A heating pad is a good idea (kept on low and under a blanket). Also a whelping box or something similiar in size.

I wasn't sure what to buy either so I went to ebay and bought a whole whelping kit for $90 plus $12.50 shipping. The woman who I bought it from is a FLAKE..BIG TIME! She sent everything out at different times and things were missing. I FINALLY got everything the DAY my yorkie went into labor.

I would recommend having:

1. a styptic pencil (or powder) to stop bleeding (like on their umbilical cords),
2. hemostats and dull scissors (for cutting the cords)
3. plenty of clean washclothes (for cleaning off the pups and or/ stimulating them to get them to breathe),
4. an aspirator to clean the gunk out of their noses and throat right after birth),
5. some iodine (to put on the umbilical chord BEFORE you use the styptic pencil),
6. Ebsilac puppy formula and nursing bottles (incase you need to nurse them for some reason).
7. A thermomenter (digital is easier) for taking her temp. A temp drop is a good way of knowing she's ready to have her pups. Plus you can use it after the deliver to make sure she isn't TOO hot which can be a sign of an infection.

I would also recommend taking her to the groomer for a maternity cut. This will make things easier for the puppies when they nurse and for you when it comes to cleaning her up after delivery.

If you have a stethascope (sp) you can hear the puppies heartbeats. The boys heartbeats go REAL FAST like tick tick tick tick, while the girls are more like tick..tick..tick..tick.

That's how I knew angel was having 2 boys and a girl .

Did I miss anything?

What and how at birth
 

THanks for the advice and web links. Well Gigi caught us all by surprise and gave birth yesterday! 5 girls and a boy ( I knew there were 6 ) :) So everyting went out the door but helping her. She was wonderful, but Vet said she's got a big birth canal, had absolutely no problems giving birth. All 6 born within 3-4 hours. Pups are healthy with smallest 3 at 100g, so a nice birth weight. Now we are all crooning and praising our big girl.

pups
 

Good news!
Even a big girl with 6 pups can have eclampsia..make sure she eats well and takes calcuim..Best wishes.

My female had a litter 5 weeks ago. Nutracal is great to have on hand. Now that my babies are older they like to sleep with a stuffed animal. They love to chew on pacifiers too. Everyone pretty much hit the tiny baby needs so i thought I would throw in the toddler needs. I keep mine in an inclosed pen when they are napping and I have it covered so there wont be to much of a draft, they still have a heating pad set on low. For my mommy I gave her yogurt some and calcium tabs. Good Luck and post pics