Labor? Update: Kittens Are Here!

[SmittyFlowerBud]

Hi everyone,
I'm completely new here but I have been looking on the site for a few days and figured it's time I post something! My family and I have a Bengal female (CoCo) who has mated with our neighbors male Siamese (we had an appointment to get her spayed but it turned out she was pregnant and we don't find it fair to our girl to cancel the pregnancy and spay so please no asking why she wasn't spayed or telling me I need to get her spayed. As soon as babies are weaned and she's deemed okay, she will be getting spayed). We don't have an exact date of mating as it wasn't intentional but our Bengal was in heat around the middle of April, which should make her due now or extremely close to now. She has been showing signs of prelabor for a few days now. About a week ago, she got white small crusty spots on her nipples and I'm assuming it was milk, they've also gotten alot larger (from everything I've read and from the breeders I've spoken to). For this past week as well she hasn't wanted to leave my side. She's usually very friendly but she's a Bengal so doesn't stay still. Lately she has just been laying around me and getting me to gently pet her stomach. 3 days ago, her belly dropped and is extremely low now. She has been in and out of her nesting box for about 3-4 days as well. The past 2 days though she has hardly left it at all, laying on her side and licking herself non stop. She has been licking herself quite a bit for the last week too. Everything I've read said these are the signs of prelabor but she's not progressing. She has a tiny bit of discharge in her vulva and if you look closely you can see it has started opening a little as well. Just want to know if anyone's been through this as well? I feel like this is a crazy waiting game but since I don't have the exact date they mated, I can't be 100% positive. Just looking for others who can offer some advice

Completely new as well. And off topic. I just went through this and feeding the mom kitten food is advised. Especially wet kitten food. Always having access to clean water and as much food as she wants.

I never knew how much nutritional food and a stress free environment us essential to prego cats and even after birth til kittens are well weaned. Wish healthy birth!

 

[Bengalmum93]

It's been about 7 hours since her water broke and still no visible contractions. She is showing signs that she's ready though. Hoping tonight or tomorrow! Here's another picture of Coco in her nesting box. She just looks so big, poor thing! Does anyone want to guess how many kittens there will be?

 

[Sarthur2]

Poor gal. Perhaps four kittens.

 

[Bengalmum93]

Update on Coco: it has now been 22 hours since her water broke yesterday and we still have no visible contractions. Good news though, she is finally starting to get the discharge which is associated with labor. I will keep updating as she progresses!
Hoping we have kittens either tonight or tomorrow

 

[Bengalmum93]

She is also licking her lips quite a bit. I've been told this could mean nausea? Is there anything I can do to help her feel better? Thx everyone!!

 

[Bengalmum93]

Hoping someone sees this and can answer soon! It's been over 24 hours (27 to be exact) and I feel like we're at the same stage as yesterday. Although I did just go to feel her tummy and she gave me a little bite which I'm guessing says don't touch me right now. Very out of character for her, especially the last few days as shes constantly wanted her belly rubs. Her eyes look like she's in pain but I can't get a good look as she's laying under the kitchen table in the dark right now. Is there a maximum time I should let her be before bringing her to the vet if she hasn't had kittens? I know a day or two after is sometimes considered normal but there's gotta be a certain time that she needs to be checked out... right? Thanks! Hope someone answers. I'm a tad worried!

 

[Sarthur2]

Sorry to be so late answering. She should go into labor soon and have her kittens. Is she still getting discharge? Are you seeing any ripples in her sides that look like contractions?

Bengalmum93

 

[Bengalmum93]

Sorry to be so late answering. She should go into labor soon and have her kittens. Is she still getting discharge? Are you seeing any ripples in her sides that look like contractions?

She doesn't look like she's getting any more discharge, it's sort of just dried on there and it was truly the tiniest spot. I had to look with the flashlight on my phone just to be able to see it. I think I'm seeing ripples but it also just looks like the kittens kicking/moving around so I'm not sure if it's contractions.

 

[Sarthur2]

At this stage in the game it sounds like she is having contractions. That’s why she is feeling miserable and lying on the floor in the dark under the chair. Poor gal.

Stage one labor lasts about 24 hours, so assuming it began shortly after her water broke, she should be having her kittens in the next few hours. Hang in there!

Bengalmum93

 

[Bengalmum93]

It's now 3.5 hours after I posted the last time and still no signs of labor progressing .. no more discharge and no visible contractions. I'm thinking I should call our vet in the morning and see if she thinks I should bring her in!

 

[Sarthur2]

Labor takes time. How is she today?

Bengalmum93

 

[Islasmum]

Yes... how are you getting on? Hopefully you have beautiful babies keeping you busy xxx

 

[Bengalmum93]

Sarthur2 Islasmum she's doing okay so far today. She's spending most of the time in her nesting box. Her vulva has opened a little bit more today and there is a tiny bit of pinkish discharge accompanying that. She has been VERY vocal today as well, if I leave her side she will follow me and meow at me until I follow her back to her nesting box so I do think she's in labor! No visible contractions/pushing yet although I'm not 100% positive if I would know what a contraction looks like, especially an earlier one where it's not so intense. But we are crossing our fingers for kittens today!!!
Currently cleaning herself and purring like crazy!

 

[Islasmum]

Sounding promising all that! You've just described my girl this morning before her babies were born...I dont think you have long to wait xx

 

[Bengalmum93]

Sounding promising all that! You've just described my girl this morning before her babies were born...I dont think you have long to wait xx

I will post as soon as I have an update for you all

 

[Sarthur2]

Those are all the textbook signs of labor and impending delivery. It sounds like everything is proceeding normally. It’s just a matter of time and patience. Keep us posted!

 

[Bengalmum93]

It has now been over 48 hours and I feel like we're back at square one! I'm assuming by the amount of liquid I saw before that it wasn't her whole water breaking and her body isn't ready yet! Here's to waiting and hoping for a healthy, smooth delivery!!

 

[Bengalmum93]

So it now Monday evening (approx 3 days since I last posted). She is giving very confusing signs still and I'm just not sure when she is going to have them. If she hasn't had them by Friday we will be calling the vet as that will make it close to approximately 70 days for her. She is still acting normal and being her happy self, she is just lazier. She is still eating/drinking and using the litter box no problem. She has been spending ALOT of time in her nesting boxes (she checks them all out - we have 4 set up for her - but she favors one of them). I haven't noticed any milk lactating but she has had the white crusties on her nipples for just over a week. She does seem to be a little more vocal though, which I'm assuming could be early labor but I don't want to get my hopes up. She is still happy and healthy and no sign of distress, which takes some of the worry away but I just don't want her to have to have surgery for being overdue. Would love to hear similar stories of labors that seemed to take forever to start or pregnancies that almost went overdue but didn't, or really any reassuring advice/tips. She's our baby and I'm just extra worried for her since it is her first (and only) litter.

 

[Sarthur2]

I took in a pregnant stray four years ago not knowing when she conceived. I eventually took her to the vet, who did x-rays, and told me there were 4 kittens and that they would be ready in 7-10 days. She had them 12 days later. She was huge! The photo above is the day before she delivered 4 healthy kittens.

 

[danteshuman]

Wow Saturday she looks ready to pop!!!

bengal mom that CoCo has a safe delivery. I know hurry up and wait is hard advice to take. I would have called a vet by now to come check on her because I’m insane worrier. If things do go wrong (which I doubt will happen) having a copy of her medical records along with numbers of your local ER vet hospitals and mobile vets might be helpful.