TENS machine - advice needed

[BionicEar]

Hello!

Am due in about 8 weeks time and thinking about hiring a TENS machine.

I didn't get round to using one with my 1st LO but would like to consider using one this time round.

Was wondering if it really does make a different in assisting with pain control?

Where is the best place to hire one from and not too pricey either?

I was 11 days overdue with my 1st LO and note that a lot of sites only offer an extra week free, which would mean costs mount up if this one decide to follow suit - are there any sites that let you hire for longer?

Thanks!

I have hired mine through boots. They give you two extra weeks free if you need it. Its my first DC so I can't comment on whether it will work or not but I have heard lots of positive comments - anything is worth a try as far as I am concerned!

I would definitely recommend one and find that it really helps women in early-to-mid stages of labour. It becomes less effective at the latter stages of labour when heavier massaging is more beneficial

See if your local hospital hires/loans them out - then you can just leave it there after the birth (if not at home) .

Or do like I've done - buy one (Ebay) and resell afterwards. Actually, I'm being induced tomorrow with DC3 - wanna buy a tens machine?

Yes, I found mine really did help with the early stages of labour and partly as a distraction - something to fiddle with. Was no good in later stages as too faffy, but I got on well with g&a by that point.

I got mine from Mama Tens website, think it was about 25 quid to hire and you could have it for six weeks.

I loved it, it got me to five centimetres anyway! I would have used it longer but they made me take it off because I was being continuously monitored. :-(

Loved mine - definately go for it.

Loved it- just make sure you read the instructions first....my DH suddenley turned up the dial and nearly gave me a shock worse than the contraction.

Got through all 3 labours with just the tens machine so it worked for me.

Did the ebay thing too.

Is there a difference between the TENS machines? There are a few for sale on eBay.

Thanks

Oooh NoTeaForMe you asked the other question that I knew I meant to ask but forgot to ask when posted!

Thanks for all the replies so far - been very useful. Saw a mate earlier who also suggested buying as would work out same as hiring more or less. Will enquire whether hospital loans these out as well.

I would highly recommend one, I got a babycareTENS elle last time and this time, although this time I have hired through mothercare as it was cheaper than direct from babycareTENS. As long as it's for pregnancy/labour it should be fine. DH has one for general aches and pains and it only has two pads whereas the ones for labour have 4 pads and a boost button for contractions, so slightly different.

The only thing I would say about buying them is that you may need to buy pads in addition to the machine if they are not in good condition but when you hire them you get brand new ones each time.

I had no idea people used these for labour! I have one for neck pain, though it needs new pads.
I'd probably buy one as you are bound to have use for it for stiff muscles anyways.

Hi I used a company called www.babytens.net and they were great, the Tens was fab for my very long labour and I pretty much got right to the end on the tens alone. They seemed to be the cheapest around to and came with a booster button.