I don't know far along Diamond is...

ashade1

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How is Diamond doing now? I have been told that they can have after pains for a couple of days after, so that might just be it! Congrats on the kittens!
 
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diamond2016

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How is Diamond doing now? I have been told that they can have after pains for a couple of days after, so that might just be it! Congrats on the kittens!
Thanks hun. I'm in absolute awe of them. Diamond is still acting weird but not as often. I could really use some help right now.
 

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I'm here!

Diamond is probably having after pains. The constant meowing is normal. It can take new moms 24-48 hours to settle in. It's just a lot of hormonal stuff going on. She should be okay!

Do you have her in your bedroom?
 
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Sarthur2

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The 38.6 Celsius temperature is in the normal range.

I am concerned about the kittens' low birth weights. Anything under 90 grams is low. You've got 3 below 90 grams.

You should begin supplementing all of the kittens with 1-2 mLs every 2 hours with a needleless syringe. They need to get their weights up. Do you know how to feed?
 
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diamond2016

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The 38.6 Celsius temperature is in the normal range.

I am concerned about the kittens' low birth weights. Anything under 90 grams is low. You've got 3 below 90 grams.

You should begin supplementing all of the kittens with 1-2 mLs every 2 hours with a needleless syringe. They need to get their weights up. Do you know how to feed?
You show up when it's time to sleep lol...

My room doesn't have a door so I've just left her where she gave birth but I've changed all the bedding. I was worried about their weight too. No, I don't know how to feed. But I do know that diamonds milk has come in now. I was going to weigh them first thing in the morning.
 

Sarthur2

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It's tough as you are in Australia, and I am in Florida, USA. The time difference is 14 hours.

Please post weights again as soon as you get them. If they are not gaining 6-10 grams per day, you will need to supplement. If so, I'll give instructions.

Are all 5 kittens latching and nursing?
 
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diamond2016

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It's tough as you are in Australia, and I am in Florida, USA. The time difference is 14 hours.

Please post weights again as soon as you get them. If they are not gaining 6-10 grams per day, you will need to supplement. If so, I'll give instructions.

Are all 5 kittens latching and nursing?
Weights are not great at all...

#1 104g
#2 83g (down by 13g!!!)
#3 81g
#4 106g
#5 86g
 

Sarthur2

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Weights are terrible!!!

You need to begin supplementing right away! Start with #2, who lost 13 grams. He must be starving! You'll lose him otherwise.

Weight loss is scary! None of them have gained enough, and they are tiny!

Using a needleless syringe, feed each kitten 5-6 mLs every 2 hours around the clock.

Hold the kitten tummy down, head up, and go drop by drop in the side of the mouth. Let the kitten swallow and breathe between drops.

As they grow accustomed to the syringe, they may latch on to the syringe and drink faster.

You can wrap each kitten in a towel like a burrito to feed. The kittens need to be warm, and the formula needs to be warm.

Please start now and let me know how it goes.
 
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diamond2016

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Weights are terrible!!!

You need to begin supplementing right away! Start with #2, who lost 13 grams. He must be starving! You'll lose him otherwise.

Weight loss is scary! None of them have gained enough, and they are tiny!

Using a needleless syringe, feed each kitten 5-6 mLs every 2 hours around the clock.

Hold the kitten tummy down, head up, and go drop by drop in the side of the mouth. Let the kitten swallow and breathe between drops.

As they grow accustomed to the syringe, they may latch on to the syringe and drink faster.

You can wrap each kitten in a towel like a burrito to feed. The kittens need to be warm, and the formula needs to be warm.

Please start now and let me know how it goes.
Yes I knew they were bad!! I called the vet and they are giving me a nipple for the syringe cos the kittens won't take it. Also if that doesn't work I'll be shown how to tube feed
 
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diamond2016

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Diamond is not at all happy when I pick them up or touch them. Pupils are huge and she tries to roll onto them to protect them from me...
 

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Keep trying. You gently get the mouth open and go drop by drop in the side of the mouth. Tube feeding is dangerous. Just work with the kitten until you get comfortable with the syringe. Is it a tiny syringe?

You can take the kitten into another room to feed it if necessary. #2 really needs food.

When do you see the vet?
 

Sarthur2

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You need a 1 or 2 mL syringe. Very small and easy to work with.

Can you get them in any sooner? They need feeding asap! Especially #2.
 
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diamond2016

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Just got back from the vet now. They actually said its expected to lose weight the first day. I'm still going to supplement #2. It doesn't feel right not to. I got a bottle with a test as well. Which should I use? And why?
 
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diamond2016

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I was able to get 2ml into #2 and 1ml onto the others. Is that OK? I'm about to feed them again. Can I keep the left over milk for the next feed and heat it up in warm water or jusy start again?
 

ashade1

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Great that you got some in them! You can refrigerate the left over milk and warm it up in warm water before the next feeding! You can keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It doesn't sound right that the vet would tell you that weight loss is normal, I have never heard that... Are they still latching on to mom and trying to nurse off of her?
 
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diamond2016

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Yes hun they are but when I try to express, nothing is coming out of her. That's why I've decided to go against the vet. What harm could it do to supplement?!? Can have too fat if kittens, surely lol
 

ashade1

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I definitely would keep supplementing as often as you can, when I got my 4 day old babies I was supplementing every 2 hours ( I had a large litter so I was supplementing and rotating) Keep us updated! And definitely keep weighing daily! That helped me know if I was supplementing enough! :)
 
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diamond2016

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So I'm aiming for 6g increase each day? When I tried to feed them last time, they just kept meowing and wouldn't drink much. Their tummies looked quite plump so I'm thinking they may have gotten some milk from mum?
 

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So I'm aiming for 6g increase each day? When I tried to feed them last time, they just kept meowing and wouldn't drink much. Their tummies looked quite plump so I'm thinking they may have gotten some milk from mum?
Probably they got some from momma yes - its why weighting every day is so good, you dont need to guess, you know.

6g a day is minimum, for the convalescents whom were in crisis shortly before, for the very minuscule (=very low birth weight)  - but I have seen examples of very minor ones whom added 15 grammes a day..

So normally we hope for 10+ a day,  gladely even more.
 
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