Low body temperature

[chickenbub]

Probably no one ever checks their child's temperature as much as I do...but DDs is often low, especially when sleeping it can get as low as 34.8 degrees Celsius. Currently she is at 35.2. It scares me and I wonder why it gets this low? Is it just normal for her or is there something more sinister going on? Her normal daytime temp is 36.5ish, as is mine. Does anyone else have low body temperature?

[Sparkles]

CB have you done a search onthe net to see what it could mean

[chickenbub]

Yes I have done the Dr google but just worries me more as it says below 35 degrees is hypothermia!

[Heather]

My normal temperature is around 35C. I think it is quite usual for body temps to be lower in the morning (after a relatively long period of inactivity).Running around and playing should raise it.
Of course you should ask the Doctor next time, just to be on the safe side.

[chickenbub]

Thanks Heather. I know it is meant to drop when sleeping as well, and just before falling asleep, it brings on drowsiness and signals the body to sleep. It's normal for a drop of around 1 degree Celsius I believe? But her chest feels so cold to touch. I don't always check her at night, only if she's been sick, which she was last week so I'm still a bit on edge. We have a paed appointment in about a week and I will definitely be asking. Normally we have so many other issues to discuss that her low body temp never comes up, I forget. But as soon as all the other worries rest for a while it comes back to worry me! She has a small hole in her heart so I worry it's connected to that sometimes?

[Heather]

Could well be because the heart is not pumping as it should.....do you have a note pad in your handbag?.....start a list of questions to ask, with this being on top of the list.

[Frannie]

There is two factors here in that if she has a hole in the heart it could be a good thing as the blood is not pumping as hard so the heart is getting some respite or if this does worry you just try putting another blanket on her to make her warmer and definetly take a note to ask at the next Paed appointment......

[redrobyn]

Keep a diary C.B. write everything down soon as you think of it no matter what it is.

[Ted E Bear]

Can I ask how you are checking it? - by that I mean if it is a tympanic thermometer - ie one which goes in your ear - it will sometimes get lowish readings - I do them on healthy children at work (before their vaccinations) and tympanic readings are sometimes only 35 something - of course this is during the day and child is awake.

Oral thermometers tend to record higher -as you can imagine, the inside of your mouth tends to be warmer than your outer ear.

[chickenbub]

I have been checking both in ear and under arm. Just got off phone from health nurse as she'd dropped down to 34.1! Tried to wake her, she stirred but went back to sleep. I'm now in bed with her, she's back up to 35. Nurse said take her to hospital if she gets below 34 and I can't warm her. She's unsure if her heart condition could cause it, she said I would need to talk to specialist.