Oh the torment! Fourth sofa surf tonight.  Mild contractions this morning and hardly left her side all day. Day 65 after second mating but I'm pretty sure first one was a good few days prior to ovulation so I'm not concerned and all signs look good.  Definitely not a singleton and plenty of movement.  Whelped with ease first time.  Same sire so not expecting huge pups.  But the torment is kicking in for me now.  I just want that oxytocin to ramp up into the evening.  Calm house, lights low, nipple twiddling ( I'm a human midwife so I understand the physiology!) eaten tea fine. Fingers crossed and palms together.

Hi, have the pups arrived?

Yes, please let us know if all is going ok, and the whelping went well x

There's nothing worse than people not having the courtesy to come back and update us.

be fair probably has whelped and now in new puppy chaos!  may well be more pressing things to deal with right now

That's what I was thinking. I'm sure she will update when she has some time to herself

Ok.  Firstly apologies for the lack of response.  With the waiting and getting steadily more twitched I forgot I'd posted.   No she hasn't whelped yet

I have a huge long update but for some reason it won't post?

Keep trying or contact admin . We would love to hear and perhaps help

Ok.  Firstly apologies for the lack of response.  With the waiting and getting steadily more twitched I forgot I'd posted.   No she hasn't whelped yet

I'll try again very briefly.  Not whelped yet.  Seen vet twice.  Did not progesterone test.  At the very outside 70 days today.  All appears fine.  Discussed synto. Vet not keen but will if really wanted.  Cervix favourable but unchanged since last thurs.  Section either tomorrow or Wednesday   pups moving fine.  There are favourable changes just nothing definite.  Any natural suggestions welcome.

I would take her for slow walks around the block at her own pace. Keep her active. Car rides. All this can help bring labour on.

What is "synto"?

Sorry.  Synto = syntocinon = synthetic oxytocin.  Human midwife speak slipping in there.  I have calcium at the ready.

You can't give oxytocin until the cervix is fully dilated in dogs. Even then, all the placentas will detach at once and you'd better hope the pups all get out in time or they will suffocate if they don't come out soon enough after it.

A c-section is preferable if labour hasn't started and you want to do something.

Frankly I would always assume that unless it's a tiny litter with just one or two pups, labour will start...

Thank u for explaining why us shouldn't  use oxytocin too early . I had wondered what happens but never got round to asking

Sadly you can't "induce" dog births like you can humans. So if you need to get pups out, it has to be a c-section. But done at the right time because if you do it too early (even by a few days) their lungs may not be developed enough for them to survive... a few days of dog pregnancy is like weeks or months for humans.

Makes sense

Established and pushing at home.  I just want this first one out soon please.

Beautiful golden boy just out.   So far so good

Phew, what a relief.

It was a relief.  Then we all decided on a nap while mum had a reprieve.  Sge had a quick snack and now nothing since.  I sure it's not a singleton so I'm hoping it's just a waiting game.  Though she was knackered and it was a breech first pup hence the slow start.

Sounds like you're in a whelping pause. Pup nursing should help to stimulate more contractions... Hopefully the rest are on the way. They can all come incredibly fast sometimes.

> if you do it too early (even by a few days) their lungs may not be developed enough for them to survive..

I have a breed that whelps on day 56.  Lungs are fully developed and pups are perfectly normal.

Well that's gotta be pretty breed-specific, but probably you don't have the same breed Huga has...

Any updates?

Yep.  After waiting and assuming a long whelping pause a scan this afternoon has confirmed a singleton.  I'm gobsmacked.  But relieved.  Unless theres one hiding way up out of view she's done.  She is fine, pup is fine and that's really all that matters.  And no we are not keeping him.  A friend always had the pick of the litter and he will be going there so not to a stranger.  Her behaviour post whelp was so so similar to the stop start pre whelp I was very twitched and insistent I wanted any remaining pups out by hook or by crook.  Empty uterus and I definitely saw placenta so all seems well.  Must have been a very late ovulation.

I think I'd have gone for x-ray to confirm empty, or not.  JMO

MamaBas I see your point but I'm happy now.  She's settled, eating and drinking, toileting as normal and being a good mum.  She did try and leave pup once last night and I woke to find her curled with me.  Promptly got her back in the box and fine since.  Vets did say she had a huge bladder but I'm happy she's emptying ok.  She's incredibly bonded with me so I'm aware she may get disinterested sooner than normal and start leaving him.  I'm going to get some lactol just in case and if that happens he'll just get tons of human cuddles.  I'm not worried about socialisation.  I have two dogs, two cats and a few humans.  He'll never be left alone for long.  Hey ho. On the plus side less mess and chaos.  And the other dog is making the most of my available knee space much to the chagrin of my elder daughter who would like to think she's hers.  Sometimes I wish people thinking breeding is easy with just lots of cute puppies would find this site and realise it certainly isn't and it's not easy money either.

Oh and 1234, I found Myra Savant Harris articles on whelping pause.  I'll be looking for her books.  It's all a learning curve and on reflecting it's so inherent to me as a human midwife (hippie madwife)  to trust in a woman's body and only do what's necessary but so easy to forget that when it comes to canine breeding and start wanting to DO rather than BE.