Get a digital thermeter, its works better. Take a little KY (not vasilene) and insert it up to where it widens (slowly) and hold until it beeps. My vet descibed it this way to me.....bigger objects come out of there, so your not hurting her, its just uncomfortable. If your girl is wiggly, its always best to have someone hold her at the other end.
Take the temp morning and night.. and its not bad to take it in the afternoon as well since she's so close. When is goes down in the 98's and stays down you should be having pups soon!
PS- I've taken tons of temps!!!!