Birthing

Question
our female just had her first pup an hour ago. We are sure there are more to come but can this process take a long time between pups  Also, will they start feeding right away because so far she isnt helping out the pup.

Answer
Dave,
I'm hoping you were able to find some LIVE help for your question as I am just receiving this now at 7:00pm -  
It IS normal for it to take time between puppies.... sometimes up to two hours apart. It really varies, but make sure if your dog is ACTIVELY PUSHING and no pup is born within an hour, then intervention is probably needed.  If this is your first litter, I'm sure you are just nervous - most births go perfectly well and the mom does just fine. Puppies should go right on a nipple after they are born (and their noses/mouths are suctioned out) It helps if you squeeze a little milk out of a nipple and put the puppy on it. If the puppy is very sick or weak, it will not nurse.  Your female is probably very nervous if it's her first litter, so a little TLC, maybe some spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream and some quiet will help. The ice cream provides delicious energy for your dog and is a dairy product and helps a bit with milk letting. Try to relax I bet you're doing just fine!  Congrats on the pups!