Well, so youv'e rolled a litter successfully and now you have a pregnant dam, congratulations! Pregnancies on nocturne are automatically tracked which takes a lot of the stress off of you. This page will help you understand the birthing process and what each week of pregnancy looks like for the dam.

Gestation Timeline

Wolves are generally pregnant for around 62 days. On Nocturne, the gestation period of your character is determined at the time you roll the litter. Characters can give birth anywhere between 58 and 70 days. Their profile and posts will list pregnancy as "Yes, Week #" so that you can keep track.

Gestation Guide
Week 1	During week one there are little to no symptoms. Typically the dam may experience some discomfort during this time due to the fertilized eggs embedding into the uterine wall.
Week 2	There is no physical change just yet but the dam may experience more sensitivity to stress and depression.
Week 3	Despite no physical changes there may be an increased appetite for the dam as well as nausea throughout the day (often referred to as morning sickness as it is most common in the morning).
Week 4	This is a prime time to start any pre-natal herbs and will be the start of weight gain for the dam. This may or may not be perceptible just yet.
Week 5	A larger appetite at this point means the dam and puppies are growing rapidly and will begin to increase in size. In addition, the dam may have larger mood fluctuations.
Week 6	As the pupipes begin to develop fur in the wound, the dam may experience heartburn. In addition, she will put on a more weight. Fetal movement begins to be seen and felt!
Week 7	By now the dam's activity is slowing down and she will begin searching for or digging a den site. She is very clearly pregnant by this point and may show increased size of mammary glands.
Week 8	Birth is typically within a week, unless premature. Dam will be large and often uncomfortable. She may experience further mood swings and agittation and will begin to prep the den for birthing.
Week 9	It's time! At this point the dam is likely over it and is easily irritated. She's large and may pant, pace, or otherwise show discomfort. She likely enters labor during this week, unless litter is premature or late.

Birthing The Litter

Wolves will typically have a den by now, though some definitely have less instincts than others. Either way, this is what to expect for delivery symptoms and timelines as well as some key notes afterward to help you understand the process and specifics.

Before labor truly begins, your character will experience a variety of symptoms. Those symptoms can inclue:

~24 hours before labor: Behavioral changes often appear first. These include nesting (digging, pacing, or seeking seclusion), increased restlessness or anxiety, loss of appetite, clinginess, and frequent self-grooming.

~12 hours before labor: Physical signs begin to show. A drop in body temperature may occur (sometimes leading to shivering), the abdomen and pelvic area begin to soften, mammary glands start producing colostrum, and a stringy or cloudy mucus discharge may appear.

Within 12 hours or during early labor: Subtle contractions may begin—these can appear as light ripples along the abdomen or cause shifts in posture. Your character may arch her back, tremble or pant more often, or make quiet vocalizations, especially if she’s carrying large or numerous pups.

Important notes about delivery:

Pups who are born during week 8 are considered premature. You should be aware of your character's progress at any given time and be prepared for potential birth after week 7.

Pups who are born after week 9 are considered overdue, and it's up to you how many complications this can cause in addition to any that were rolled for you.

Dams who breed with sires that are larger than themselves risk complications, which are randomly chosen at the time of breeding. None of these complications are life-threatening (unless you determine they are) and you should include that in your birthing post.

While you do not have to write out every nitty gritty detail when your character is ready to give birth, a birthing post is required. It can be assumed to be right after the birth has happened, you can fade to black, or you can write it out if you like.

When your character is ready to give birth, you'll receive a message and the pregnancy will end. This marks the official birthdate, even if you post later. You must post within 14 days or the dam and/or pups may be declared dead. A short IC post of a few sentences is enough.