The purpose of this study was to describe variations in maternal temperature during normal labor. The subjects were thirty-three women experiencing a vaginal birth at term, and were less than 5cm dilated. Their temperatures were measured continuously during the labor period, with the first measurements between 6 and 14 o'clock. In this study, “temperature” indicates skin temperature, measured by the CORETEMP
®CTM-205 monitor. The results are as follows:
1. The range of temperature in normal delivery
The range for center temperature was 34.2-37.9 degrees, and the mean of the individual temperature variation range was 1.3±0.6 degrees. The range for peripheral temperature was 25.7-36.7 degrees, and the mean of the individual temperature variation range was 4.1±2.3 degrees. This variation was greater than in a previous study. For temperatures taken in the axilla, the mean was 37.1 degrees at the time of delivery, and 5 cases exceeded 38 degrees. High temperature is usually considered a sign of infection. But, if the high temperature occurs only during delivery, it is not considered a sign of infection. (For the women in this study, the temperature decreased naturally during the 12 hours after delivery, and the babies were doing well.)
2. Variations of individual temperature
With respect to central temperature, twenty-six out of thirty-three women showed a significant change of temperature as delivery progress, 15 showed a rise in temperature and 11 showed a decrease. With respect to peripheral temperature, twenty-eight of thirty-three women showed a significant change of temperature as delivery progress, 6 showed a rise in temperature and 22 showed a decrease.
In studying the above results, I found that maternal temperature might exceed 38 degrees during a normal delivery. The tendency for temperature fluctuation was found in every case-rise, decrease, and no remarkable change. These results suggest that temperature variations may not only be abnormal signs, but may also provide data to assess delivery progress.
View full abstract