How are things going? Please update as soon as possible. Has the kitten been born yet? If not, get to an emergency vet ASAP! Mom and kittens are in danger. Breach births can be very difficult for first-time moms. Prayers! We're here for you!
I helped her out with a little massaging and changing her position. She has had 4 now.
3 tiny kittens, and one very malnourished one. She still has more to go.
She has had one more, and I can feel more still kicking in her belly. I think they are tiny because of how many she has. However the one I mentioned seems very malnourished for some reason. She is pushing on number 6. I have seen all of them rooting and trying to nurse except this one. I keep taking it to the teat. I bottle fed a litter of 5 in September so it's not unfamiliar to me if I must nurse this teeny one.
The kitten looks premature. You need to begin supplementing this one immediately, and make sure she is warm at all times. Can you weigh the kittens? We need to know weights. Start by giving 1 mL of KMR every hour until they are nursing well. Otherwise, I'm not sure they will all make it, particularly this one.
God bless and sending prayers for mama, babies, and you!!! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]128591[/emoji]Please, God, help these babies survive, help mama help her babies, and help human mama too!!!
By the way, you'll need to use a syringe. A small 1-2 mL one preferably. Kittens with moms will not take a bottle, and most newborns being supplemented need it given through a syringe. I'm sure it's the only way you'll get milk into the preemie.
It's tummy down, head up, a drop at a time in the side of the mouth. Allow the kitten to swallow, and breathe, and go again. Mom can do the stimulating and cleaning, hopefully. If not, you'll have to help.
I've given these instructions because you said you bottle fed previously. That's different than syringe-feeding newborns with low birth weights who have a mom.
Ive actually always only used syringes, never had luck with actual bottles. They are doing great. All of them are nursing regularly. I am still supplementing the tiny one.
This is such good news! I hope the little one makes it. I wasn't sure if you were familiar with the syringe method, but glad you are. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
Here's an update on the kittens. They are 15 days old now. The small one is still much tinier than the rest but I am still supplementing with kmr. These weights are in ounces. Do they seem on par for 15 day old kittens? They all seemed very tiny to me.