Hannah on day 54

[jillcrump]

I have her posted, but was advised to do so in the breeder section for more help...guess more of you guys that know about whelping will be in this section. I am so excited and hope to talk to you guys about the big upcoming event. Please pray all goes well for my sweet little girl. The daddy is Harlan. Love 'em both to pieces. In the picture you see, she is on the left, and he is on the right.

[bjh]

I do pray she has a safe whelp. Has she had pups before or is this a first for both of you?

[jillcrump]

This is the first time around for both of us. I will be able to post some pictures of her belly tomorrow. Can't wait to share with you guys. This is day 55 for her, and she is still doing well.

[bjh]

I pray everything goes well for you and your girl. How big is your female and how many do you think she will have?

[jillcrump]

She is 5 pounds...I'm thinking 2-3. I will post picture of her belly today.

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Congrats on the upcoming litter.

[jillcrump]

I have added an album titled Hannah, Day 56. Enjoy and wish us luck.

[littlelady]

did you get an xray to see how many pups are in there?

[littlelady]

Originally Posted by jillcrump

She is 5 pounds...I'm thinking 2-3. I will post picture of her belly today.

With my Angel and her first litter, I looked at every thread I could about whelping and any bodies and everybodies experience. I spent countless hours just reading threads till all hours of the night, morning.
I found it illimuninating and resourceful.
Breeders that have the idea there particular line on the breed sometimes left me with something to be desired.
I took their advise with a grain of salt, and considered what was constructive and what wasn't I didn't need to concentrate on.

Good luck, I think new born puppies remind me of little seals, how they root around and arch their backs and point there noses around.
I just watched my puppies for hours.

[jillcrump]

No, but there is definitely more than one...I can see them kicking around pretty well. She loves getting her belly rubbed.

[jillcrump]

You guys...I couldn't believe how much more the puppies are moving around in her belly today. It looks like they are kick boxing. I am sooooo excited.

[littlelady]

Originally Posted by jillcrump

You guys...I couldn't believe how much more the puppies are moving around in her belly today. It looks like they are kick boxing. I am sooooo excited.

I am a firm believer in getting an xray done to make sure you know exactly or as certain as the xray can be.
For the following reasons:
1) While you are attending to the new born pup, if the dam gets to the after birth and eats it , well that is okay but if you see her licking herself but you didn't see the afterbirth for sure and then the next puppy comes. You get caught up with warming up this puppy etc.
If you loose count of the placenta's then a retained placenta can cause infection to set in within 3-6 hours and it will inhibit the quality of the milk being produced.
2) If she retains a placenta or 2 an she develops an infection it can be life threatening with in 12 hours after whleping the pupppies. The colostrium or milk being produced may not be suitable unless you have gotten her an antibiotic for the infection. So the nursing puppies may be at risk for drinking affected milk from the mother bein septic.

WE had 7 puppies for our first litter and 3 of these were breach. She would not open up the sacks or bite off the cord so I had to. While you are doing this the placenta can come or not and if you have to pull it out while you are doing the other with the puppy . It is difficult.
Mine did eat 3 placentas and retained 2 for 10 hours, I sat attentively by herside. She ended up with diarrhea from eating the placentas and I had given her way too much cottage cheese with her extra feedings before, during and after whelping the puppies. It was a mess for about the first 1-3 days . I made her whelping pudding and gave her a calcium supplement every day and I didn't go back to the cottage cheese. The diarrhea stopped.
By the beginning of week 2 she showed signs of mastitis. Antibiotics started again.
I watched her and the pups almost all the time. WE had experienced almost anything that could come up did except a puppy totally getting stuck that could happen with whelping puppies.
WE were blessed nothing was too serious and we jumped on it right away.
There was a thread I was on that was so helpful. Puppies due in May.
I didn't want to scare you but the more you are prepared the less of an unwanted outcome will transpire.

[jillcrump]

Thank you so much for the advice...I called the vet yesterday. He said as long as all was going well, to just keep an eye on her. He is not big on x-rays; said they are not good for the puppies, and that he has found they are not always accurate. I have his emergency number, and I also have his prior assistant's phone number. She said she will be here if I need her. Assuming, and hoping, I don't have to take her in prior to whelping for any problems, I am going to take her in with the puppies for a full check-up. I am so glad you have shared...please, any advice is appreciated. Were you able to view the NEW pictures I added yesterday?

[jillcrump]

Here she is on day 57

[hugz4all4]

How exciting, more puppies to watch grow up!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you that everything goes smoothly. Looking forward to pictures when they are here!!