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Body temperatures of lambs and their mothers measured by radio-telemetry during parturition
H P Laburn1, K Goelst, D Mitchell
1Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa.
Experientia
|August 15, 1994
Abstract:
Using temperature-sensitive radio-telemeters chronically implanted in the abdomens of 8 fetal lambs and their mothers, we measured body temperature changes induced by parturition. Maternal body temperature rose at 0.70 +/- 0.06 degrees C/hour (mean +/- SEM) in the final stages of labour. Fetal body temperature also rose, but at a significantly lower rate, 0.45 +/- 0.06 degrees C/hour (p < 0.05). The fetus appears to be protected from excessive hyperthermia during the birth process.