Well Bobo gave birth to 4 beautiful babies yesterday. She started stage one in middle of Saturday night/Sunday morning. Monday morning at 405 first of 4 arrived, mum was a bit shocked as to what it was so I had to help break sac and cut cord,but once she realised she was amazing and dealt with cleaning and the other three herself. Last one took a little bit more pushing than others he is a chunk. Took a while for her to allow feeding but constantly cleaning. Since then she just will not sleep she’s exhausted, it’s almost 24 hrs since the first was born and apart from a couple minutes dozing she’s forcing herself to stay awake. She won’t lay down to feed which means she’s drifting off sat up. I’ve tried to gently make her lay down but as soon as they feed she’s up again.

She’s being a great mum making them toilet cleaning them checking them at every moment and squeak, but she needs to sleep (so do I ) I’m watching her like a hawk as she’s sitting on them etc. How and what can I do to help her ? Iveeve shown her that I will help them toilet etc. The fall asleep and she wakes them straight up again. First litter so no idea what is normal and what to do??

Others far more knowledgeable than me will be along but my first thought is does she have the pups somewhere she feels comfortable and safe? A nice quiet den with only you nearby, no other dogs?

Thank you for replying. Yes I have a big section with playpen/room divider all around, the whelping box in there,a cover so no one can see in apart from front (that’s only whelping box area.
We’ve kept our other dog totally away and when we take her out to toilet we use the patio door from the room she is in and only take her when our other dog inside.
The cat we have locked in another room. So she has no threat from that. We are keeping children out. My eldest (15£ helped me last night on constant watch last night for about grew hrs whilst I slept (dozed) in the same room but just so I could try to ge a bit of sleep. I even rang in sick I’m school for her so she could help me today so I could catch up. Husband is away with work (brilliant timing..but he was here for birth) she is fine with myself and 15 yr old picking them up when they get stuck or wriggle away or trapped under her.
She is totally exhausted m. I’ve just our small dog cage in right next to box so she is next to them and can see them, but leave them in peace and she has actually fell asleep, how long for I don’t know?
I just don’t understand why she won’t lay to feed as they struggle to feed with her sat up.

You really should not separate the pups from Mum, (unless you must really leave the room to go to the loo, and then it is better to let her out of the room for toilet herself while you go) as you need her to bond with them, and for the first three days they should basically be feeding almost constantly, to bring the milk supply in.

She needs to learn that they are her responsibility, your job is to watch her and plug pups on, rescue them if she is clumsy. You should encourage her onto her side and preferably get her to lay on the other side when you have taken her out on lead to toilet.  Let her run back into pups.

Many bitches can be conflicted between their maternal instincts and their attachment to you and her normal routine, so make it easy for her.  Feed her in the whelping box, stay by her so she c an concentrate on pups.

Weigh pups twice a day for first week, to ensure they are gaining.

It is normal if pups are big to have4 a loss the first day, regain the next and from then on put weight on.

Lack of sleep for us is par for the course if you want all or most of the pups to survive and thrive.

> <br />Many bitches can be conflicted between their maternal instincts and their attachment to you and her normal routine, so make it easy for her.  Feed her in the whelping box, stay by her so she c an concentrate on pups.<br />

This is where I went as I read this question.   It's true - not all bitches find it easy to switch off being a pet, to become a mum, but it does eventually happen.   I'm afraid you'll need to confine her, gently talking to her, so her puppies can nurse - it's vital they take her first milk (colostrum) to give them the natural immunity they need for the first few weeks of life.  Get somebody she knows and trusts to talk to her, stroke her head, while, with her on her side, you latch first one puppy and then the next, on.

Just a warning - when a bitch is restless after you think they are empty, there is a possibility she has either retained birthing material, or even another puppy, probably no longer alive now.   It all needs to come out so it may be a good idea to take her, with her puppies, to your vet for a shot to make sure everything has come away, and at the same time to have the puppies checked for problems you might have missed.   After that, you should be good to go and for me, with mine, the first 3 weeks where when I topped up my sleep and did other things (like look after the others I had!) before the work really begins (weaning!).  There's no doubt you will lose sleep, never mind her!