Lacey's Cesarean Section

Poor poor Lacey. She continues being in labor. The odd thing about her labor is she isn't pushing. She doesn't seem in distress, just uncomfortable. She is acting famished, and she follows me around. At this point I'm letting her go (hang out, not "go") wherever she wants. She was on the chair for awhile and acted like she was trying to have her puppies there.

This morning I took a couple of Shabbi's puppies to the vet to be neutered. I asked if the vet would give me some doses of pitocin so I could give it to Lacey. They said that since Dr Baker wasn't in today they (two other vets in the practice) didn't feel comfortable with it. They said Dr Baker would be in tomorrow and he could help me. Uh, no way I'm going to let Lacey go that long. She is in labor today and needs help today.

I went back home and alternated between sitting with Lacey and getting some things done. I kept an eye on the clock. Shortly after noon o'clock I called my vet's office and said I had a dog in labor that likely needs a C-Section. I said if the vet is too busy I'd be glad to take her to Northwood. That is the vet hospital and surgery center where I've taken several others. (Ellie the cleft palate puppy, the original JR, Rosie with her second delivery, and a couple others). That is also where Lacey and Da Vinci's guardian family takes them, so they are her regular vet and know her. Anyway, she (vet tech) said the vet is out to lunch right now. Whew! I was off the hook. I could go to Northwood guilt-free. I just kept thinking about Velvet's C-Section and how she lost 5 puppies. I've been wanting to go to this other hospital if I ever needed another emergency C-Section. So, I loaded up Lacey and took her to the hospital. The vet there checked her cervix (I checked her cervix at home and thought she was completely dilated but wasn't sure) and said she is completely dilated. He said he could give her a dose of pitocin and see what she does. He gave her dose and after 1/2 hour she hadn't started pushing at all. He gave her another dose, gave us some blankets, and turned out the lights. I sat under the table with her in the hopes of her being calm enough to have the puppies. She didn't push at all but I could feel she was having contractions. After 1/2 hour the vet said she needed a C-Section. I saw that coming. I didn't get to go back with her. Lacey's guardian mom works just a couple blocks away. I went to see her, then I went to the grocery store. When I got back to the hospital I had to wait only a few minutes before the surgeon came out to talk to me. He said Lacey was full of big puppies and that was a big load for her. She had 9 puppies and they are all healthy and beautiful. She has:
one chocolate girl
one black girl
two chocolate boys
five black boys
They are all wool except for two of the black boys.
As soon as Lacey was able to walk I loaded them all up in the van and took them to her guardian mom's work so she could see them. After a few minutes I took them on home. Lacey didn't know why in the world I kept trying to show those puppies to her. She didn't want a thing to do with them. She looked dazed and confused and danced around to keep me from holding them up to her. Bessie, on the other hand, was dying to see and lick the puppies. Finally I had Bessie lay down and give the puppies their first meal. She did great. Thank goodness for Bessie.

I had to get up and go to work in the morning so Bryony stayed up all night keeping an eye on the puppies and on Lacey and Bessie.