New arrivals

After two months of waiting, Luna got busy producing puppies on the night of Friday 29, November. I had no idea how many she was going to have. The vet had counted five during an earlier scan but Luna refused to sit still to let him count the other four bundles who came a such a surprise!

It was Luna's first delivery, and mine too - of pups that is. I'd consulted the Almighty Google on every aspect of 'whelping': what should be in my 'whelping kit', what could go wrong, how I could help, and how to look after the newborns and their mammy. I was excited and quietly nervous. 

She had been in early labour for about 24 hours. I knew something was about to happen so, that night,  I kept interrupting our viewing of "Robin Hood" to check on her. On one of those occasions, at 11pm, it was obvious she was ready and 11 minutes later pup number one made his appearance! What a joy!! 

I half expected her to continue with a steady stream of pups but nothing. Zip. 

An hour later and I was getting worried. But, just like Dublin Bus, you wait ages for one and then three come along at once! Boy two at 12.23pm; boy three at 12.27pm and boy four at 12.34pm. Phew!!! 

We had another bit of a wait for the first girl of the litter - a lady's prerogative indeed! Girl number one arrived at 1.55 am. And fifteen minutes later the fifth boy of the litter made his debut. This little chap was the smallest of the litter. So far, his siblings had weighted in at - pup1: 10ozs, pup2: 11ozs, pup3: 8ozs, pup4: 9ozs, and pup5:10ozs. Pup6 was a tiny 6ozs but by God he was the first to find the nipple and hasn't let go since! It's the little ones who have all the gumption!

We had another long hiatus so I encouraged Iarla, my husband, to go to bed. One of us had to be fresh for the kids in the morning. So when he retired for the night (at about 3.30am, so he stuck in there for a good stretch) we were up to six pups. They were all healthy and nursing well. Luna became restless again soon after Iarla left so I knew there was more on the way!

At 3.43am pup7 (another boy!) was born weighing a strapping 11ozs. The second girl of the littler appeared soon after - at 4.11am. She was also another plump one, tipping scales at 10ozs. 

Luna, super dog mammy, settled down to feed her expanded brood and at about 6am I grabbed a pillow and blanket and lay on the sofa beside her for a little shut eye. I couldn't wait to tell the kids when they got up!! 

Soon after, I heard a 'pop' and 'gush' and was up and in the whelping box as the ninth puppy started to crown. Bloody hell! Where did this one come from? It had been over two hours since the last puppy emerged. I was afraid this long delay wouldn't auger well for the tiny dark creature making it's way out and into the world. But I didn't have to worry. Luna was tired and it took a little longer to push this pup out. But pup was not only ready to be born, she was ready for grub! Half in, half out, she latched on to a nearby sibling's ear and starting to suck for all she was worth. And yes, it was another girl! I'm thinking with an appetite like that she takes after her aunty Eimear :-) Pup9 was another big girl at 10ozs.

So there they were, nine tiny black/brown lifeforms. Luna and I were a bit shellshocked. The kids were beside themselves with glee. Iarla was stunned that the 6 he had left me with had multiplied so. What a night. Brilliant! 

The livestock head count is now up to 24, between the new arrivals, the chickens, cats and rabbits.

That'll keep me busy for a while!