Labour soon?

Is there something I can do to help Skye's nipples stay clean and soft? Also, Skye has had some dark red discharge today, just a few drops here and there. i've heard that's normal but thought I should check? 

A warm compress, applying olive oil or Udder Balm daily.

It sounds like post-birthing spotting to me. It lasts about a week. It's normal.

I'll give it a go though I'm not not sure if she'll let me. Kitten's weights are all good,they've all gained at least 12g since yesterday, with the golden one (who we've named Ruaidh) gaining 22.They have all now gained 35-38 grams since birth, so i'm very pleased. I am wondering though what normal lactating nipples look like and if the bottom two nipples tend to have the most milk, as those are the largest on Skye by a fair margin. Also, the fur in a ring around the nipples is stained a faint yellow, would that just be dried leached milk from the kitten's mouths? 

Bottom nipples are always the biggest and fullest. Yellow stain is from colostrum and milk.

They are gaining very well!

This is Skye this morning. Does this look normal or is it too much? She's otherwise happy, eating, drinking and feeding the kittens.

I would talk to the vet about that bleeding to be on the safe side.

Just got off the phone to the vet. They said to keep an eye on it today and call them back later in the afternoon with an update. Because she's acting like herself (and is showing signs of recovery like jumping to the windowsill for the first time since birth) and the blood isn't bright red they think it's probably just normal afterbirth. I'll keep close watch on her though since she didn't seem to have any until yesterday and it's heavier today.

About half an hour ago she had a good wash and I haven't seen any blood since. Fingers crossed that was the worst of it and it will taper off from here.

redbowlingball said:

Just got off the phone to the vet. They said to keep an eye on it today and call them back later in the afternoon with an update. Because she's acting like herself (and is showing signs of recovery like jumping to the windowsill for the first time since birth) and the blood isn't bright red they think it's probably just normal afterbirth. I'll keep close watch on her though since she didn't seem to have any until yesterday and it's heavier today.

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I'm glad you checked with the vet.  I agree that watch and see is best here.  Doesn't sound like an emergency.

It really should taper off from reddish to brown and completely stop soon, hopefully. Good to have the vet advisement though.

Yup, I've only seen 1 tiny drop since she washed about 4 hours ago so paws crossed. ANOTHER question; I sometimes hear the kittens sneezing while nuzzling around for a nipple. Could it just be their little noses get tickled? I haven't yet seen them sneeze when they aren't nursing or trying to latch. 

Kittens sneezing usually means a URI. You may want to call your vet back and get antibiotics started on them all (including mom), before it gets worse. Kittens don't normally sneeze unless they are sick.

I thought URI's were viruses and therefore can't be treated with antibiotics, unless it is a bacterial infection? Is there anything else I should look for apart from sneezing or is that usually the only symptom?

URI's respond to antibiotics in kittens when they are bacterial. The sneezing tells me it's coming on. They will get stuffier and not eat as well if they can't breathe. They can start coughing. It drags them down and won't go away on its own.

I've just sat with them for half an hour and heard exactly one possible sneeze and I'm not sure it is sneezing I'm hearing. There's no head movement when I hear it (like when an adult cat sneezes) so I can't even tell which kitten it comes from and it's only when the kittens are tussling over a nipple that I hear it. It sounds possibly like the kitten still sucking when dislodged from the nipple, or trying to suck it back into their mouths. Or just swearing at their siblings? I've heard it on and off since they born and it's not gotten more frequent. All eyes, noses and breathing look and sound good. 

*googling videos of newborn kittens sneezing*

Well, hopefully it's not sneezing and just other kitten noises. It does not sound like they are sick if breathing is good! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I had to call the vet to update her on Skye's bleeding anyway so i mentioned the sneezing. She said it sounds normal and, like you said, if breathing and noses are good then it's likely nothing. 

Okay, good, and now you've mentioned it, in case they do get sick the vet will know.

The little black kitten, Archie, just purred for the first time! It's surprisingly deep, haha.