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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Tens - What are your experiences?

39 replies

TettyLouBar · 20/12/2010 15:09

Hi all,
I'm 36+1/40 with DD2. Have just had mamatens my time delivered that I have hired for the labour (I know, I cant believe it got here today either - snow galore!)
Anyway, was wondering what your experiences were with the tens machine?

I didnt use one the first time around and was intrigued by them this time so thought I would order one for hire. Just tried it out to see how it all works, didn't turn it up very far as I was a bit unsure. But it seems like it might be a good distraction during labour! Is that all I can expect: distraction, or did you find that it actually provided pain relief?

I had a rough time with DD1 (back to back, long drawn out labour, ending in lots of interventions) and was hoping that this may ease the early stages atleast!?!?

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puffling · 20/12/2010 15:16

I used it right thru' my very long labour, from when I was at home feeling some contractions to the very painful bit.I found it really helped. I was able to turn it up and down depending on how painful the contractions were and it helped to distract and make me feel some control over the situation.
It did provide some pain relief. Was glad I had it in conjunction with the gas and air etc.

Abcinthia · 20/12/2010 15:37

Personally, for me it didn't help me at all. I ended up pulling it off my back and throwing it on the floor

LBsmumblingxmascarols · 20/12/2010 15:42

Again didnt work for me, only used first time round though was induced so not such slow build up of pain as 'normal' labour.

Would recommend though in the sense that it was a good distraction, leads kept falling out and had to keep resetting.

Have a vague memory of ripping it off in the delivery suite, hurling it over the room describing it as a peice of sh*t - again probably a good distraction and a focal point for rage

Original poster

TettyLouBar · 20/12/2010 15:59

LOL That sounds like what I would do LB!

OP posts:

TinselInDisgrace · 20/12/2010 16:05

It helped me a bit in the early stages, but after that it was utterly useless.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 20/12/2010 16:05

Utterly, bloody marvellous. I used them with all 3 of my labours for the first few hours, and took it off each time when I got to hospital and wanted to use the pool.

Paddington · 20/12/2010 16:10

I used one throughout my 2 labours, one induced and one not, and I found it VERY effective.

tiokiko · 20/12/2010 17:20

I loved it - had slow labour at home for 3 days before going into hosp, and had it on from the first contraction.

It's worth getting some extra sticky pads for it (can't remember what they're called, sorry) in case you have a long lead-up as I changed mine a couple of times I think.

I think it does have a distracting effect, and I thought that was all it was doing until the MW in triage knocked it off and I couldn't believe the difference - it was definitely working.

Mondaybaby · 20/12/2010 18:15

I had a very long labour and found the combination of TENS and gas and air extremely effective. I managed with this until things got complicated and I had to have an epidural. The TENS definitely gave amazing distraction from the pain and I would use it again in my next labour (should there be another dc).

Original poster

TettyLouBar · 20/12/2010 19:50

Thanks for all of your posts. So maybe position of leads very important? I wish I tried one the first time around as I was labouring at home for long time before I went in

tiokiko, where did you get your extra leads from? can you remember?

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AstridsTardisDisaster · 20/12/2010 19:54

Worked for me. Got me to 6cm dilated and then midwife had to take it off to monitor baby's heartrate.
It's not distraction. it triggers a release of endorphins and blocks pain.

mumnerves · 20/12/2010 19:59

I just had DS last week, loved my Tens, used it from when my contractions were 10-15 mins apart and didn't take it apart until I gave birth 12 hours or so later(apart from a quick battery change) At the beginning it definitely gave me pain relief till probably around the 6-8 cm dilated point whereby gas and air took the edge off whilst I'd say the Tens was a much needed and welcome distraction coupled with perhaps a bit of pain relief. I wanted a water birth but didn't want to take the Tens off and decided to go for it with just the Tens. DS was 8lbs 2.5oz and I didn't need anything other than the gas and air and I felt the distraction helped me relax. Good luck with your birth x

Original poster

TettyLouBar · 20/12/2010 20:15

so lots of positive experiences then! feel much more optimistic about the overall effect I may feel from it now!

OP posts:

loscann · 20/12/2010 20:23

I am due next week, so these are only initial impressions.

