My dog just had her first litter. She is doing ok with them but she is not wanting to clean herself up. Can I give her a bath??

Hello.... congrats on the new liter.
My maltese also just had her first liter monday the 12th. She had 4 but the first one was dead, so she has 3 living puppies.
Lola was a MESS after having her puppies. from her tail down , it was nasty but she did clean herself up and the puppies pretty good.
Its been a week and yes she could use a bath but my vet told me to wait , that the sent on her is needed for the puppies ect.
that bathing her isnt that important right now. so ive just used baby wipes on her to clean her up. shes looking tons better.

This has been the most nerve racking thing i have ever went threw in my life to date.
IM not sleeping at night, up with every whimper the pups make. making sure Lola is caring for them and at first i was trying to be the mommy and wasnt letting her do her thing, but fastly relized and even told myself that there cant be 2 mommys, and let her do her thing.
lol

Lola is panting alot and is restless which is making me scared and nervous, my vet said this is normal but i dont feel like its normal and shes drinking a whole bowl of water at atime which shes never done.
Im sure nursing takes alot out of a dog but everything diffent makes me worried.

what kind of dogs do you have? This is the first and only time ever that i will have a liter of pups, her getting pregnant was unplanned and wont happen again. I dont see how breeders can whelp a liter and not have added 10 years to their lifes after the whole process..lol
But a good breeder im sure knows what to exspect and what is right and wrong , and i dont so everything worries me.
I think i have ulcers because im so stressed. I dont even leave her alone, when i hae to go to town i will make sure hubby or my daughter goes in and sits with her and the pups
Now im back to work tomorrow and stressed already with leaving her,
HOw as it been for you?? Sunny