The digging started last night and continued until 4am when we seemed to step up a notch.  By 8am she was sleeping at then at 11am she dug half way to Australia!  I have seen the "plug" and can see visible contractions about every 5 mins.  I know I am impatient but this seems to be taking forever!

I have just phoned the vets and the confirmed she is fine and to let her continue for as long as she isn't distressed. They are calling me back later to check she is progressing.   No straining yet and typical her, she is still accepting nibbles (chicken, sardine, etc) but little offerings.  She has been out for a wee and poo and had a drink.  She is panting like an unfit England Midfielder but otherwise seems OK.  The look in her eyes is saying "what the heck is happening!"

The wait is endless .....

Hi JJ :-) it's  good she has started now when it is a bit cooler, going to get hot again next week
Sit with your feet up and have a cup of tea (or a stiff gin) you are in for a looooong night :-P no-no-forget the gin in case its a quick dash to the vets!!!!

..I wonder what is the strangest place anyone has delivered a puppy  :-) Some years ago I was on the way to the vets in a car with a Ch. Cocker bitch who had a puppy stuck (very large head), as the town clock struck  1am the puppys head emerged, it had decided to come after all so we pulled over under a street light, (it was probably the jolting of the old car) and out came the puppy. A police car drew up to see what on earth we were doing ..then the car would not start again and the policeman very kindly helped by driving us the few hundred yards to the vets :-) Glad to say Mother (Carrie) and pups were all fine.

Well I had a Cavalier bitch a few years ago who had half her litter normally, and then went into inertia!  So trip to vets, and on the way back had to deliver 1 pup 1 handed while neogtiaitng a round about,  and a second one whilst stopped at a traffic lights!

Mabel's litter arrived in text book form yesterday morning.  She refused breakfast, and spent the day mooching and doing a little digging.  At midnight heavy panting started, first contraction at 2 am, first puppy 4.40, next at 5.20 and the thrid and final one at 6.20.   All girls :).  She is being a good Mum (for the breed, that is ;) )  and is happy to be put in the whelping box to feed.  Has not yet considered cleaning, so I am doing the damp cotton wool bit, together with copious amounts of baby wipes too.  This afternoon she has popped in and inspected the pups a couple of times, without any prompting from me.  Junior (my Am. cocker boy) is dying to be allowed to take over the washing chores (he is a super Nanny) but I want to give it a little longer to see if I can persuade Mabel that it is her job!

Good luck to everyone still waiting - we do seem to have quite a few on the list due this week, dont we?
byeGwen

congrats Gwen :) :) :)

Emma
x

Oh Gwen I wish things went that quickly here!  I know it's first time and I am probably over anxious but I wish she would just get on with it.

Contractions - yes, yukky plug - yes, panting - yes but nothing else to report!

The vet phoned to check on her before he shut shop for the evening and reassured me that as long as she is fine, then not to worry until we see either a pup or water.

She is still nibbling, has the occasional trot out to the garden to follow me, but is certainly uncomfortable.  Vet said it's not unusual for a maiden to take 24hrs to whelp and there are a few hours left to go until we get to 11pm which was probably the early start last night.  It's the same with humans, it depends on which contraction you count as the first.

Out comes the gin & tonic ... ...

My girls always wait until the children are in bed and it's nice and quiet and dark!!  Out of the 4 litters we've had they all delivered overnight!

Good luck
Sharon

The first one always seesm to take the longest, jackyjat!  This was Mabel's first time, but I am a seasoned campaigner as a canine midwife, however, each time is always special.  Have often had first stage last well inot the 24 hour mark, and the rest of the labour has passed perfectly normally.  But I do feel for you, the waiting seems intolerable! 

bye
Gwen

congratulations gwen.. :-D little cavs how lovely!!!..tiny little velvet ears..makes me sooooo broody!!

JJ.. I have heard years ago a person put her bitch in a wheelbarrow and trundled her over the cobblestones to bring her in labour :-D  I wouldn't try it though.

Two in quick succession with little or no effort, now you don't and now you do sort of thing!  Still more to come as I can feel them.  Isn't it difficult keeping them warm and mum cool!

Congratulations jacky :-D  ummm that was quick....have you got a wheelbarrow by any chance?????

congrats JJ, let us know when she finishes how many of each flavour :D

Emma
x

(watching with baited breath)

Congratulations to Gwen and Jackyjat :0).Has she finished yet Jacky??What breed is she??

