Molly is now 54 days pregnant, she is fit and healthy. On a walk she is still able to run around but has shown signs of slowing down as Archie is now always getting the ball first.  Molly is looking a little tired at the end of the walk, bless her.

Her tummy is looking rather large and her ribs have expanded quite alot too.  We can feel the puppies moving really easily and also see her tummy moving as they wriggle about.

The puppies ears will have developed as little buds and the hair will now be fully formed.  The puppies are nearly ready to be born.  Usually pups are born at roughly 63-64 days but can be born from 56 days onwards.

I have been out and bought a new “hot box” ready to keep the puppies in just for some parts of the labour, so they will be safe and warm.  The Whelping box is all set and I have put first aid equipment in the steriliser ready for if it is needed.  Hopefully not!  I have just ordered some homeopathic remedies which will be arriving hopefully for tomorrow.  I think I am ready but no doubt I will think of something else I need to go out and buy!

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl, Molly.

Birthday Girl with all the bones!

Molly at 6 weeks

What a difference a week makes, the picture below is Molly at almost 7 weeks!

Molly at 48 days

Development at 7 weeks the puppies will now have hair, the colouring will now be showing and the pads will have also formed on the paws!

Tonight Katherine and I could feel tiny little flutters  on Molly’s growing tummy, as the puppies moved around.  Then at one point we both could feel a very strong kick. 

It is so exciting to feel the little movements.  Initially feeling like little brushtrokes of movement.  Every now and then one of the puppies could be seen moving, seeing Molly’s tummy moving is a little strange but lovely all the same!  We both sat there hardly daring to breathe while we waited for the next kick!

It really is an amazing experience. 

Magic!

Molly has now resigned herself to sleeping on the floor stretched out!  Bless her.  No more sofa surfing for her until after the puppies!

Today, being an anxious granny… I decided I would check Molly’s urine sample.  All is fine!  So I am happy that Molly is healthy in every way.  I cant wait till I can post to say I can feel the puppies moving or hear their heartbeats with my stethoscope!  Not long now…

(Just a little note…please take a look at Katherine’s latest video clip on her column, I am so very proud of my littlun!)

Molly 6 weeks pregnant (43days)

Molly is now 6 weeks pregnant so only approximately 3 weeks to go!  She has lost her waistline entirely and looking lovely and plump on her tummy.  Being such a slender dog anyway it is hard to get the real idea of how big she is in this photo.

Molly at five and a half weeks (38days)

The photo above shows her tummy being lovely and squishy! 

I cant believe the last two weeks have flown by. (when the initial four weeks were unbearably slow!)

Since my last entry we had noticed that Molly is drinking alot more in the past few days, I have tested her urine and everything is fine, so no concerns regarding infection (the urine checks for blood, ketones, glucose amongst other things). I have checked my notes from her previous litter and she went through a phase of drinking a lot just after the five week stage also.

The puppies will have already formed their limbs, head and organs by four weeks. The ear flaps which will be mere little bumps and the eyelids will be visible from five weeks. The pups will also have claws growing on their tiny paws. The eyes will have already developed at the four week stage but they will remain closed until after the puppies are born. At 6 weeks the digits are formed and you would also be able to tell if puppy is a boy or a girl!

At this stage it is hard to guess how big they are but they will be at least 6cm – 7cm.

At this point they still do not have any hair or pads on their paws.

Molly is still as fit as she always has been, on a walk she hasn’t slowed down at all, but we having to make sure she doesn’t leap for a ball.

I have increased her food – to three meals instead of two meals.  Molly has definitely been hungry from about the three week point but feeding them extra food too early on just makes them put on unnecessary weight which could lead to problems for the whelping.

I have been giving Molly folic acid as a daily supplement in the days leading up to her having a season, this is to ensure when she did become pregnant that the puppies would have a very good chance of forming a strong skeleton whilst growing in the womb. I will be giving her the folic acid for another week only.

I have spent the weekend getting together all the things needed for our expected new arrivals. The whelping box has come out to be checked over and cleaned.   I have spent much of today making new little foam collars of assorted colours – which are the initial collars I use before I put on the ribbon collars.  The collars are just so cute!  I cant wait to be able to use them.  The postman has made a delivery of some puppy essentials. So everything is coming together nicely.

Molly is doing really well, her tummy is more obvious to us now.  When she is sitting you can see quite a bump appearing.  I cant wait to be able to see the pups moving around in her tummy and also listening for the heartbeats!

Im resisting from giving her extra food but she is definitely on the look out for more food.  I will be increasing her food at roughly six weeks.   

More soon!

Molly is doing really well.  I have taken a picture of her so I can monitor her progress. When she is laying down her tummy does look like she has eaten a sunday roast!

Molly (left) and Archie. Molly is 35 days pregnant and has lost some definition to her waist.

Molly at 32 days pregnant

Molly is fine in herself and still enjoying normal exercise.  

Molly with 9wk old Harry "feeling maternal?!"

I am very pleased to be making my first diary entry with some wonderful news.  Molly has been keeping us guessing, keeping her little secret.  Her stomach had felt slightly more thickened than usual and her teats were slightly enlarged.  Her behaviour led us to believe that the mating had been a success as she has been very protective of her food for the last couple of weeks.  Our boys have had their toys stolen from them and bones whisked away without further ado.  If Molly wanted the bones, they just let her take them!   So in effort to stop wondering and guessing IS SHE/ISN’T SHE? we have just had Molly scanned, 28 days post mating.  Her secret is now out … as she IS expecting pups !!!!

It is a very exciting moment to see the little heartbeats on the screen, amazing to see these little “sacs” of life on the monitor <GRIN>  All systems go for making plans for our new arrivals!!

Please keep an eye on this diary for updates of Mollys progress throughout her pregnancy.

Congratulations to Molly and Booza!

It is an understatement to say we are delighted!

If you click on the picture – the top photo you can see the shape of the foetus quite clearly. 

Heidi :0)

News and updates on our new litter of puppies as they happen!