You never know Lawrence sometimes it does just happen. It doesn't mean she'll deliver all dead young - sometimes the first couple get a bit stuck in the birth canal and don't make it. Is this a first litter for this female rat. Sometimes they just don't know how to nip the cord and stimulate those first couple of babies right. Alita that just delivered 18 for me today has a disaster of a first litter with stillborns and some that died later.

Not all rats build a nest either. Some of my females deliver on one side of the maternity tank just on the bedding then when they are all done they rush away, construct a nest and move the newly born pinks into it. Others build elaborate bunker nests and deliver in them.

Sorry it's not going well though. I hope the female and some of her young end up okay.