Did you have a TENS machine for labour & would you recommend?

[Notthisoneagain]

Just that really. Wondering if it's worth me buying or hiring one for when labour starts.

Can anyone recommend any?

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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you've landed here while on the hunt for similar recommendations, our guide to the best TENS machine has been recently updated. It includes a wide range of options – including devices you can hire as well as purchase – and has been compiled based on the recommendations of Mumsnetters as well as maternity experts. We hope it's helpful!

I did, and yes I'd recommend it. BUY EXTRA BATTERIES just in case labour drags on though...

Yes and they are so cheap on eBay you'd be mad not to get one. Do remember multiple sets of pads in case you're in and out of the pool.

Yes and as others have said get extra batteries and pads. I had a boots one. Make sure you get a maternity one as they are more powerful.

Yes and yes. I rented one online, but can’t remember where from.

Yes would definitely recommend, mine got me to about 8cm, then just a little gas and the tens got me through to the end. Best bit is trying it out on DH at full pelt before labour starts of course

Yes and yes. After using it from early labour I thought it wasn’t doing much by the time I started on gas and air, and DH turned it off mid contraction - at which point I screamed at him to turn it back on as soon as he could!

Defiantly helped at the beginning.

I hired one....but didn't feel I needed it (not a stealth boast) but I had marked a couple of x's on my lower back just in case I was going to put the pads on!

Yes and yes.

My friends mum used one with all three of hers and said it was a godsend. Deffo buy extra batteries and be prepared for the weirdness that is the sensation when you first use it. I’ve used one for pain management before and found it helpful, but not labour yet 😂

I used one (hired) until about 7cm dilated. It was odd but worked for me.

Yes and yes! Check with your hospital/birthing Centre, they lent me one.

I had one (bought it) for both my labours. Would definitely recommend it as I had just the TENS and gas and air for both labours.

I used one. All I had for dc1 and got me to 9cm for dc2!

Yes definitely helped

I’ve just hired one from mothercare. Hoping it works!

I bought one after trying one out at my nct class and being pleasantly surprised. Used it until I got an epidural, and that half hour between tens machine being removed and the epidural kicking in were agony, so it was surprisingly effective. Gas and air did bog all for me.

Added bonus was using it on a physio recommendation for my dodgy back post pregnancy!! Pretty good for that too.

I've used a small one for period pains for the last couple of years and find it really helps with period cramps, so I've hired one from Boots for labour. Glad to know it's helped people! It is a v weird sensation when you first switch them on, though –I always jerk upright!

Yes yes yes. Best £30 I ever spent to hire one. Allowed me to stay home till 8cm.

I had one for my first labour and it did reduce the pain but the sort of buzzing sensation on my skin was s irritating that I had to stop using it.

Yes, rented from Boots.

It had no impact at all.

I was a complete distraction all night though whilst I fiddled with the knobs in an effort to enable it to have an impact

Don't know, I don't think I put mine on early enough because I had about a day and a half of contractions that were no worse then period pain, I only put it on when it got properly painful.

I did find it helpful to hit the boost button during a contraction though, I think there was less pain and different pain and it was a distraction if that makes sense.

I used mine until 1.5hrs before DD was born, I got I the bath at that point but I didn't know I was that close to birth

BTW, I bought mine and it was great entertainment over Christmas sticking it to people but gave me and DP slight flashbacks to the birth that was about 5 weeks earlier

Nope 👎🏻 I hired mine from my community midwife and it didn’t do anything to help. In fact when I went to the hospital in labour wearing it, the midwives didn’t seem to know what it was and looked 🤨 at me.

Mine really helped - to a point. Well worth it to get you through the earlier stages IMO.