TENS machines

[miamla]

hello
i have my own TENS machine (bought it years ago due to issues with my back) and I was planning on using it during labour. But, it says on the box (but interestingly not in the instruction booklet) that it is unsuitable for use during labour. Does anyone have any ideas why this would be? what makes a TENS machine "suitable" for labour?
many thanks in advance

[miamla]

bumpity bump!

[Dragonbutter]

i'm not sure if the frequencies are different so that would be worth finding out.
but the obstetrics tens have a boost buttom which is used during contractions. (and is very useful).
Also the pads may be different sizes, but you could always buy bigger pads i suppose.

[miamla]

thanks for your reply Dragonbutter

hmm I'd guessed it might be something to do with the boost button. as for the frequencies, I had no idea they differed. any idea what it should be for an obstetric tens? i guess google is my friend for that kind of question!

[mum2b1]

I have heard that unless it is a Maternity TENS then it will have hardly any effect.
You would be better off getting (renting or buying) one specially for labour. that way you will know it works and will have the all important boost button

[Catilla]

Def the boost button makes a huge difference (DH left mine on boost between contractions once, I could hardly speak/move to turn it off!). I think they do advise bigger pads too, and one-use-only (VERY sticky) ones.
I've found www.tens.co.uk a very good site, they sell maternity and other ones. They may have yours listed or be able to advise you.
Hire is pretty cheap though, if you need a maternity one, and yours will still be useful afterwards, for afterpains and your back if you get more problems.

[PortAndLemon]

You need one with a boost button, I'm afraid. Otherwise it won't be much use to you at all. Which bit of London are you in? I have an ElleTENS I could lend someone (needs new electrodes buying, though).

[solo]

I borrowed my mums one for labour with Dd...only found out during labour on Boxing Day that it was no good for labour at all...Gas and air, gas and air...

[miamla]

thanks all for your replies. I was really hoping you'd all come on here and tell me that of course it'll be ok to use the one i've got already!

portandlemon that is such a kind offer and I'd love to take you up on it. I'm on the East end of the Central line. Is that anywhere near you? I'm 40wks tomorrow so only able to waddle short distances but I do have a very lovely friend who is going into town tomorrow who I'm sure wouldn't mind being a courier. my email is miamla @ hotmail.com if you'd prefer to discuss locations away from board

thanks again

[PortAndLemon]

Hmm I'm in SW London so couldn't get a great deal further away! And I'm going to be in Cambridge tomorrow, unfortunately although that does mean I'll be heading back to London down the M11 tomorrow evening. Will that bring me anywhere close to you?

[miamla]

M11 is really really close to us! ooh this could work...

[PortAndLemon]

I'm getting a bounce on your email address. If you can send me your real address to [email protected] then I should be able to drop the ElleTENS unit off tomorrow evening (may not be until around ten, though, depending on what time I escape the inlaws?). It does need new electrodes.

This is assuming the unit is still where I think it is (I?m pretty sure I saw it there last week, though).

[miamla]

hi P&L, i've just sent you an email, hoping it reaches you ok

[alittlebitshy]

Portandlemon - miamla's waters have gone, so she is in hospital so won't be in later. Hoping you get this in time....

[PortAndLemon]

Ha! My amazing ability strikes again! Any time I arrange to do anything with/for a pregnant woman anywhere from 37 weeks on, they always go into labour before I can get to them. There may be a business idea in this...

[miamla]

portandlemon... i feel it would only have been fair for you to have warned me about this amazing ability you have!!!
thank you so much for your kind offer again

in case anyone finds this thread and is asking the same question I did, here's an update....

sooo, due to DS arriving before I got the chance to meet up with P&L I did use my own TENS. It was very useful in early labour, so much so that I wasn't convinced I was actually having contractions. I started it on a really low setting with the view of obviously turning it up at a later time but we never got that far, had it on quite low the whole time. Not sure why, think I just forgot about it with everything else that was happening. It worked really well as a combo with Equinox (sp?)
Obviously I can't say if a specially designed labour TENS would have been better but if you are stuck in the same situation as me, don't panic, a normal one is definitely worth a go

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Congratulations miamla! Glad to hear the tens machine you had helped. So, what did you have?

[miamla]

thank you! we had a little boy!