetty lies down so that one of them has ended up at her back instead of her tummy, they squawk the place down until I come rescue them. :-p

Axe97 if this is your first litter I feel that I have to inform you that you have weeks of looking like a zombie from lack of sleep. Oh yes, and you will go grey, it's a sort of punishment that your bitch wishes up on you.      

This is a v exciting thread, congrats Axe97.  I just hope mine next year happens during a time when people are awake to answer my questions on here!

Making it to day 60 right now feels like a dream! Day 2 and I don't know if I'm coming or going lol!! That's my reward I guess. Love my little babies.

This is all so exciting!  I will be going through the same thing any time now, as Felicia is on day 60 (sort of...).  I'm sorry you lost a pup.  That is upsetting no matter what, but beyond our control.  That's the part of breeding I find really tough:  trying to be in control of something over which I basically have no control!  It is wonderful how the people on this forum went right through the birth with you!  Never seen anything like it!  May your puppies thrive!

Thanks it's been a haze the past couple of days. Much like when I brought my newborns home from hospital.

The help & advice from all during our labour was priceless & meant the world.

Good luck with your girl so exciting!! My girl did no restlessness, no panting literally just wasn't right from about 10am not eating. Was throwing up & having the runs at 4 her waters went & about 10 mins later the 1st pup arrived
I barely had time to set my whelping kit out. Couldn't believe it. Went against everything I've read & watched of a typical labour! My little superstar momma

I barely had time to set my whelping kit out. Couldn't believe it. Went against everything I've read & watched of a typical labour! My little superstar momma

If there is one rule which always holds true, it is:  Every birth is different!!!  You've never experienced it all! 

Great outcome Axe....pleased for you .....and you can be proud that you've done it all by yourself... Well done!

Aw thanks tooolz that's really nice.

Had them at vets today wanted to get my girl checked as she's been on/off panting since birth. Like she's too hot panting.. Vet says all looks fab & pups doing great.

Said the panting is down to most likely her breed, room temp & post whelping. Is this common? Post whelp?

Most bitches pant after whelping. Their system is working flat out now making milk, getting their uterus back to normal and coping with the extra heat you're giving the pups.
Make sure any heat source isn't making her uncomfortable.

Yes, mine pant like trains for the best part of the 3 weeks they are nursing.... Totally normal :)

Phew!! Thanks guys

What's the normal discharge after whelping?

Panting is totally normal. Discharge is usually brownish, mucousy and bloody, not unlike what a human would experience towards the end of their menstrual cycle (sorry to those of you with a sensitive disposition ) some bitches have a greenish discharge for some time after but this isn't something I've seen in my bitches.

Oh perfect thank you!

You've described it to a tee!

Thanks everyone

I also had one bitch that panted a LOT for 3 weeks.  Although I admit it was a very hot summer.  I even got an air con machine for her room.  Don't even have any for myself.  It's true that the huge amount of work going into lactation alone will cause panting.

Morning guys

Me again...

Had a strange night with my girl. She's still panting on/off which I'm not too worried about after reading the replies on here. She occasionally digs my cushions in my living room and runs up to my bedroom to dig then runs back to the box.. I'm hoping this is either after pains she's confusing with labour (from what I've read) or just instincts. Also her pup that died, could she be looking for him?

My littlest baby 158g @ birth now up to 195g this morning spent time on & off crying when I tried to attach her she wasn't keen. My girl was crying & becoming very stressed. It was not nice.

This morning she's better (the pup) not so much crying only a few squels & I've got her to feed a few times. I'm so worried about her

Any ideas? Or is this just normal.

The digging is probably just after pains as you say. I'm not sure about the crying pup though - it might just be that she's impatient because she's having trouble latching on perhaps? Your vet checked for cleft palates etc didn't he, so hopefully it isn't anything major wrong with her. Hopefully someone more experienced than me will be on soon. Keep weighing her, twice a day if you like, and as long as she's lively and gaining she's probably ok.

Pup has gained 40g, over 25% increase, seems pretty good to me, in how long?

I see your on day 4, with my own often a loss when weighed next day, then the day after regained or slight increase, then increase from then on. 

The bigger the pups at birth the bigger the drop and slower to regain.

This is their weight chart. Does it look ok?

Puppy weights

Pup No1
Birth 159g

Day 1 158g

Day 2
174g am
191g pm

Day 3
196g am
201g
213g pm

Day 4
230g am

Pup No 2
Birth 210g

Day 1 200g

Day 2
214g am
227g pm

Day 3
250g am
262g pm

Day 4
280g am

Pup No3
Birth 224g

Day 1 220g
224

Day 2
232g am
245g pm

Day 3
260g am
263g
285g pm

Day 4
300g am

Pup No4
Birth 131g
Then passed away.

Yes all vet checked & no pallets on cleft these 3