Birthing

Preparation and organization is key to a successful delivery.  The first picture depicts the most basic but essential items while the second picture includes items that may not always be required but can prove invaluable.

5-8 bath towels & 3-5 washcloths (prefer red show less blood stains) heating pad & cover, full water bottle, dish pan (for puppy holding), hairbrush, scissors, dental floss triple antibiotic.
All items in photo #1 plus: paper towels, puppy neck labels, chicken broth, bowl, nutri cal, natural cleaner, water bottle, coffee w/insulated mug, junk towels.
This is Pumpkin going into labor at 6:30am on 1/22/11. This is her first litter and she is nervous. She feels safe in her crate.
Pumpkin begins w/mild contractions.
Tail and head raised, stronger contractions.
Sitting to force puppies down to birth canal.
Pushing down to force first puppy out.
Puppy crowning.
Close up of puppy crowning.
First puppy is out.
This is Onyx, a little boy.
Onyx's umbilical cord is cut.
Onyx is placed with his mother between strong contractions so that he can receive the colostrum in her milk.
This is the warming bucket where each puppy will be placed after delivery. The warming bucket should be used only while mom is having super strong contractions or is too stressed to be careful with her puppies. The puppies should be nursing at the points where the mother is calm enough to allow them to do so. Keeping the puppies away too long may deny them the colostrum that is only produced for a very short amount of time and it is absolutely necessary for the health of the puppies.
Onyx has been placed in the warming pan on the heating pad. Pad has a cover and is covered with an additional towel. Pad should be set to lowest setting.
Another towel is placed over the entire bucket to provide a very warm safe environment.
Pumpkin delivers her 2nd puppy.
It is a little girl, Amber.
Amber and Onyx cuddle together in the warming pan.
Pumpkin has 3rd puppy.
Gibeon, a male, 3rd puppy is in the middle.
4th puppy crowning.
4th puppy nearly out.
4th puppy cord is cut jagged to help prevent bleeding, much like the mother rips the cord with her teeth. You can use the shredding method or simply cut erratically so cut is not uniform.
4th puppy is very unresponsive. He required about 15 minutes of aggressive rubbing with a dry washcloth.
I have shown with my fingers how to rub with the washcloth (puppy would actually be inside the washcloth providing better grip) to help encourage breathing.
I inflated his lungs twice using a cpr technique and covering his nose and mouth with my mouth and gently blowing in. After the second attempt he began to breath better. It took about 1/2 hour for him to totally stop gasping. During this time I rubbed his body firmly and kept his mouth and nose free of mucus. Difficulty in breathing or still born puppies can often be saved by these simple steps. Message should only stop when puppy has stopped open mouth gasping.
Sterling, a male, and 4th puppy born is far left.
5th puppy was born while 4th puppy was receiving extra attention.
Kyanite, a male, is nearly dry and ready to join his siblings.
Topaz, female, has arrived safely.
6th puppy arrives. Pumpkin finally gets to relax and nurse her 6 beautiful puppies.
The following photos provide step by step cord tying. 1st measure cord twice length of puppy.
2nd lay beneath umbilical cord.
3rd make single knot.
4th tighten single knot.
5th make second single knot.
6th tighten second single knot.
7th cut about 1/2" away from umbilical cord and discard extra floss.