Trigger in the first stages of Labor...............

[lissadi]

I think, okay I am 99.9% sure!!!! Her temp is down to 98', she was acting WEIRD last night. She sleeps next to my bed and I would look over at her and she was sitting up, literally looking like she was in a daze, panting (which she has been doing off and on for 3 days,) digging into the carpet, and cleaning herself like she has company coming. So at 2:30 am we made our way to the whelping box, it is in the 2 youngest room. I have the puppy pen around it and I slept in there with her (not in the whelping box, she was in the whelping box, and I was in the bed, though I did spend a little time in there with my poor baby.) I wanted to post pics of her MISERY, but I found out it is not my computer it is my HP software that came with my dig camera that I am having problems with GRRRRRRRR.
I will make my way to Walgreens today have some pics developed and scan them, then post.

How long does labor last for a female's first litter, I have heard a long time.

Thanks for the help!

Wish us Luck, hoping that today is the day!!!!

[Country-Side Br]

It's not so much that it's the first litter that makes the delivery long as it is the 1st pup, of any litter. If you get a large pup, breech you could be in for a long haul! Molly's 1st one was that way, and his legs weren't stretched out, but rather tucked up, making it even harder to deliver. I needed to go in and help him out a bit. After that puppy passed through, the rest of them came delivered real easy. Watch for her contractions....they'll get closer together and you'll be able to feel her tummy get firmer with each one. As the pup gets closer into the birth canal, you'll also be able to see her rear end area swell up with each push. Once you can see that, the pup should be delivered within a few minutes. Good luck and congrats!! Remember...pictures, pictures, pictures!

[lissadi]

Patty,

Will her no-no (remember I have lots of kids, got lots of names for those parts,) start to swell right before the pups come or quite a while before?

I hope I am right and this is true labor and I do not just feel so bad for my girl I am seeing and feeling things I want to.

BTW today is day 62!!!!

Thanks Again!!!!

[Blaze]

It's not so much that it's the first litter that makes the delivery long as it is the 1st pup, of any litter.

Yep that's true. Once the first has arrived they will all come a lot quicker. It'll also take longer if her energy levels are low. I gave Lilly glucose and she found it way easier once she'd had that. Also once the pups are born and you get them on the teat immediately that makes the others come faster (or at least it did in Lilly's case)

Lilly was in Labour all day but the last stages were really obvious as she was pushing, panting, shivering a lot and her waters broke. You'll definitely know when she's in late labour.

Good luck! I hope everything goes well and I can't wait for puppy pictures!!

[lissadi]

Thanks Guys!! I am going to get back to her, got the glucose ready in case we need it. Will keep you posted through the day!!!

[Blaze]

Will her no-no (remember I have lots of kids, got lots of names for those parts,) start to swell right before the pups come or quite a while before?

It swells when the pup is coming. You'll certainly know when it starts to swell and you'll see the pup emerging.

[Country-Side Br]

It should swell and look like when she was in heat. It varies with each dog, though. For Molly, hers never really went back down and by the end, it was 2.5" wide and very jiggly...no exagerration! :O Carver's goes back down and then swells up again a week before delivery. Nellie's went back down as well. Is this day 62 from the 1st day she was bred, the middle or last day? How is she behaving now? Is she wanting to go potty more and just plain looking pretty pathetic? What about the pups...are they still as active or have they settled down some?

[Country-Side Br]

Brooke's right in getting the pups to nurse right away...it helps to make more productive contractions to make it easier for the others to come. As for the waters breaking, it doesn't always happen though. With Carver's litter, almost every pups waters are broke...with Molly's only 1 of them were! Makes for much easier clean up when they're not broke! Then everything is still together and you can just pick it up and throw it out rather than having the placenta mess all over. I usually switch off, Mom gets one and I get the other. That way, there isn't a lot of diarrehea with Mom and she can get back to taking care of the pups sooner without needing to clean up all the time. Make sure you clear out their airways..nose and lungs...VERY important. I do this the second I get the bag opened. I also cut the cord too instead of having Mom do it...less chance of an umbilical hernia that way.

[lissadi]

Thanks for the help. I bought a whelping kit with scissors, lubrication, glucose, etc in it. I took her out to potty and her stools are really runny, she was hunched over like she felt like she had to go, I know it is because of all the pressure she is having now, she just, LOST HER PLUG!!! I think we are on our way now. This is 62 days from her first breeding. She was bred the 1st time on Monday March 28, then Wednesday the 30th, then again Thursday the 31st before she came home. I have no doubts, she is in labor.

One question, do you tie dental floss around the cord after you cut it or do you just make sure it is long enough (how long from the pups belly button?) crimp, cut, then clean with iodine? I have heard some use the floss, some do not, what is your opinion?

Thanks again!!

[Country-Side Br]

I cut the cord about 1" from the navel with a sharp pair of scissors. I don't usually tie it, unless there is excessive bleeding. Within 24 hrs. it'll dry up already and fall off.

The loose stools come from her cleaning out her system and getting ready to deliver...I know what you're going to be doing today/night! It's so exciting! What color was she bred to?