Day 58

She's getting ready

her woo is very soft and puffy

she's hungry for her special meal

Girth is bouncing all around.  

The other day it was 30".    

Then jumped up to 31.5". 

 Then back down to 30".  

This morning she's 32"

Temp came up a tiny bit to 99.7

We are looking for a drop and maybe a couple of times before the onset of labor to 96-97 and then comes back up a little.   The temperature taking can go up and down, but if I follow it carefully, now every 4-5 hours, we will catch the drop(s) and will know when she will have her babies.  Once it drops we can expect puppies within 12-24 hours.  yep, we are almost that close.  I checked her at 4a.m. this morning and her tummy was rock hard like a light contraction, then relaxed.  She's getting close, but could still be 2-4 days.

stay tuned, the birth will be here on this blog as they come out

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What to expect
Your female will show some of these signs or all of them. If your experience is not normal from things you have read, you should call your vet. Delaying help from a vet could endanger your dam and pups. This is a time to remember to be safe rather than sorry.
First stage of labor:

If you are really committed, the temperature taking does work.  You will find her temperature around 99 to 101, and as soon as it starts to drop below 99 and continues to drop you have about 12-24 hours from the start of the drop.  When it bottoms out to 96 or 97, then you have about 2-12 hours.  (This stage often goes unnoticed, and takes place in the 24 hours following temperature drop.)

Temperature FINALLY drops to 97°F from its normal 99, 100, 101°F.

this is what we are looking for, now taking her temperature every four hours.  Starting tomorrow will be every 2-3 hours, including getting up during the night and taking it.

You may find your dam much more restless and not able to get comfortable. She will stretch out on her side. 
You may find her eyes different; they will dilate, and she will stare at you.
She may not want you out of her sight. She may go to her whelping box.
She may vomit.

She may try to have a bowel movement from the pressure.

She may urinate frequently.

She will refuse to eat and seek a quiet spot, like a closet or under a bed.

She has not refused to eat yet, that's when I know it's today.

She may have some mucus discharge, and her vulva area will become puffier.

This has been going on for a few days.

The normal body temperature for animals is generally higher than for humans. The normal rectal temperature of a dog is 99.5° to 102.5°F. The normal temperature of a puppy at birth is 96-97°F. The temperature gradually increases with age until it is 100°F at four weeks of age.

Puppies cannot hold their own temperature the first 10 days old.  This is really crucial for a brand new puppy that they stay snuggled with momma for warmth.  The first ten days their instinct is to search for warmth and eat.

stay tuned.