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Related Concept Videos

Temperature Measurement Sites01:14

Temperature Measurement Sites

A thermometer measures body temperature. The common sites for measuring body temperature are the oral cavity, axillary region, temporal artery, and skin surface, such as the forehead, abdomen, and axilla. True core body temperature is assessed in the rectum, tympanic membrane, pulmonary artery, esophagus, and urinary bladder.
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal01:27

Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal

Rectal temperature measurement is considered the most precise method for assessing core body temperature and typically registers higher than oral temperature. For adults, the rectal thermometer should be inserted 1 to 1.5 inches into the rectum to obtain the most accurate reading.
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
Factors Affecting Body Temperature01:28

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may  include:
Body Temperature01:25

Body Temperature

The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
Body Temperature01:07

Body Temperature

Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
Assessing Body Temperature - Temporal Artery01:19

Assessing Body Temperature - Temporal Artery

Here is a stepwise guide to assessing the body temperature at the temporal artery using a temporal artery thermometer
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don a fresh pair of gloves to prevent cross-infection and ensure patient safety.
Step 2: Explain the procedure to the patient to establish trust. Clear communication establishes trust with the patient, ensures they understand what to expect, promotes cooperation, and enhances comfort during the procedure.  
Step 3: Assess the patient's forehead...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
06:43

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Maternal temperature during labour.

F D Schouten1, H Wolf, B J Smit

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. f.d.schouten@amc.uva.nl

BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|June 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Maternal temperature during labor typically rises slightly, reaching 37.4°C after 22 hours. This normal labor temperature variation does not follow a circadian pattern, meaning time of day is irrelevant for identifying fever.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

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Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
08:19

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Published on: May 21, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Maternal Health
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Normal maternal temperature during labor requires precise definition.
  • Understanding temperature variations is crucial for accurate fever detection in laboring women.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the variation of normal maternal temperature during labor.
  • To establish reference ranges for maternal temperature during the labor process.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study conducted in two hospitals in Amsterdam.
  • Maternal temperature measured rectally every 2-3 hours from admission until 1-hour postpartum.
  • Normal labor defined by specific criteria including spontaneous onset, duration, and delivery outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Mean maternal temperature increased from 37.1°C at labor onset to 37.4°C after 22 hours.
  • Temperature in the abnormal labor group increased significantly after 3 hours compared to the normal group.
  • The upper limit of normal temperature did not exhibit a circadian pattern.

Conclusions:

  • Normal maternal temperature during labor shows a slow, gradual increase.
  • The established normal temperature range during labor is 37.1°C to 37.4°C after 22 hours.
  • Time of day is not a relevant factor in classifying normal versus elevated maternal temperature during labor.