To TENS or not to TENS?

[anniroc]

This is my second baby and I'm wondering if I should bother getting hold of a TENS machine. My first labour was induced, crazy fast (3 hrs) and crazy painful - I doubt a TENS machine would have helped at all - I never managed to get it on anyway. So I'm thinking, is it worth bothering about? Would appreciate your views, thanks.

Couldn't have coped without mine for DD1 (v long latent labour). Did use for DD2 although it was super-fast (about 1hr total) and by the time I got it on CX were coming every minute. Even so I think it did make a bit of did fence and have me something to think about apart from the need to push as we sped to hospital!

Like tiokiko, I had a long latent labour and I swear I didn't take that TENS machine off for over 24 hours, it was an absolute godsend! If you can afford the £30 or so to rent one I would definitely recommend it, because if you do find it helpful then it will easily be the best £30 you have ever spent...

I thought mine was great with my first - I was also induced and crazy fast (5 hrs), but the midwife slapped it on within a couple of minutes of my first contractions.

Speaking to my friends, they are completely split down the middle as to whether it was brilliant and they wouldn't consider living without it, or they hated it and thought it a complete waste of money.

First twinges to birth 3 hours with DS2. Unplanned home delivery (by me) and TENS was all I had, so was very grateful. Like babybouncer says, it's a marmite question.

If you decide to have one, look on ebay.

Definitely more effective if put on earlier, make sure you get one for labour with a boost button.

I got to 9cm using mine then switched to G&A as had waterbirth at home.

Tesco's now hire them out but I think Lloyds Pharmacy maybe most competitive?

I plan to ask midwife if she hires them out as saw on here that some community midwives rent them out for £10!

Used the one I hired for DD1 and it was a godsend. Hired one for DD2 but ended up with an emergency c-section and it didn't make it out of the bag for the first load of contractions. Borrowed one for DS1 (3rd child) and it did diddly squat as the contractions were humoungous from the outset and all the TENS machine was piss me off.

Can you borrow one off anybody?

Another vote for the tens from me. Even if you don't feel it helps with the pain it gives you something to distract you (a bit).

Make sure you get one with a boost button (not just a general TENS machine, one specifically for labour) as that makes a big difference in coping with the more full-on contractions. I used Elle TENS both times and thought it was great.

Thanks all, I think it's probably worth getting one again then, just incase it really makes a difference.