Boog,
..Congratulations. Leave the cords alone. The longer they are intact after the birth the less likely they will bleed. Over the first few hours the small blood vessels that support them contract and close up. If there is any yolk material left the babies will absorb it through the cord over a couple of hours. Moving the babies early usually does not cause any problems though. As soon as you can get the mom out of there you can feed her anything she will eat. She will digest that first meal very quickly and be ready to eat again soon. She also will liekly soons go into a shed so feeding before then is good so she does not go too long without nourishment. All this info is extrapolated from Rainbow Boa births.
Jeff

>>Just had the first litter ...ever. I thought that I was totally prepared, but I soon realized that I wasn't. I am having major brain farts and have forgotten how to procede. So I just a couple of questions.
>>1) What do i do with the umbillical cords? Do I just leave them alone...cut them...tie them off...Not real sure.
>>2)When should I feed mom? I know that I have to clear out all of the babies and clean out the birth smell, but should I try to feed her right away or give her a day?
>>3)What size rat to feed to mom? Something smallish or a normal size (according to her pre-gravid girth)?
>>
>>My head is absolutely spinning and I'm running around like a lunatic! Thanks for any help/advice. Boog

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