Stillborn kitten question

Hi, my kitty just delivered a stillborn kitten about 2 hours ago ;-(.. She was full term, but her belly seemed very small... I guessed there were less than 4 in there... But no new contractions, she's been up eating & drinking, but still "yells" at me if I try to leave her side. She's very calm & no signs of stress or labor. This is my 8th litter since I've done years of rescue & it's my first stillborn kitten. I'm wondering ...
-could she be depressed about the stillborn kitten & stopped labor for any others?
-Is it normal for a queen to eat between deliveries or is that a sign that she's done?
-if the stillborn baby was born early & others may be born later even though mama was full term?
-also, if no more are born, what's the best thing to do about her milk supply, will it just reabsorb or is there something I should do?
Thanks so much!!!

If she mated on different days the kittens will be developed on different day.  so just because she had one full term kitten the others may not be ready yet.

she could have stopped her labor.

If she doesn't have any more kittens and has milk she may be willing to feed orphaned kittens.

Do you know how old she is and if this is her first litter?

Shes about 1.5 years old. Wont leave my side... Still no new contractions or licking... Shes walking around & eating vs staying in her nest...

The stillborn kitten was tiny but looked fully developed, fur & everything looked normal except its size...

So long as she isn't in distress, everything should be fine.  I would just keep an eye on her.  Should be easy if she is following you around.

Someone with more knowledge may come along.

Let us know what happens.  Keep using this thread for any other questions or concerns. 

Kittyz said:

The stillborn kitten was tiny but looked fully developed, fur & everything looked normal except its size...

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I agree with @Handsome Kitty advices.   For now, observe but you can wait and see as long as she isnt in any distress.  She is calm and OK you say..  IF there are others, they will come in their own time.    I suppose you are decently used to palpitating.  Do you feel anything?  Save some swellings?

IF it was the only kitten, or there is just 1-2 other kittens, you can perhaps consider for her to be a foster mom?  As you ARE already into rescuing, Im sure such a thought is not agonizing for you.  

Just be fairly sure the orphaned foster kittens are reasonably healthy.  For example,  their mom got run over by a car, or died in birth.  You dont want kittens where the littermates and momma died from some unpleasant contagion.

SUCH kittens may be possible to save, but rescuers typically handraise such high risk kittens themselves, even if they have a perfectly good foster momma.

If not, she will dry off with time.  Not even breeders do much save this.  And watching out for infections.

Thank you so much for your imput! Its been nervewracking the last few days...wondering if she had mor kittens in there...
So its been 3 days since her first stillborn kitten & she just had a 2nd stillborn kitten tnight;-( Shes panting & having more contractions as i type--- fingers crossed that a healthy lil baby will arrive very soon... If another one is stillborn also is there a common reason for a litter not to thrive? They looked fully formed with fur & such & her labor seemed normal & delivery seemed quick- the head was out & she broke the sac around their faces before the rest of the kitten was even delivered

Kittyz said:

Thank you so much for your imput! Its been nervewracking the last few days...wondering if she had mor kittens in there...
So its been 3 days since her first stillborn kitten & she just had a 2nd stillborn kitten tnight;-( Shes panting & having more contractions as i type--- fingers crossed that a healthy lil baby will arrive very soon... If another one is stillborn also is there a common reason for a litter not to thrive? They looked fully formed with fur & such & her labor seemed normal & delivery seemed quick- the head was out & she broke the sac around their faces before the rest of the kitten was even delivered

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It may be something genetic, alike different blood types - cats MAY have the same problem as humans, although its not so common with cats.

Or some other genetical problem.

It  may also be a bacteria infection inside.  Not that unusual.

A breeder would do a thorough post mortem paying the vets for the analysis.  With a domestic whom shall be spayed anyways, its just to be sure momma is OK (and any surviving kittens), and go on with life, spaying etc.

With the additional possibility you can let her be a foster momma as skissed above.