I tried it on last night while having frequent uncomfortable (but not painful) Braxton Hicks and a persistent backache. I really didn't like it at first. The prickly sensation freaked me out. I got used to it after about twenty minutes and kept it on on the second-lowest setting for about an hour and a half. I was glad to get it off.

Now, I wasn't actually in labour, but I didn't find it helped the backache. I am going to use it when things kick off for real, and I'm glad I tried it out because the prickly feeling was really weird and unpleasant at first and would probably have upset me if I'd been in a lot of pain and might not have been able to work through it.

Not sure how helpful all that is since I haven't actually gone into labour yet, but there you go!

tiokiko · 21/12/2010 08:29

Sorry OP, just saw your question now.

I ordered extra pads from eBay - like these.

I have a feeling that they're pretty generic and didn't have to be for my specific make (Elle TENS) but you might want to double-check.

They do last for ages but I think I probably changed every 24hrs which felt more comfortable and fixed.

I think the most important thing is to start using it as soon as possible so it can build up. It's all I used to 8cm then G&A and was absolutely fine.

reallytired · 21/12/2010 20:54

I did really well with TENS. Infact i used nothing but tens when my dd was born. The important thing is to put the tens machine on at the first twinge of labour. Positioning of the electrodes is important. Its worth watching the video, reading the instructions before going into labour.

I think that having a spare set of pads is a good idea. You can use tens to help with after pains as well.

FrozenNorthPole · 21/12/2010 21:16

The Cochrane library systematic review says there is currently no evidence that it makes a difference to labour pain (this is a collection of all the evidence relevant to the topic which is then checked for methodological rigour and combined to get maximum statistical power). Here is the abstract (last updated in 2008) if you're interested clickable link to abstract

Helloginger · 21/12/2010 21:59

I have one which I'm hoping to use if I go into early labour, to get me to hospital. (am 35 weeks with twins).
DH this week has excelled himself. I've been on at him for weeks to familiarise himself with the TENS machine. But last night, he scared me when he said "look, how hard can it be? You just stick it on your tits and press the button."

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 22/12/2010 11:30

Frozen - the use of TENS in early labour at home was not evaluated, which is when I think(?) most women use it. In the later stages - not so much!

GabbyLoggon · 22/12/2010 12:20

wife had it, said it helped a bit with her pain

perfectstorm · 23/12/2010 10:38

I was convinced it was a placebo and scoffed when my mother hired me one. After a full day of non-progressing labour at home I was willing to try anything - and for me, it did work brilliantly, as the (not unpleasant) buzzing blocked the pain. The problem was that after another day the electric shock started burning my back, so I had to stop using it as it was as bad as the contractions, but it did mean I could sleep meanwhile.

I think labour is so personal and subjective anything is worth a try. The gas and air and water worked superbly for me as well - I was lucky and didn't need anything else despite 3 days in labour and a very large baby. I'd definitely get a TENS next time, as it helped me the first.

perfectstorm · 23/12/2010 10:38

It wouldn't have done a damn thing after my waters broke, though. I just had a 3 day labour before that - the last 4 hours and only the gas and air helped.

rollerbaby · 24/12/2010 22:51

I put mine on as soon as the contractions started and it stayed on until the final pushing stage. I could not have lived without it and didn't realise how much I would rely on it. The signal basically blocks the pain of the contraction, but you need to keep turning it up as the contractions intensify. I had a doula and she kept pressing the boost button at my signal, but you could easily do it yourself.

Make sure you have spare batteries in the house - we needed them at 4am when I put it on!

I don't know why more people don't rely on this - I didn't even think of using gas and air having the tens, it would have really distracted me. I think the key is get it on early and get into your zone.

Pantofino · 24/12/2010 22:57

I rented one from Boots. I have to admit it did nothing much for me. I was induced and after several hours of strong contractions, they recommended going in a warm bath. Now THAT was lovely. I could have stayed in there for hours. DH was getting a bit frantic though....

Bobby99 · 26/12/2010 19:12

I rented one from Mothercare, it arrived, I went into labour and forgot all about it and found it again in time to post it back!

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