The Whelping Video

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The Whelping Video: A Transcript
By: Claudia Nix

When I got Rhumba as a feisty pup three years ago, part of the stipulation was that I co-own her with the breeder and the breeder would get a litter out of her when the time came. That time came in the early hours of December 5, 2000. After spending a restless night in and out of the bed and house, Rhumba went into hard labor around 6 a.m. My husband, John (I call him Jimmy-John), and I thought we were prepared for this big event but I realize that perhaps nothing can quite prepare you for your first whelping.

What follows is a transcript from the actual video we recorded. At the time this was recorded every sentence out of my mouth was uttered with complete seriousness and distress. We get a pretty good laugh out of it now. I hope you do, too.

*Rhumba crying in pain*

John: Good girl, Rhumba.

Claudia: Good girl. It's almost out.

C: I can't see. You're in the light.

J: Oh

C: Get me a flashlight. Where did it go?

J: I don't know

C: You probably put it somewhere.

J: I don't know.

C: You need to keep stuff where I need it.

J: It's probably underneath the bed

**Claudia rummages for the flashlight. Rhumba is restless**

C: Hold on, Rhumba. Just keep pushin'

C: Do you think she's killing it?

J: No

C: Is she trying to eat it?

J: She's licking it, isn't she?

C: Yeah but it's not even out.

J: Yeah it's OK. She's doing what she's supposed to do.

C: Maybe she's not.

**pause**Claudia pulls Rhumba's head away from the emerging pup**

C: Rhumba, stop it!

C: What if she eats it...when it's not even out yet? What if she eats its

head? What?! What if?!

J: Ahh...no..I think she's gonna do natural. She's doing good.

**John to Rhumba**

J: It's coming out, Rhumba. Good girl!

C: There's something all bloody or...somethin'

J: Good girl. Good girl, Rhumba!

C: How come it [puppy] got sucked back up? ....OK--there it comes.

**Rhumba is licking and fiddling**

C: Oh, no! She's doing too much right now. Should we keep her from licking

it?

J: No, no. You gotta let her lick it.

C: No, but what if she's eating it? I see a bloody thing...like...she's

took off a foot.

J: Ah...no, I don't think it'll happen while it's in her.

**waiting...no pup**

C: If she'd just push. Push, Rhumba!

**Claudia gestures to the table with the hemostat, alcohol, towels, dental

floss, etc.**

C: I'm gonna have to get over there to get all that stuff...Where's that

flashlight?

**Claudia wanders off to look for flashlight. She locates flashlight and

shines it on emerging pup**

C: It's neat. Do you see something bloody?

J: Yeah. Oh. yeah...it's just about out.

C: No, what's that bloody s***?

J: Oh, it's just...is it part of the placenta?

C: I don't know! I hope she hasn't killed it!.....I'm gonna have to get

over there to get that stuff.

J: Right now you can't.

C: It's gonna be fast though. I need that stuff.

C: Here comes a puppy!

C: Poor little thing with a spot light on her...I just want to see what's

going on. I hope it's alive. I hope it's alive! Push it out you s***head!

Push it out...what's that little red thing? That little nub? What's that

nub?!

[the nub or bloody thing in question this entire time is actually the

puppy's nose!]

J: It's probably part of the placenta.

C: Oh, God---there's more of it. It's coming!

J: Yeah--it's coming out.

C: Oh my God...it has no white on it at all. *laughs*

J: *to Rhumba* Good girl

C: Jimmy-John, is that its skull exposed? Is that its brain exposed?

J: No.

C: That happens.

**Rhumba yelps**

C: I've heard of that happening.....I'm a wreck.

J: Maybe you should stand her up.

C: No! She's...

**Rhumba cries and puppy's head comes out**

J: Yeah! There's one! Yeah...

C: Oh my God. That's his whole head! Oh, God...OK...I can't see...

J: There's two of them there. We'll just shine the light...

C: That's not two of them! It's just one!

J: It's two...just came out.

C: TWO??! **pause** Oh! Is it a mutant? Jimmy-John?

**pause to watch**

C: No...**sigh of relief** ...that's his body.

J: Oh, that's just one?

C: Look, he's all plain. He's all plain. No white.

J: Wow. It's big. I expected smaller. It's a big one.

C: OK, we gotta clamp the cord.

**Claudia moves to get the hemostat**

C: OK, should I take him?

J: No, no leave him alone.

C: No! No, I gotta do something. I gotta clamp. It's too late...the

afterbirth is...Godammit, Jimmy-John. I'm a nervous wreck.

**Claudia moves around aimlessly.

C: Is the sac off?

J: She ate most of it.

C: Does it look alive?

J: Yes. Lick it up there, Rhumba.

**watching Rhumba take care of everything on her own**

C: We're supposed to clamp the cord now. **whispers** He was born at 7:14

a.m.

**pause as they watch Rhumba and the pup**

C: She chewed it [cord] It's over. She did it.

Rhumba had two pups in all, both red/white girls. The second birth was much

quicker and less dramatic than the first. The second time we trusted Rhumba

and we let nature take its course. She did wonderfully, handling it like a

pro and requiring nothing more from us than encouragement and praise.

I want to thank Wanda Pooley and Karla Schreiber for the countless hours they spent on the phone with me, offering words of encouragement and advice and answering a million questions before the big event and for their continued help in the weeks that have passed since the birth. After reading the transcript I'm sure it's quite apparent that they had their work cut out for them! It's been a wild ride!

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