Happy Birthday

Riley started labor exactly on schedule, but of course waited until the middle of the night to start having meaningful contractions.  Usually the first pup arrives shortly after contractions begin, and I start getting worried after 2 hours.  Riley had contractions off and on for 4+ hours, I could feel a pup that had not yet presented into the birth canal, didn't feel stuck, but Riley wasn't progressing normally.  So off to Indy Vet emergency we went thinking Riley would be needing a C-section.  However, on the way over, the pup finally started moving into the birth canal, but still no sustained contractions.  We did a quick ultrasound on Riley and found multiple puppy heart beats.  Riley was on her back for the ultrasound and shortly after we lifted her down, she decided to FINALLY deliver the small puppy while walking through the treatment room of the veterinary hospital.  Pink girl was vigorous and we quickly commandeered a quiet consultation room and planned to whelp out Riley at the clinic in case of further complications.  That plan seemed to agree with Riley and she delivered 8 pups in less than 3 hours.  It looked and felt like she was done, although she was still having contractions (had retained some placentae which is common).  Riley walked out of the clinic, toileted, and jumped into the wading pool in the van for the ride home.  Once home, I settled her into the puppy pool in my bedroom and since she was having hard contractions, I stayed close to see what was going on.  Suddenly, out popped #9, a male pup who was alive but a bit slow to start suckling. 

Collar	Time	Sex	Birthweight
Pink	5:20 am	F	12 oz
Purple	5:43 am	F	13.3 oz
Orange	6:07 am	F	13.8 oz
Light Blue	6:13 am	M	14.2 oz
Black	7:04 am	M	12.7 oz
Red	7:25 am	F	11.1 oz
Green	7:45 am	F	12 oz
Yellow	8:06 am	M	11.3 oz
Dark Blue	9:50 am	M	13.6 oz