Emergency! Ethel is in labor!

She started contractions at 10:20am and then I put her in her box and sat with her. Her "water" broke at 10:50 and she started having them frequently. She wouldn't let me out of her sight and I had to leave the room at the AT&T guy arrived and she ran under the bed dripping as she went. I went back in and put her in her box but she won't stay there even when I sit to rub her. I finally let her go and she's under the bed and panting! It is so dusty and linty under there and I want her in her box but I can't get her there! Help!!!!!

First of all, take a deep breath and relax.

It would be best to get her out from under the bed. Could you put her and her box in a different room?

Gaye has set up some fantastic stickies at the top of this forum. Have you looked though those?

Since you're with her can you move the box into the bathroom with her just during labor? This way she can't run to any place where you can't reach her/be with her? Then when its all done maybe you could move the nest back to the bedroom? Just some ideas.

Hope it goes well!!!!

When I went back and looked under the bed I saw feet sticking out. I slid her out and out her on a towel and then carried her over to her box. I helped her the baby out because feet first I didn't know how long she could leave it hanging. "It" finally came out with her growling and she went to work cleaning it up. It was trying to find a nipple and I realized that the cord is still attached and she hasn't delivered the placenta yet. The baby was squeaking and looking for a nipple and I tried to help but Ethel seems to know what she is doing so I left the room to give her some "space". The first one seems to be a good size and is mostly orange with some white.

My husband called and said "Too bad you can'' call and have the boys come home from school." Like I want those two here in the middle of all this!

Congratulations on the first kitten. It sounds like things are going well.

You do realize we will eventually want pictures of cute, fluffy kittens, right?

She has now chewed the umbilical cord but there is about 2 inches left on the kitten. Will she take care of that too? Maybe I just need to be patient! I guess I have read all the "could happens" and I am freaking out. I think I need a drink!

Deep breaths and relax. I would let nature take its course for a bit.

You can toast the new mom later.

Thanks! I have tile guys laying tile and AT&T is here for I don't know what but he is drilling on my house! It is very chaotic and I a bit overwhelmed. It is great to know that I am not doing this "alone"!

Silly Kitty for not picking a more quiet time!

Just remember that cats have been having babies for a long time without our help. You just need to watch in case she gets into trouble.

Just make mommy feel secure and she will be fine.

How do I make rice heaters? The room is room but the first kitten is cool from her bath. And we have a second one that came when I was out of the room and it is what I call marble and beautiful!

Originally Posted by LisaB917

She has now chewed the umbilical cord but there is about 2 inches left on the kitten. Will she take care of that too? Maybe I just need to be patient! I guess I have read all the "could happens" and I am freaking out. I think I need a drink!

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That sounds about right. You don't want to get it to close. It will eventually fall off as it dries up. Not sure how long that takes though. A few days?

Originally Posted by LisaB917

How do I make rice heaters? The room is room but the first kitten is cool from her bath. And we have a second one that came when I was out of the room and it is what I call marble and beautiful!

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Not sure if you mean this, but shouldn't Mom be able to warm her up?

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/cold_kitten.html

She's busy delivering and cleaning up #4! # are "marble" and only 1 is the orange and white. I hope this is all of them!

5 kittens so far wow. That is a good #.

Oh wow! That's awesome. I hope everything continues to go well! And congrats, too! Good healthy babies...woo!

congrats!!!!

Did she have anymore babies. Is everything ok.

We are at 4. 2 boys and 2 girls. Eth is exhausted! I can't tell if there are any more. I will give her a couple of hours and if I am still unsure I will take her to the vet. But I am hoping that we are done!

I have tried to get the babies to latch on and even though they are rooting they are not latching even when I put the little mouth there. Momma is just holding them and purred for me when I rubbed her and told her how proud I was.

Now I have to clean up my room as my first neighbor has already been over!

Congrats on an uneventful birth! Give it a little time on the latching on. My guess is that they will sort themselves out, find their own little personal niche and go to town nursing within the next 30 minutes or so.