Interrupted labour-TWICE??

skarabrae

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Our foster cat, Missy, had three adorable healthy little ones Saturday night. I could feel that she still had a couple in there, but it was very late and she did so well with the other three that I thought she'd be fine to deliver the others on her own. Next morning, still only three babies.

Sunday night she started mild contractions again while I was rubbing her belly (this seems to bring the contractions on more strongly). It was taking a while so I thought perhaps she didn't want me interfering and I went to sleep... there was a perfect little black baby the next morning and she'd moved the whole littler into another nest box.

Even thought I had thought there had been two more in there, I felt her belly again and I couldnt sense any more kittens at this point.

Well, I was visiting with her this afternoon.. more than two days later... and she's contracting mildly again! Also, checking out all her nest boxes and encouraging me to rub her belly to get the contractions going.

I just left her now so I could call the vet (they're on lunch and the phones are off)... so I came here looking for help.

She has no fever... she's eating and drinking like crazy and she's a perfect mommy. She doesn't even have any bleeding or discharge. If I wasn't an observant person I'd never think twice that she was done birthing...

What do you guys think? She still does have more roundness to her than I would think she should at this point, but if there are any more babes in there then they're not obvious... perhaps hiding under organs?
 
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StefanZ

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I think you can wait, although observe closely.

continueing soon

Such interrupted labor, for several hours or even days, arent uncommon.

And the recipe on what to do is exactly what you do hint:  if she is calm, contend, no visible difficulties, everyone happy, you can wait and see, although keeping watch.  It can be one more, or just some swellings.   Even if you KNOW there are more, you can wait.

But if she is in distress of any sort, or had complications - you contact vet and are ready to rush in.

Here you have this less common variation of interrupted labor twice, and you strongly suspect there may be two more.

But if it entirely possible to have a long pause once, so really, why not twice?   It will be less common, but so what?

Continue to observe, including search of nests if there is some left privately born baby, but as long she is well, dont need to panic.

Observe also, IF there was something wrong with any kitten and it is stillborne or dying, the probability is quite big she either takes it aside and hide it well, or even - she ates it up, placenta including, dont leaving any traces.   Her changing of nest after succesful delivery perhaps even is some indicium here for something such...

Some weak aftercontractions arent not usual.

All in all: if you do have a good friendly vet handy, please do phone and ask.

But its good you got here some feeling for the alternatives beforehand.

Good luck!
 
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skarabrae

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Thanks! The vet said exactly what you did - as she's healthy and calm, with no complications, then there shouldnt be any issues... and they said even two interrupted labours isn't completely out of the realm of normal and just to keep an eye on things. I'm quite relieved! I think she has been bred quite a few times if her chewed up nipples are any judge, so maybe her uterus is tired... or something. Her labour seems to stall unless there's someone there rubbing her tummy? Sort of odd?
 

maewkaew

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As Stefan said, it is not abnormal for her to have occasional small contractions as her uterus gradually shrinks back in size.   and it  is normal for her to still be rounder than normal after she just gave birth.  but it feels softer. 

and it is pretty normal she might want to move nests  a couple days after birth.   In the wild cats would do that to avoid attracting predators . 

 Basically i agree with everything he wrote in his excellent comment. 

and you are right ,   if she's had a lot of litters close together,  her uterus may not have time to recover its elasticity in between her pregnancies.  and  that could make it harder for it to  contract to push out the kittens. It could   be possible there's still live kittens or something like a retained dead fetus ( and they can be harder to get out then the live ones who actually to some extent help themselves get born)  or fetal membranes and/or placenta of the last kitten.  

 If  she actually has any dead fetus or afterbirth left in her,  that can cause a terrible infection.  

so you want to watch  for fever, loss of appetite,  lethargy,  or bad smelling discharge from the vagina  ( some light blood discharge is normal after  giving birth .  but  if she has a discharge that  smells like something rotten,  of course get her to the vet.  
 
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skarabrae

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Well, she gave birth... to a gargantuan turd :D

Oncw she eliminated there were no more contractions to speak of... I guess one Interrupted labour was enough. Thank goodness I can finally relax... as can Missy ;)

Thanks for the advice!
 
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maewkaew

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LOL.   I'm sure Missy feels much more comfortable now and can concentrate on taking care of her kittens.   and you can get some rest!                                                                                                                         
 
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