24Nov
Today is the day.
After weeks of preparing for Astra’s puppies, months of planning and years of health tests and socialisation for my parent dogs, this is the day we welcome Astra’s first litter into the world.
Astra has been getting increasingly uncomfortable over the last few days, with more noticeable pre-labour signs on Saturday and overnight.
It is just me and my girl in the room. As if by magic the pack fall silent in the neighbouring rooms. They appear to be sleeping yet their ears are positioned to listen to sounds. They remain quiet. They get updates by smelling my clothes when I pop in to check on them or when I quickly get myself a drink.
The room is at an ideal temperature for newborn puppies, dimmed a little to comfort Astra, calming classical music playing in the background, the whelping box is fully disinfected, the vetbed is freshly cleaned, the heatpad is on, clean towels at the ready to rub down and dry off the newborns, sterilised umbilical scissors and haemostats within reach and with gloved hands I am prepared to help where necessary. Boxes full of emergency equipment are next to me so I can act fast if the need arises. The car has a tank full of petrol and an XL crate is prepared in case we need to make an emergency trip to the vet. An emergency box with equipment is ready in case I need to help Astra or a puppy in the car.
Astra digs the towels and bedding I had laid out. A natural maternal instinct to prepare a safe area for her puppies and to help with the discomfort from the contractions.
I remain calm and quiet, giving her space so she can do what comes naturally without me being in the way. I want her to see me as the calm, confident figure who will support her. I want her to feel calm and safe. When she looks at me with those big, sad eyes, I tell her she is a good girl and how clever she is. When she indicates she needs stroking, I gently stroke her head and her face.
I watch her sides to monitor the contractions- their timing and how strong they seem. Astra is my first girl who can push an entire puppy out with one big push. When I can, I check to see if a sac is visible. When she needs help, I have muslin cloths to hold the slippery sacs to prevent the puppy sliding back inside and I have other items to hand to help further. I watch how she opens the sacs and chews the cord. I have haemostats and umbilical cord scissors to hand, yet Astra is a natural and does everything with a gentle approach to her newborns. Holding the puppy facing down to allow gravity to aid me, I use the bulb aspirator to remove fluid. I listen to the puppy. If I can hear little bubbles of sound, I know there is more fluid to get out. I dry them as much as possible in between letting Astra lick them. After a full body check- checking for cleft palate and other deformities, I weigh them and note everything down. When they latch on well, I can relax a little, and now it is on to the next puppy.
In between puppies, I offer vanilla ice cream to Astra. The glucose helps with energy and she may appreciate the taste and coolness. I also offer water and Oralade. She will know what she needs and when. She reassures me by eating and drinking everything that is offered.
Our last puppy, Grace, arrived after a whelping pause. Astra needed to rest before pushing her final baby out. I could feel Grace moving in Astra's tummy whilst her siblings were drinking milk. Feeling her move inside with Astra having a well-deserved sleep was reassuring.
Six puppies later, all are latching on well. Astra relaxes. She is tired and aches after doing an incredible job. I clean Astra as well as I can, whilst keeping an eye on the puppies. I carefully change the bedding to a fresh, clean one. I offer water, Oralade and food and I will monitor what she takes in and when.
I am in awe of my girl. I know it is natural and dogs have been giving birth for thousands of years, with the majority doing it on their own, but my girl did it. She made it look effortless and despite everything she has done, she looks on proudly.
I can’t relax yet. I feel the need to stay close to monitor the puppies and Astra. When they gain weight, have obvious full tummies of milk, then I can start to relax. That is when I begin to feel excited. We have at least 8 weeks together. I have 8 weeks to help them, watch them grow and gain strength, to socialise them, to prepare them for the future. The puppies will get to meet and play with their dad, 2 half sisters and my other pack members. I look forward to showing them the world from the safety of my arms and the stroller. We have so much to look forward to, but for now, my goal is to observe them carefully, ensuring each puppy gains weight and appears healthy. Astra is my main focus. If she eats well, has no signs of infection, and by caring for her, I am caring for her puppies. She will have the energy she needs to recover and produce good-quality milk. Puppies have a good chance of survival when their mum is healthy and by having a good, attentive mum, they have a good chance of having well-rounded temperaments.
The contrast between Astra's whelping experience and Willow's is astounding. Willow's smallest puppy weighed 135g and Astra's weighs 435g. They don't feel as fragile. Astra hasn't vomited during her pregnancy or labour, whereas poor Willow caught a tummy bug and vomited a lot. Willow had no appetite when she needed it the most. I am grateful Astra has eaten a hefty amount every day and continues to eat well.
I am grateful for Astra in so many ways. My mind can rest a little knowing that our previous struggles haven't been repeated. My back aches a lot from sitting in the whelping box all day, but I cannot complain. After what my girl has gone through, she must be feeling rough. I will heal and can sort myself out but my main focus is on Astra and the puppies.
I am looking forward to watching these puppies develop. I enjoy seeing their traits emerge and seeing how similar they are to their parents. When I have potential families lined up, and they are there from the beginning, it feels more special sharing the puppy updates.
(I had to add this a day later due to sorting out the puppies, cleaning and tidying up whelping supplies, being there for my other pack members and I was exhausted yesterday evening. I am very pleased to say that every puppy has gained weight and Astra continues to eat and drink well. The experience with Willow affected me a lot and I noticed just how much when I was nervous when it came to weighing the puppies today. I feel like this experience with Astra was what I needed. )
~ Claire 🐾
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