Maternal temperature during labour.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe the variation of normal maternal temperature during labour. Design A prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Two hospitals in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.


METHODS
All women with a live singleton pregnancy and a gestational age of 36 weeks or more admitted to the delivery ward from June 2000 to January 2002.


METHODS
Maternal temperature was measured rectally every 2-3 hours from admission until the beginning of second stage, and 1-hour postpartum. Normal labour (n = 843) was defined as gestational age > or =37 weeks, spontaneous onset of labour, rupture of membranes <18 hours before birth, normal progress of labour without the need for augmentation or epidural analgesia and spontaneous vaginal delivery of a healthy infant. The remaining group was classified as abnormal (n = 2209).


METHODS
Rectal measured temperature in degrees Celsius.


RESULTS
The mean temperature during labour in the complete study population increased from 37.1 degrees C at the beginning of labour to 37.4 degrees C after 22 hours. Temperature in the abnormal labour group was equal to the normal labour group during the first 3 hours of labour (P > 0.05) but increased thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
At the beginning of labour, temperature was 37.1 degrees C. Temperature increased slowly during labour and was 37.4 degrees C (2SD 1.2) after 22 hours. The upper 2SD limit for normal temperature did not follow a circadian pattern and time of day is not relevant for the classification of normal versus elevated temperature.
Schouten
F D
FD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. f.d.schouten@amc.uva.nl
Wolf
H
H
Smit
B J
BJ
Bekedam
D J
DJ
de Vos
R
R
Wahlen
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*