My mom would just insert the thermometer and hold it in place. Then she would gently pull it out to be read.
Both, sometimes it was held in and others it was left sticking out. I believe it was dependant on what was going on at the time
Every time when my mom took my temperature rectally, I was always over my mom's lap and as soon as my mom inserts the cold rod, she will hold it in place with one hand on my rear and with her other hand flat down on the lower part of my back for the 5 minutes.
I experienced both having it held in place and having it left there. I remember in the latter case, I would occasionally check to see what it felt like back there if the taker of my temp had left the room. It was that way that I initially discovered the pleasant sensation of having the thermometer gently moved or tapped back in if it had slipped out a little.In play sessions i tend to hold in place and prefer the same.
Both held and left sticking out, depending on age and circumstance. I usually just accepted the temp taking without much fuss, but on occasion I recall it being a big deal. The memory that really sticks out to me was when I was about 4. It was a Sunday, my sisters and I were being dressed for church in my parents bedroom when my mother decided to take my temperature. I was fussing about it not being fair, but a few minutes later, pants underwear and shoes were off, I was laying on my back with mom holding my legs up and inserting the thermometer.
My Mom or Dad would always tell my sister and I (or whoever) once the thermometer was inserted, "Now, scrunch up your heiney to hold the thermometer in, and lay still". However, in most cases it would wind up being held in also. Hearing those words and having it held in wasn't all that bad at 6. But, it kinda became Mom's trademark phrase and she still thought it was cute at 16!At the doctor's it was always held in place between the fingers of the nurse, flat-handed, resting on my heiney!
To this day I can vividly remember and almost feel my mother's hand on my bare bottom holding the thermometer in place. This was when I was real little and rather "squirmy" and resisted because I didn't like what was happening. As I got older, maybe around 4-5, I was more cooperative and she didn't hold it in place anymore. Then it was left sticking out. And soon after that i graduated to the oral thermometer.I do remember having my temperature taken rectally a few time at the pediatricians and when I was in the hospital to have my tonsils removed. Those times it was always just inserted and left sticking out.Ah, the good old days. 😉 😁
Being 6 and not knowing a thermometer could go there I threatened to push it out my mom fixed my little pink butt, she inserted the thermometer and pulled my pj's up to make sure it did not go anywhere. Strange enough it was a great feeling with the glass rubbing against the cotton, sorta intensified the feeling.
My mother always held the thermometer between 2 fingers and let her palm rest on my bottom for the full 5 minutes. The process was always the same, even when I was older. I would lay flat on my tummy, mom would come in the room with the thermometer and Vaseline. She would pull my underwear down to mid thigh or off if I was to be given an enema next. Thermometer shaken down and lubed. 2 fingers would part my bottom and the thermometer would be slowly slid into my rectum. Moms hand always felt good resting on my bottom, though not so much when she would spank me.
When I was a kid, the thermometer was always left sticking out of my rear end. at home, at the doctor or hospital.
Mom always held ours in position. Five minutes was like an eternity, especially when we were older and in high school!
Like a flag being planted, after the thermometer was pushed in, mom let it go to stand proudly in place. However, I probably am remembering most of when I was older. I saw her take my younger sister's temp and sis got the over the lap/temp held treatment.
With me Mom never held in but kept in place by Jockys or PJ's so when you saw it looked like a tent, nice thing about that is you felt the cotton weave on the thermometer. Great feeling and liked looking at the tent.
Every time I ever had it taken by my mom or a nurse they always held it in place. I didn't like it at the time, but good memories now!
The nurse held it in place. After I asked her to take it out because it was uncomfortable. The nurse didn't take it out until it registered.
The few times I had it done, I have no recallection if it was held in place or not. But theres blurry memories of seeing the othe kids in the pedicatic ward having thiers done and it was sticking out while the kids had thier bums in the air face burried on the pillow or in the diaper change possition. I remember a nurse stick it in and move to the next child and the next (multiple kids with thermometers up thier bums all at once). So I guess it wasn't held in and it was left there for a few minutes after all.
To the best of my memory, it was left just sticking out. And I recall my brother having it done and fussing for it to be taken out and and I think he was just laying there with no one holding it. So, I assume the same was done with me.
If the thermometer is well-lubed, then it's possible for it to slip out. The act of having it held in place can add some extra pleasure.
We prefer to leave it sticking out because for us is more embarassing. The temp taking in this way remember us the way the people are used to when we was young.