I'm so very sorry to hear that Sometimes the pups will absorb into the bitch. Sometimes there is a false pregnancy. My female had a false pregnancy, she looked big, she dug a hole to have them in (I was at work) and no pups, her milk came in, it was leaking all over the place, my poor girl was so depressed and we went through quite a grieving process in our household. I know how you feel. I've read that usually there's something wrong with the pups the reason they die. I'm glad you're girl survived.