[blparent] talking rectal thermometer

Jo Elizabeth Pinto jopinto at msn.com
Tue Sep 25 18:46:08 UTC 2012 

I'm not going to argue the fact that taking a rectal temperature on a baby 
under three months old will probablygive you the most accurate reading.  All 
I'm saying is that actually accomplishing the feat ought to be considered 
for entry into the Olympics as a skilled athletic event.  Seriously, 
especially if you are doing it by yourself, it's harrowing.  I tried it once 
when my baby was somewhat older--I can't recall her exact age--and gave up, 
resorting to the armpit measurement in the end.  You have to lube up the 
thermometer, and then try to lube up the baby as well, while she's 
screeching and squalling, first because she's sick and cranky, and second 
because now you've undressed her and are sticking your fingers where she 
instinctively knows they don't belong.  Once you get the lubricant on the 
baby, then you have to hold the thermometer with one hand and guide it with 
the other, all while trying to keep the screeching, squalling, squirming, 
flailing baby in place as she does her level best to make sure that thing in 
your hand doesn't get anywhere near her bottom.  I tried tucking the baby 
under one arm as I sat on the bed, which was recommended in one of those 
ever-so-helpful articles on the Internet, so I would have one hand free to 
spread the bottom cheeks and the other to move the thermometer carefully in 
place.  But especially on a newborn, it's a very tiny hole you have to get 
the thermometer into.  A very tiny moving hole, and believe me, infants can 
be surprisingly strong.  Then too, babies often pee when they get upset, so 
to add to everything else, you have urine all over you, and all over the 
couch or the bed or the floor, wherever you're situated.  The 
ever-so-helpful articles on the Internet recommend keeping a diaper or an 
absorbent pad under the baby, but I gave that up as one thing too many for a 
poor mama who was born with only two hands.  I was afraid I was going to 
injure my daughter if I kept up the battle, so I put her diaper back on, 
calmed her down, washed off the thermometer, waited till her temperature was 
likely stabilized after her exertion, and went the underarm way instead. 
The nurse on the help line where I called to report my daughter's 
temperature listened to my story and then told me that most parents end up 
taking an underarm temperature and that when the temperature is taken 
rectally at a doctor's office or a hospital, which it often isn't anymore, 
there will usually be two professionals to do it.  Two grown-ups tag teaming 
one sick infant--now that makes the odds a little more fair.

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may 
kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at 
evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Tatyana
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 12:22 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer

I've read on babycenter.com that doctors recommend using rectal thermometer
for babies under 3 months, and they refered to American academy of
pediatrics as well.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracey Turri" <turri.tracey at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer


> From what I've herd rectal temps are still the most accurate way to
> get a temp with a small baby.  It's worth noteing though that a
> newborn can get plenty sick with out even having a fever.
>
> On 9/25/12, Michael Baldwin <mbaldwin at gpcom.net> wrote:
>> Not sure on the exact accuracy of it, but it works and gives you an idea 
>> of
>> what the temp is. That is what they use in the hospitals around here to.
>> Mostly much better quality then what you can buy at Wal*Mart. In my
>> opinion,
>> the only reason for a thermometer is to tell a doctor or the nurse the
>> numbers. You will know when your kid is running a fever.
>>
>> Michael
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Tatyana
>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 8:57 PM
>> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer
>>
>> I never used forehead one. How accurate is it?
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Michael Baldwin" <mbaldwin at gpcom.net>
>> To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 7:56 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer
>>
>>
>>>I might have missed it, but have you looked at the forehead ones? We got 
>>>a
>>> talking one from Wal*Mart. Work much faster.
>>>
>>> Michael
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Tatyana
>>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 3:59 PM
>>> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer
>>>
>>> I was told in a  child berth class that  a mouth thermometer is not good
>>> option for taking a baby temperature. I  should take it either under arm
>>> or
>>> in rectal, the only thing I will need  is to adjust the  temperature
>>> reading
>>>
>>> result by the way of taking it. My         sister- in- law who has a 7
>>> month
>>>
>>> old says that a rectal way of taking is most precise. Any way, I need a
>>> talking thermometer with a straight prop.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "sharon howerton" <shrnhow at att.net>
>>> To: "Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 3:20 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer
>>>
>>>
>>>> atyana, from what I was told by a nurse friend, rectal temperatures
>>>> are no longer considered a good idea.
>>>> Sharon
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Tatyana" <tagriru at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 2:14 PM
>>>> Subject: [blparent] talking rectal thermometer
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>                                    Hello all,
>>>>>
>>>>> could anybody recommend a talking rectal thermometer for a baby and a
>>>>> place
>>>>> where I could   purchase it?
>>>>> Thank you very much.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tatyana
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> TRACEY L TURRI
> INDEPENDENT MARKETING EXECUTIVE
> PHONE 301-485-9349
>
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