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Childbirth

Basic TENS machine or next one up?

6 replies

Hobby2014 · 25/03/2014 19:27

Is it worth buying/hiring the basic models or the slightly more expensive ones?
For example in the mothercare catalogue there's two mamatens ones.

  1. £29.99 hire or £59.99 to buy. Has boost mode, ramp mode, and 15 increases in strength.
  2. £39.99 hire or £69.99 to buy. All of the above plus contraction timer, and instead of 15 increases it has 140.


Did you use a basic model or advanced? If you used a basic did you find you exhausted the increases in strength too soon and then it wasn't useful? If bought an advanced one did it keep working right through?
Thanks!
OP posts:
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Casmama · 25/03/2014 19:31

I used the babycare Elle tens and it was really good- 10cm dilated before getting gas and air and DS was back to back.

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Willyoulistentome · 25/03/2014 19:33

I hired one, but to be honest, it was only any good for the very early stages. It didn't touch the sides of the pain once things got started properly.
If I were to have another baby I would not bother again.

I actually got given it as the local Boots were upgrading their stock and giving the old ones away. It WAS quite good for every day back ache.
But it's in bits all over the house now, as DS2 thought it was a cool gadget ipod type thing and was trying all sorts of things to get it to let him play Minecraft on it.

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CMP69 · 25/03/2014 19:38

Don't bother mine got on my nerves Sad

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goofygoober · 25/03/2014 21:36

I had a really basic one, two dials, no boost or anything. I found it a good distraction, didn't think it was doing much until I took it off to have a bath - error! It took 45 mins for it to start taking effect again. I also used G&A. I've bought a £20 model - planning on giving it another go for the next birth in a few months.

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AmberLav · 25/03/2014 21:47

I had the £59.99 model, used it both times, and think it really helped.

Used it for 40 hour labour, and quick 2 hour one second time...

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BlueChampagne · 27/03/2014 12:59

Just make sure it has a boost button.

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