The Miracle of Birth or Quick! Boil Water!!!
Q: Oh my god! My rat is having babies!! Should I panic!?!?
A: No. You should remain calm, breathe deeply and remember that 90% of rat
births come off without a hitch and that the vast majority of moms and
babies survive and thrive with no help from big stupid humans.
Q: But what about the other 10%?!?!?
A: We’ll get to that in the next section entitled “Plan
B or When @#$% Goes Pearshaped.” So just relax for now, okay? Get a cup
of tea (or something stronger), calm down, and read the next few questions
first. Your girl is going to be fine, really, and so are her babies.
Q: My rat has made an enormous nest out of paper. Is that normal?
A: Absolutely. The majority of expectant rat mums construct an enormous
nest out of anything they can drag into their cage corner of choice.
I’ve
had a female who dragged a Rizzo the Rat Muppet doll into her very narrow
barred maternity cage from over half a foot away (do not ask me how) and
eviscerated the poor stuffie to make an even more elaborate nest for her
tiny pink progeny. Not all females make nests prior to delivery, but most
do. Do not panic if you girl hasn’t made much of a nest before birthing.
I guarantee she’ll make one once the little ones have arrived.
Q: Ack! There’s blood in the cage but no babies! Should I panic!?
A: No. Slight spotting up to a day before delivery can happen. Most
females do bleed a bit just prior to delivery and the placentas can
also leave
bloodstains on the bedding as they are delivered. If the bleeding
is excessive – more
than 4 to 5 American half-dollar sized blobs – then you may want
to consult your vet. Likewise, if mum is spotting for more than a day with
no
babies, you may also want to ring the doctor.
Q: What are the signs my girl is going into labor?
A: A doe in labor will sort of hunch down a bit and fluff up. She
may brux to herself or even squeak a bit. You may also see her
sides suck
in rather
dramatically and then puff out rhythmically. These are contractions.
Some does don’t show much sign of labor at all – they just suddenly
bend over and start fussing with their genitals and then pull forth a perfect
little pinkie.
Q: What exactly happens when the babies are delivered?
A: The mother will bend over and often help pull the baby out with
her forepaws and teeth. She will then clean off the membrane
around the baby
and lick
the baby clean with her tongue. This helps stimulate the baby
to breathe and move around. She may then go back to pulling at her
genitals to
remove the placenta.
Q: What is a placenta and is it okay for my rat to eat it?
A: The placenta is the blood rich membrane that feeds the growing
embryos from mom’s bloodstream. It looks like a red, gooey piece of liver when
the mother passes it. Eating the placenta helps provide mum with some much
needed protein for energy during delivery and initial nursing. Yes, it’s
totally gross, but nature often is – just watch the Discovery channel
or PBS if you don’t believe me.
Q: How long does labor last?
A: Labor can last up to a day, though most deliveries are over
within an hour or two.
Q: When will my mom rat start nursing?
A: Most mother rats will not begin nursing until all the
babies and placentas are delivered. Mom’s can also take some time to rest and let their
raging hormones even out before beginning the business of nursing. If your
mom rat has the babies scattered around the cage a bit right after or during
delivery, don’t panic. It can sometimes take a couple of hours for
mom to relax, reorganize and nurse, particularly if you disturb her a lot
during the birth process. If mom still shows signs of ignoring the babies
or of being confused after a few hours, then you may want to check in with
Plan B.
Q: How can I tell if my doe is nursing?
A: The babies have rather thin, almost translucent skin
when newborn. You will be able to see a creamy colored
band across
their sides,
where the stomach
would be, if their tummies are full of milk. This area
is often called the milk band or milk stripe.