Birthing balls and tens machines - Recommended?

[cuffyj1]

Do people recommend the use of these when in labour?

Yes and probably.

I used a birthing ball and it helped me loads - I was being monitored with a back-to-back baby before getting into the birthing pool and could not bear lying on my back, so I sat on a birthing ball.

Also wore a TENS machine for a couple of hours (obv took it off to get in the pool!) but it was a borrowed one and only two of the pads worked I discovered when in labour! It took my mind off contractions, and helped a bit - think it would've helped more if I'd had one that had four working pads!

Yes to birthing ball no experience of tens.

I'd had the hot bath which I'd also recommend and the pain was becomming more difficult to manage - so was pleasantly surprised that the ball made me more comfortable between contractions especially whilst leaning on the bed! XX

Birthing ball good,Tens machine annoying but did take mind off contractions.
Best thing for me was boyfriend constantly massaging my back-that got me through 2 births.Do what is best for you

TENS machine - very annoying, like being covered in ants.

Birthing Ball - MARVELLOUS - as well as providing pain relief/distraction it helps bring the baby down into the birth canal. I was on one for 3 hours and the time flew by!

Birthing ball great. TENS was a waste of time and money

Thanks everyone. I've just won a birthing ball on ebay.

have no experience of tens but birthing ball was great. Good for medium to strong pain. Within 1/2 hour I realised I was ready to give birth - wish I'd had one for first birth, which was done pretty mucb alone.

Birthing balls are FAB! But don't be conned into paying £20 or more for one. I bought one for £4.99 from argos..... marketed as an exercise ball but is exactly the same! I had the same one as my local labour ward had!

Yeah. Didn't find the ball much use but the tens was great

Definitely 2nd the birthing ball here - used it a lot during labour at home. Also used TENS, and i had to chuckle about morningpaper's description of it being like covered in ants - this is exactly what it is like! I spent half the time trying to sort out the boost button for each contraction and getting cross, but it did keep me occupied - arrived at hospital 10cm dilated! I ended up with one pad on my inner thigh which in turn almost electrocuted DH as he tried to take it off just as it 'boosted', as I was trying to jump into a birthing pool!

Make sure you check the maximum weight on the exercise balls - some don't go very hight & may not be suitable for a very pregnant woman (not implying all pregnant ladies are huge!)

I have asked for a birthing ball for xmas - now wondering how I will get it to the hospital though, they're not small are they? Can't see DH wanting to blow it up in the labour ward either Any suggestions? Or do they fit in the car ok?

I found the birthing ball was excellent for leaning over when delivering on all fours as I could rock too and fro.

i liked the tens machine. there was a birthing ball in the delivery room but didn't know what to do with it!

I used a TENS machine with all three and rate them highly. There was a birthing ball in the unit where I delivered DS2, and it was fab- got me really comfortable (despite a 40 + hour labour) and had there been one available would have used with DS3.

I didn't sit on my birthing ball once - the kids liked it though! Thought the Tens was fantastic though - it really helped me with the pain.

my tens machine didn't work and I wasn't smart enough to try it out before I went in labour. I can't use birthing balls as dh fell off one in our nct class (slightly inebriated as had come straight from the pub) and the sight of them makes me laugh hysterically.

I didn't think my TENS machine did much, but I think it's worth a go as nice side-effect free form of pain relief.

Birthing ball was great for exercising on when heavily pregnant, but I never got to use it during labour. TENS machine was a total waste of time for me.

tens was great - It also gave dh something to do (men and gadgets etc) cos I put him in charge of it.

Bought mine from Argos too and spent a lot of time on it in the weeks leading up to labour as it helps with foetal positioning. Didn't use it much in labour as ended up being induced and on CTG for most of it but would try it again.

Loathed TENS with a passion. Like being tickled without the fun. Abandoned after a couple of hours. Friends swear by it though and they practised with it a lot before labour so perhaps that's where I went wrong....

Hi, just spotted this thread. I used the tens very succesfully, completely distracted me from pain. And im a weed!

I used the TENs machine up until I was 5cm (Got into a birhting pool then and didn't think the two would mix well ) and it was brilliant as pain all in my back. I will use it again next time.

Didn't use birthing ball during labour but did use it in the run up to position Dd. I'd do that again too.

Thanx for all the feedback. I've got hold of a birthing ball and tens machine from ebay, both quite cheap so i'll see wot they're like for me in jan/feb (due date jan 31st)

yes to both, but remember the hospital wil prob have both.
Birthing ball was useful for opening up the pelvis, I sat on it for quite a while.
Tens machine useful in early labour, once my waters broke didn't find it touched the [ain tbh. It was a useful thing to fiddle with though, gave me something to do. Good psychologically.