7 to 8 Weeks Pregnant

Grace is definitely into her seventh week, her girth is growing by leaps and bounds

Today Grace's girth with hair shaved down is 28 14/"

her normal girth (non-pregnant) is usually about 24"

why are we talking about girth?  For fun

LOL.  It's a way to guess how many puppies are coming if you havn't actually done an x-ray in the last week of pregnancy.  The theory is in a standard poodle litter for every inch growth there is one puppy.  With Everad's sized down moyen puppies we are close but usually add one puppy to her measurement.  

Grace's girth will get to about 32" in her last few days
stay tuned...

at this point we are just watching her pregnancy growth

the last week (or days before delivery) we can get really good guess of how many puppies to expect and when she's done delivering.  Usually sleeping on the floor and everyone settled and momma also sound asleep is the best indicator.

Week 8

November 8th to November 14th

Dam grooms herself a lot

Breasts becomes swollen and milk forms

She will nest and get a little frantic now and then from now on to find her hiding place for her and her puppies.  We have the large Dura-Whelp whelping box with lamp heaters, heating pads for her sleeping comfort to reassure her she will indeed have her puppies in the faithful whelping box.

Should be able to feel/see puppies moving around this week

When the puppies look like they are pushing themselves out sideways is when we know we are in the last week of pregnancy.  Puppies can be seen pushing against the skin and we can see feet and rolling backs to push out.  As they grow they run out of room in the only world they know, the womb.

Gracie is due November 22nd and doing well