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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

tens machines? good or not?

23 replies

lill72 · 15/09/2010 17:04

Hi I was just wondering if you would recommend a tens machine or not. Not sure whether to bother or not. cannot comprehend the pain! Was thinking the bath might help the pain??

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TonariNoTotoro · 15/09/2010 17:08

Yes yes yes.

Some people love them, some people hate them, I would certainly recommend - really helped during whole labour. I think it generally helps the most with the early stages, but I got to 8cm before I needed the G&A (I really needed it by that stage )

A bath will definitely help too though, but obviously you can't have both.

lemonbergamot · 15/09/2010 17:13

Excellent, got to 10 on mine

fizzpops · 15/09/2010 17:24

I got to 8/9 at which point I arrived at the hospital and they gave me gas and air and persuaded me to take it off. Could have carried on with that happily was just in a rush to get to the hospital as I knew I was quite far along.

In retrospect a drawback would have been if I had wanted to try the birthing pool as I would have had to take it off. This put me off trying the birthing pool so for me it was a one thing or another situation.

lycheemartini · 15/09/2010 17:27

Highly recommend, got to about 8 cms with mine - should have stayed with it longer. Distracts from the contraction, a bit like rubbing a nettle sting, kind of thing.

gingerkirsty · 15/09/2010 17:38

Got to 10 on mine - I would highly recommend, even if it is just to give you something to focus on during the contractions!

The other thing I was amazed by the effectiveness of was water - I got in and out of the bath a few times during a looooong labour, it really helped and honestly the pain relief was almost magical!

InVinoFerretsAss · 15/09/2010 17:42

Love love love my TENS. Used my for all 3 of my births and can't recommend highly enough. Just somehow manages to make your brain look the other way during the contractions and eased the pain no end for me.

Some people are not huge fans, unfortunatley there is really only one way to find out if they work for you!

StantonHarcourtTheThird · 15/09/2010 17:43

I didn't thiknk it was working but didn't take it off just incase it was, took it off to get into the birthing pool and realised with the one contraction I had without pain relief, that it had been working veryv ery well indeed!!!

lemonbergamot · 15/09/2010 18:34

I didn't want to part with mine, when we arrived DP said 'shall we take it off now' and I was quite insistent that it was staying put whilst the birthing pool was run.

When it was time to get in the pool the mmidwife was faffing around looking at the unit to turn it off and DP helpfully ripped the pads off for her.....they stuck to his fingers and made his hand start spasming! hahahaha I'd left it on 'boost mode'!

Had a bit of gas and air too which was fab, and LOVED the birthing pool.

TonariNoTotoro · 15/09/2010 19:15

tip - make sure your DP 1. knows how to use it (I was too far gone to operate it), and 2. knows how to change the batteries very fast. The batteries on mine ran out as DS was born so I reckon they last about 12 hours.

nah1974 · 15/09/2010 20:04

Another vote for TENS here - I got to 9cm using mine. Really helpful - and as other people say it gives you something to fiddle with!

wem · 15/09/2010 20:11

Just to be the voice of dissent, I didn't like using mine at all. The first time I turned it on I yelped as it felt like I was being electrocuted. I kept using it for quite a while though, in case it was helping with the pain of the contractions. If nothing else, like other people have said, it gave me something to concentrate on during contractions. However, I eventually got fed up with it and ripped it off and felt much more comfortable without.

pantaloons · 15/09/2010 20:14

I didn't like it either. I just found the buzzing really annoying.

lemonbergamot · 15/09/2010 20:58

It also helped us to time contractions. DP had 'contraction master' app, and every time I pressed the boost button, he used the app. My labour was quick and I wouldn't have gone into hospital if hadn't timed contractions accurately....wasn't convinced I was in labour but that's another story

melpomene · 15/09/2010 21:03

It didn't do a thing for me, sadly; I just found it irritating. Still, many/most people seem to find it works for them, so it's worth a try if you can afford to hire one.

PinkElephant73 · 15/09/2010 21:17

I borrowed one from the hospital, they made us attend a meeting to explain what to do with it.
they recommended using it for 30 mins every day for 2 weeks b4 your EDD to get used to it (not on the pulse setting obv). as it is a strange sensation and can take a bit of getting used to.

I found that really useful advice - on the day I went into labour with DS2 I was having strong BH so I put the tens on. went to bed and woke up with cx at 3am. glad I had the machine on already as they say it doesnt work if you dont put it on at the start of labour. icant remember at what point i took it off but it did really help.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 15/09/2010 21:21

Loved it!

Used mine with both ds's - was induced with ds1 and used it until I got into the bath.

With ds2, the mw took it off after he was delivered (but we'd only made it to the hospital with 5 minutes to spare!)

I found it a great distraction if nothing else!

EffieB · 16/09/2010 23:08

Oh my goodness yes yes yes!

I was deeply sceptical, my Gran had had one for years for various aches and pains, but thought 'what the heck' and rented one. Don't know how I would have gone on without it to be honest, I was certain water would work for me so when I got in the lovely lavender scented pool, and the contractions didn't stop hurting AT ALL, I really panicked... straight out of the bath, slapped the scoffed at tens machine on, and once I got used to it it got me to the very end.

It takes 1/2 hr/ 40 mins (I think??) or so for it to build up to its optimal level though. Oh, it was also a maternity tens, with a constant option and then a boost for during contractions- company called natures gate I think?

tassisssss · 16/09/2010 23:09

I liked it a lot! Used all 3 times. Got from tesco as was easy to return. It provides a great wee distraction.

Olifin · 17/09/2010 10:35

I loved using the TENS.

I used it all the way through DC1's birth. Arrived at the hospital and was 10cm and ready to go.

Used it again for DC2's birth at home. Used it up to about 7cm then got in the pool.

For me, it did make a difference to the pain. Not least because it's a great distraction and pressing the boost button becomes one of those labour rituals that makes you feel more secure.

Hullygully · 17/09/2010 10:35

Shite. Absolute shite.

Original poster

lill72 · 17/09/2010 14:30

thanks everyone for your responses! that really gives me a great idea of what it is like. I love the likening to scratching a nettle sting.

My midwife said that even if i got into the bath at the start of contractions - I might not want to be in water for hours, so when I get out I can start using the TENS. And as someone said the water didn't work, so good to have a back up.

I am going to get one now!

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StarlightMcKenzie · 18/09/2010 13:26

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DomesticGoddessInTraining · 18/09/2010 13:33

I hated mine and would have quite happily thrown it out the window! However, I would hire one anyway - different people have different opinions/experiences and it's one more option for pain relief when the time comes.

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