I didn't look at the nipples again, but WOOOOOOO, we had definite opaque/white-ish discharge (non-smelly) today - Day 21

This time, definite and hanging down a bit and not the same tiny weeny bit as previously.

so very pleased for you hun x

Good luck for your scan - 2 days to go....

gsdowner, any news on your scan??

I am imagining that you are either celebrating or drowning your sorrows...   Which one?!  The suspense....

Not  read all the replys but canine pregnacy is typically 65 days from LH surge. / 63 from day ovulation From you blood result at point when you set off you were close to LH surge so would count 65 days from that date and be ready +/- one day.

Thanks!

errmmmmm....................

WE'RE PREGNANT!

She took from 2nd mating so we are 26 days in. As long as she doesn't absorb in the next couple of weeks, we are due around the 19th of June :)

Looks like all that crossing of everything worked! Sorry for not posting sooner but I had puppy class tonight.

Brilliant news! Congratulations!

Thank you for the upvotes and kind wishes everyone :)

Hi just after a little advice my small breed bitch is 43 days pregnant and her nipples are so big they look like they have golfballs inside. . She has been scanned for 6 puppies but have never seen any so big before. Anyone else had this??

WOOOO congrats gsdowner

Fantastic news! Onwards and upwards.  I'll still keep everything crossed for safe arrival of puppies.x

Lisamj, are they hot when you touch them or really hard, are they all the same or just some of them? Not my breed and not heard of this but maybe normal for her or maybe the beginnings of an infection. Perhaps you could call your vet for advice over the phone?

They are a little warm to the touch and it's only the bottom 4 that are like this. I have another girl expecting a week behind and hers are nothing like this?

It is most likely normal mammary development but if you are concerned, speak with your vet who is the best person to reassure you :)

Thanks for your advice. Will do. Better safe

That's good to know about the nipples, Nimue!  I will try not to look at them again until Day 28, so I can really appreciate if they've changed!

When I was new to breeding I would take photos at time of mating so I had something to compare with. I wouldn't say all teats go PINK though -depends on the colour they were to start with. But they do increase in size. It will be most obvious in a maiden bitch, of course.

It's hard to tell at the moment - my 2 older girls are spayed, and theirs are just tiny little dots (even though they weren't spayed till 6yo!).  By comparison with them, my girl's are ginormous.  But then just having hormones at all, makes them bigger even before mating.  I do think they might be getting bigger though because I've noticed her fur doesn't lie flat over them anymore, it is pushed out into little peaks over them and I don't remember that, before... (she is short-coated).  Ah well, time will tell - Day 24 now :)

Well, Day 27 now and I can't say her nipples have exploded into obviousness.... They are kinda pointy/erect-ish(!), they spring back up when you stroke her(!).  But I'm not throwing a party with my definite certainty, here. 

I only saw discharge that once, on Day 21, and not since.  But I've seen her licking herself down there quite a bit more than usual, so maybe she is cleaning it.

I have in my notes that I should see 'definite enlargement' by 5.5 weeks.  Which is a week on Friday.  Is it really all going to happen that quickly and become obvious so fast? 

Well, Day 27 now and I can't say her nipples have exploded into obviousness....

After great research and thorough preparation, you recently made your own experience with the mating.  And you will now continue to do so with the pregnancy.  There is such a great difference between theory and practice.  Experience is everything.  Next time you breed you will compare the two pregnancies and learn even more!  Enjoy!

That assumes that she's pregnant this time

That assumes that she's pregnant this time

Yes, I suppose so.  Let's hope she is!  But the point is, that although you may have read many books and asked many questions, your OWN experience will be where you truly learn.  I said, for instance, that the nipples change unmistakably at 28 days.  But that is MY experience.  Maybe yours will show you that what I said is not the case for you!  And many of those things which one found so totally convincing in the books one read will perhaps be put into a new perspective after one has been through several experiences in breeding litters of puppies.  One's opinions might even change quite a lot on various issues.

I only saw discharge that once, on Day 21, and not since.  But I've seen her licking herself down there quite a bit more than usual, so maybe she is cleaning it.

I forgot to comment on this.  My females do not have ANY discharge at all until about the last week or so of the pregnancy when a clear, sticky substance comes out.  However, I have read about and heard often enough about a sort of "plug" (don't know the official term) which, if you are lucky enough to notice it when it falls out at around 3 weeks into pregnancy, is a DEFINITIVE sign of pregnancy.  Maybe that is what you saw!  If so, then your female is pregnant for sure.  In all my years of breeding, I have found it only once!  But my breed is small and has a lot of coat!

I've not heard of a plug anywhere, but I have read about an opaque discharge starting around week 3 (some books say week 4) and continuing throughout. 

I now think the discharge has been continuing but she's been cleaning it, because I've twice found dried flaky discharge on her bedding in the morning.  So this is a good sign!

Yes, I'm sure experience differs - I also think breed specific experience differs a lot too, and it's extra-useful to hear from people with the same breed.  Which is one of the reasons it's a shame we can't mention our breeds.

I HAVE heard of a plug, but in German, not English.  In German it is called a Pfropfen.  I just found this on the internet, in German, since I could look up Pfropfen and don't really know the term for it in English.  It says:

Ab dem 21. Tag sondern viele Hündinnen zähflüssigen, klaren Schleim ab. Das ist das eindeutigste Zeichen, daß der Deckakt geklappt hat.

Which translates to:  From the 21st day many females lose a clear, thick discharge.  (It doesn't mention a "plug".).  This is the the most distinctive sign that the mating was successful.

I beleive you wrote exactly this to the forum!  So I do think you have plenty of reason to assume that your girl is with child.

Get a scan and find out one way or the other

She's not getting a scan klb.

Which is a shame because the suspense is KILLING US rabid!

Yes, I'm kinda hopeful at the moment.

We've had the discharge from day 21, her nipples are getting pointy and her tummy - although visually not much different, feels tight & firm when you cup it.

So I'm feeling hopeful!!