Mo has had her puppies (c-section at 3am due to the first pup deciding to venture up the other uterine horn and causing a blockage). 5 boys and 3 girls. She has fed them but is very unsettled (1st litter) and won't go in the whelping box. She's whinging and panting. Any experienced breeders have any advice to offer?

Best I can offer, based on the number of C.Sections we've had is right now, apart from probably feeling a degree of pain, she's probably confused about exactly what's gone on - she's not thinking of the puppies as being anything to do with her.  They smell of vets and that's all.   With mine, once home they tended to zonk out again, having been 'up' enough to get out of the vet's office, but that's all and that meant I've been able to plug her puppies onto her so they took the first milk at least, and by the time she was aware again, they did actually smell like her.   I know it's gross, but you might try putting some of her discharge onto the puppies so they start to smell more like her.  Normally when a bitch is restless after whelping this is because perhaps there is retained birthing material, or even a dead puppy still inside.  But if she was delivered by C.Section, that shouldn't be the case!!

For the pain, the vet should have given her some pain relief which should last for 24 hours.   And probably some more for you to give her later on.    It's good that she's fed the puppies but for now I'd have the litter in a separate box, on a warm pad (remembering that newborn puppies can't regulate their own heat) in the whelping box with her.   Try to calm her down in the whelping box, reassuring her she's fine and see if she'll settle down for a nap.    I have to say mine have just wanted to sleep, not wander around after undergoing a C.Section.   Obviously if you are not happy with her, call your vet back, or call in a mentor - somebody experienced to help you through all this.   Hopefully when the puppies need the next feed, and start to shout, she'll respond.   Otherwise you may have to restrain her while somebody plugs on maybe just a couple of the puppies to feed, and then gradually the rest, so she's not overwhelmed by these little demanding creatures that she's not yet bonded with.   It really is a case of being gentle, but firm with her or you may find you'll have to bottle these puppies (I hope you have some bitch replacer milk on hand just in case) which means every 2 hours, 24/7 so clearly if you can get mum to cooperate, this is by far the best, for all of them.

My first thought is pain, confusion and irritability due to Calcium imbalance.
Make sure SHE isn't too hot and try to relieve her symptoms by pain relief meds and Ca rich products such as Tumms if your vet doesn't want to give her Ca+ Intra muscular.

Quite normal, they can be very disorientated and not really ready to bond well with the pups for a couple of days.

I found getting them in the whelping box and sitting with them, lots of quiet praise telling them how good they are and being positive about the pups.

I found the cleaning part they were a bit slow with, so needed to tidy up to prevent dried mucky bottoms, by about 3 days it was look Mum I am in charge of them now.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts. She's a little more settled, so we'll see how it goes.