deceased babies

Question
I have an 8 month old that I noticed gaining weight, although we had watched her carefully when attemping to breed her, I am ashamed to say I missed it and was unable to track her days, I assumed that with the gain, she was pregnant, I felt every day for a wk for movement , felt none. never the less I placed her in a cage alone with a nesting box, for days she hung out in the box, but never built a nest nor pulled her hair. It is with a heavy heart that I say, this morning I found 5 kits dead on the cage floor. I realize it was 100% my fault for not knowing for sure that she was bred, and my fault for not setting up her home and nest box in advance. this litter was big deal in our home as they were to be our 3rd generation,a full pedigree and my children's 4-h show rabbits. what  I would like to know  is what would cause her to not make the nest, and just give birth any old cold place,  and what can I do in the future to prevent this devistating procedure.

Answer
hi kelly i suspect this was her first litter?
lots of first time does kill the babies because they get frightened but i find that if you mate them again they rear the second lot ok
they need a nest box full of hay so they can make a nest when they want to.
dave.