Write an article based on this "Listen closely. Be present for the birth. During the birth, look out for signs of complications and be ready to call the vet if need be. Intervene yourself with the pups only when absolutely necessary. Check each pup is breathing. Check that the sow clears away any signs of the birth. Ensure that the sow is interested in the pups as first-time mothers, particularly young ones, may run away from the pups as if confused."
When you are checking on your guinea pig, listen for any groaning. Your guinea pig will give a distinctive groan when she is going into labour. Even if you've never heard it before, chances are you'll know it when you hear it. It should be under an hour and there should be about 5 minutes between pups. The sow will sit up with her head between her legs and make small 'hiccups', these are contractions. Do not hold the mother. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Do not intervene or touch the pups unless you need to. There is no need to remove other sows, they may even help with the pups. If any sign of complication or distress does arise, do not hesitate and contact the vet immediately. Signs of complication are: Mother strains for 15 minutes without producing a pup. Total labor is over one hour. Mother starts making "extreme" stress calls Mother seems to give in, appearing exhausted Mother salivates/foams at mouth Excessive bleeding (more than a tablespoon) The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. However, a caesarean surgery may be required. Occasionally, with large litters, if the pups emerge too quickly, the mother will not have time to break the amniotic sac herself. In these cases, and only if you are sure the mother will not do it herself, carefully pick up the pup with a clean towel and remove the sac yourself, clearing any fluid from the face. Do not use your fingers or nails as you could accidentally scratch the pup's eyes. Whilst a pup becoming stuck in the birth canal or born breech is common, never intervene yourself. Only a skilled and experienced veterinarian should attempt to manipulate the position of pups before they are born. If a pup is not, carefully lift it up and hold it at arm's length. Its head should be away from you. Spin around once. The force should free any blockages from its throat and help it to start breathing. If this does not work, gently rub its back forwards and backwards which should achieve the same thing. She will eat the afterbirth and should clean each pup. She will also eat any bedding etc. with blood on it. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. If the sow runs away from the pups, carefully place her and the pups together in a small box and her maternal instincts should kick-in.