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Childbirth

Just bought a Lloyds pharmacy TENS machine - but warnings say do not use in labour

15 replies

ajm200 · 09/10/2008 15:42

Just sent DH to buy one of the TENS machines that Lloyds pharmacy are advertising. He's just arrived back with it and it says not to use in pregnancy or labour

Anyone know why?

OP posts:

Report

Lib76 · 09/10/2008 15:57

there are differnt types of TENS, some have higher voltage than others. perhaps the one you have got is for chronic back pain or arthritc type pain. i bought an OBI Tens from mothercare online, it was great. Just google TENS for pregnancy.

WhereWolfTheWildThingsWere · 09/10/2008 15:59

Your midwife will be able to explain better. But you do need one specifically for labour, that's why a lot of people hire.

ajm200 · 09/10/2008 16:05

Thanks.. I'll send him back with it and hire one from Tesco.

OP posts:

Lib76 · 09/10/2008 16:40

ajm200, it's worth buying one, it costs just the same and if you were to need it again!!! i have just given mine to my SIL, hopefully i will need it again though!!! not just yet, DS only 17 wks!!!

ajm200 · 09/10/2008 17:08

Lib76 I know we probably should buy one but this is baby 2 and my second problematic pregnancy so DH is rapidly going off the idea of baby no 3.

Plus its a bit late to get to our local Boots tonight, have a homebirth booked and have been getting crampy dragging pains all afternoon so want to be prepared. I can guarantee that if we don't get one, baby will come tonight, whereas if we have one available, she'll wait a while.

OP posts:

Lib76 · 09/10/2008 19:37

ajm200, didn't realise things were starting!! all the best!

ajm200 · 11/10/2008 06:14

It hasn't started yet, but I have been feeling very crampy for the past few days so just want to be completely prepared.

Had a major false alarm a couple of weekends ago and ended up walking round Tesco buying last minute baby clothes and stuff with strong BH contractions 5 mins apart.. don't want to do that again.

OP posts:

kiff5 · 11/10/2008 16:29

am 38 weeks and dont want to have a much pain relief this time (2nd), however, dont wanna be a martyr to pain either. have read some post re tens machines and am considering sending my DH to get a machine for me. am just concerned that it wont help much and that al fold at the first and get pain relief and miss most of it again. the other thing is that my dad has asked to be there so would like to try to keep a bit more control than last time, not that there'll be any pressure from him but... wadya think?

mabel1973 · 11/10/2008 16:45

ajm200 - I have just hired mine from new road clinic, 'newroadclinic.co.uk' it costs about £20 with postage, i was told they were the cheapest and they do express delivery if you are desperate!
You need a maternity tens, not just an ordinary tens, it has a different number of pads on which go down your back at the correct areas to ease the pain, it should come with a diagram of where to put them as well. HTH

Good luck

ajm200 · 11/10/2008 18:22

Thanks everyone, I got a mamatens from Tesco. We have a massive superstore less than a mile away so it was convenient. Now we have it all the cramps have gone away.. but I'm not due for a few days so that's not a problem

OP posts:

kiff5 · 12/10/2008 09:06

hi, still waiting for someone to tell me whether or not tens machines really work.

S1ur · 12/10/2008 09:11

Kiff worth trying a TENs, unfortunately no real way of knowing for sure whether it'll work for you. BUT it should work and it does give you control over your own pain relief. because you control the level of the pulse and when to 'boost' yourself.

I would say get one. It will help at least at some point during labour.

thegirlwiththecurl · 12/10/2008 09:13

hi kiff5 - i think different people have different experiences of tens. i found the tens really useful in my 3rd labour but i had used it in my 2nd labour to no effect as i didn't know how to use it properly.You have to make sure you put it on early enough, put the pads on the right place and increase it up to the right level etc. Ask your midwife to show you how to use it properly before you go into labour so that you are prepared

SuperSillyus · 12/10/2008 09:16

Maybe try it out? I put one on for the first time when labour had started and I couldn't stand it! I couldn't tear it off me quick enough. They don't suit everyone but worth a try because some people find them helpfull.

mabel1973 · 12/10/2008 10:37

Kiff5 i found in the early stages it was helpful, while I was still at home, but i don't think it does much once you go into proper labour. With DS2 i went in the pool so it had to come off anyway.

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