Hi again,  well done Jackjat, lots more to come?  I do the warm /cool thing while giving birth with a heated bed - it is invaluable, got it years ago, and havent seen any since. just pop a towel in the base, then babes go in there while next one is arriving, keeps them snug and mum is completely away from the heat source.  Now I have a heat lamp on in one corner of the whelping box only, high up as only a little heat is required with the weather as it is, and lots of space in box for Mum to get away.  however, Mable being as she is, she spends most of her time on the cool floor or sofa.

Reddoor , no, not Cav pups anymore I am afraid, although they were adorable.   I have 2 other breeds now.  Bit awkward here, discussing the breeds, as admin often pops up and accuses us of advertising when we mention recently born litters,  so I am never sure how much we can say, so dont post the breed to stay on the safe side!

Bye
Gwen

Thats brilliant news Gwen :D congratulations Grandma :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Can I have photos?????
Lea :)

Waiting on JJ's litter.......anymore news??????????????????
Lea :)

Hi Lea,

  Will down load the pics tomorrow and mail them - they are just SOOOOOO cute ;)
bye
Gwen

4 so far, one little sweetie and three great thugs!  All black and white!  (Don't worry admin - all homed)

I think there might be one more but how do you know for certain?  When she gets down to business it's over in a flash and I am fascinated by the way she moves the others out of the way before standing up to produce!

My back aches from leaning over the box!

Aaaaawwwwww Jackyjat cant wait to see pics of your new family,and Gwen i would love to see pics of yours too,especially if they are the breed i think they are.

Is anyone up yet?

Last pup was born at 11.15pm and after that everything seemed to settle.  She has been panting through the night but feeding her pups and seemed Ok.  This morning at 6.30 she decided to dig again and has now started to pant in ernest.  Could there be another on the way?  I can't feel much and don't really know if she is having contractions as she's a bit more "flabby" than she was for obvious reasons!  She isn't straining but seems to move away from pups in the way she did when she was about to give birth.

Any suggestions as to how long I leave her, when the panting will stop and should I make sure the vet sees her to ensure they are all here?

im still waiting today is her due date, no signs of anything. how long after her due date shall i leave her before i phone the vets

My friend had a bitch who safely whelped a whole 7 days after her due date.  I gather her date of ovulation can have some bearing on the due date so give it until Monday at least providing she is well and not showing any undue signs.

I still have my suspicions that my bitch is about to have another pup.

Me too, a bitch who safely whelped 1 (very large) pup 7 days overdue, after 3 visits to the vets in the run up, jsut for reassurance that all was OK.  As conception may not be instaneous, your expected date has a 48 hour "leeway" if you see what I mean.

Congrats Jackyjat, the babes look adorable!  Am now going to download the Mabel babe pics and will send to everyone who asked.

Jacky, has she passed all the after births, this could be why she is stills training,  if I was you I would call the Vets about getting an Oxytocin shot, just to be on the safe side.

bye
Gwen

Gwen , Jackie can I have a look at the pics ? Pam

preidie@yahoo.com

Yes JJ.. :-) like the others I have had bitches who have produced a puppy later (but hours rather than days). I would always recommend an injection to prevent infection afterwards.  

She isn't straining.  She was digging and had moved to one side in the box as she did to give birth, moving babies safely out of the way.  As far as I could tell she produced an afterbirth for each pup.  It was a bit difficult with the last one as she almost ate it as it was being produced and that was the only one she cut the cord on.  We didn't see much of it but I am fairly sure it was there.

She seems to have settled now although is still panting.  It is quite warm though.  I have spoken to the vet who says not to be unduly worried unless she is straining, leaking or unhappy.  As she has just eaten, I am beginning to relax a little.  He suggested it could just be the natural oxytocin produced by the suckling of the babies and all of us mums know how uncomfortable that can be!

If I still have any cause for concern I will take her to the vet this afternoon.

Isn't it fascinating how they just know how to be mothers!

ooh congratulations Jackyjat and Gwen :) Can I see the photos please?

Dee

Congratulations to Jackyjat & Gwen, could i see pictures when you have time :)

(and JJ it will be nice to have a picture of the whelping box in use to go with the other one, i will have a 'before' and 'after' lol :D )

Emma (20 days to go and counting....... :D )

x

the photos are lovely, they are all soo cute, thanks. You must be so proud of them. 
Dee

Thanks for the pics Jacky,your bitch looks lovely and so contented and proud with her new family,they are all sooooo cute,welldone to you all.