Hi everyone just and update on what's been happening over the last 10+ days since the pups were born. This will also serve as a lesson to other newbie breeders, although this is my 2nd litter I still consider myself a newbie, there is always something to learn and with this litter I have learned a lot.
Mum had an exceptionally long 1st stage (26 hours) and then delivered 8 puppies in 4 hours. All seemed well except for we had the same problem as last time, some of the placenta's didn't come away with the puppies. I wrote down what I did see but Mum was eating what was coming out the other end so fast it was difficult to know exactly how many were missing. I know there are 2 school of thoughts on this, some people would automatically take bitch for an Oxytocin jab others would let them come away naturally, or the bitch would reabsorb them.
72 hours after the birth all seemed well, mum was tired but puppies were feeding and content, but something was still niggling me. She just didn't look like a proud mum should, she looked drained and wasn't eating as much as I would have liked. I took her temp...103.9. Straight over to the vets by then her temp was 104.0. No retained placenta's could be found but she did eventually lose what looked like a piece, all be it small which had been left behind. Various injections to reduce her temp and some AB's. The vet was worried she was dehydrated and said if she didn't pick up within 24 hours she would have to be hospitalised. By now the discharge she was losing was disgusting, gloopy and smelly.
I was desperately worried. I bought some rehydration sachets and started syringing both Mum and pups as they were not thriving as they should have been. The infection brewing inside Mum was stopping her milk from coming in properly and also because she wasn't eating/drinking as she should be. Over the next few days, trips to the Vets, more injections, more AB's her temp started coming down. Eventually after 4 days of treatment she started to perk up and her temp was back to 101.
This of course had an effect on the puppies, they simply weren't getting enough, although through all this Mum was still doing a wonderful job, admirable considering she must have been feeling hellish.
I started supplementing some of the smaller pups by syringe, I was also shown how to tube feed and bottle feed.  I had never had to do any of this with my last litter. I have felt truly blessed and quite emotional by the amount of people who have taken their time to help me, wether it be via phone or in person. 
Unfortunately a couple of the puppies suffered with slight infection obviously caught from Mum, one had an infected umbilicus and a couple have had infected eyes but they are OK now.
Day 12 today and Mum's milk came in properly a couple of days ago and pups are now thriving. I know we are not out of the woods yet but I certainly feel things are on the up and one of them has opened it's eyes today. All 8 are still here, what strong little puppies they are.
The Vets have advised that Mum should probably be spayed after all this, this was her last litter anyway and I certainly don't want to risk another possible infection on future seasons.

:rolleyes:
So sorry you have had to go through all that, and so pleased you are now coming out at the other end.
I would hope this post would help deter any one who might be thinking about 'having a litter'. As I know people with pets so often say We are just going to let her have a litter before getting her spayed.
I guess you are fairly exhausted now too. Time to relax a itsy bit!
Good luck Karen :-)

Well done for recognising that your bitch wasn't 'right' and for getting through all this. FWIW I always give an oxytocin jab at the end of whelping. It is far from easy to know how many placentas have come away when the pups are arriving quickly one aftr the other, and when mum is gobbling them up as she cleans away the membranes. The books make counting placentas sound easy but I've never been sure that I can account for them all.

Gosh what a scare but your instincts were right.

Glad all on the mend now.