My Goodness, 5 babies!!! And you're so little! When are your babies due? Take care and get lots of rest and please keep us posted.

Stevie's 1st due date is the 18th--chances are that she might deliver a little early. But, she was bred 3 times, within 5 days, so she could have some premature puppies if she deliver too early.

I've been showing my co-workers the X-rays and everyone seems to think they can see another puppy--which means 6. Dr. Short couldn't say whether there was one more or not, but there are definately 5 for sure. It's clear as day. Dr. Short did say that according to the X-rays yesterday, the puppies heads should fit through her pelvis easily--so they are still small enough to be delivered naturally if everything else goes well.

And, because Stevie's mom has delivered naturally almost every time she's had a litter, we are going to go natural. She comes from a free-whelping line. There is a chance that she will get too tired to deliver the rest after 3 or so. If that's the case, we might have to do a C-section or intervene in another way. We will definatley have oxytocin ready because I suspect she's going to need several injections throughout whelping. If the 1st puppy doesn't crown within 4 hours, she will need a C-section anyway.

If all the babies survive, I'm going to have to supplement feed the babies because her breeder doesn't think that she will be able to feed them all sufficiently by herself. This will require round the clock care, every two hours, feeding each puppy as much as they will eat in addition to making sure they are all nursing from Stevie too.

Since there are so many, there is a high chance that 1 or 2 will not survive. I'm hoping for all healthy puppies, but you just never know! I will definatley keep you posted. This is as shocking to me as it is to everyone else...LOL! All I can say is that Stevie is extremely fertile and that the stud was as well!

Good luck Stevie. Take care of yourself and those babies.

Wow Stevie! That sounds like so many babies for such a small dog. I sure am glad I am fixed and I don't have to worry about all that. Best wishes, we will be thinking of you, your babies, and your Mom. It sounds like she has her work cut out for her these next few weeks!

Yeah, this is so exciting. Tyler and I will be crossing our paws that every thing comes out ok (please excuse the pun!)

I look forward to all the wonderful Stevie the momma stories!

OMG! That's a lot of puppies! You're so brave! If this was Beverly or Minnie, I would be a nervous wreck. I'm not educated on all of it though, so it all seems very scary to me. We'll be thinking of you and Stevie and hoping all the pups are healthy.

You must be really nervous and excited, Stevie's mom! You said earlier that you had potential owners for pups---do you have as many as 6? We bet she looks like she is about to POP with PUPS!

Right now, we are just hoping for ALL healthy puppies. I'm not worried about placing the "extra unexpected" that we might have...LOL.