Can someone talk to me about tens, water etc as pain relief please?

[belindarose]

35 weeks with DC2. Last time, I didn't consider anything other than an epidural. Planning to have one seemed to get me through any fears I might otherwise have had. So I had one, reasonable labour (17 hours from first contractions), ventouse at the end and episiotomy - she was rather a lot bigger than it looked like she would be.

I feel differently this time. I didn't at first, we even chose the hospital which was most likely to be able to provide an epidural (more anaesthetists on call). I've been suffering from antenatal depression for most of the pregnancy and have been in total denial about the baby and the birth. But a cloud has lifted and I feel much better this week.

On impulse, I hired a tens machine today. I know there is a birth pool at the hospital I'm going to. How does getting access to the pool work? Do you just turn up and hope it's free?

Obviously I know you can't use tens in the water. And that some people love it and some hate it. Can anyone advise on how I can have the best chance of getting by on these methods? Gas and air didn't help last time, but maybe I didn't want it to as I wanted the epidural. I won't have pethidine or meptid, so if I do need more pain relief it will be an epidural again.

Sorry for essay. Thanks.

Hello, how wonderful to read that you feel more positive about your baby's impending birth!!

Getting access to a birth pool usually depends on the hospital's policy and how many birth pools there are - so check this out for your hospital. The two different hospitals where i had my girls (in '09 and last month) had baths attached to the labour rooms so that even if the pool was already in use, you could use the bath. Usually for birth pools, it's a first-come, first served basis. I have no experience of being able to book the pool beforehand. So, yes, phone the hospital when you go into labour and tell them then that you'd like to use the pool. If it's free they'll prepare it for you.

I used a TENS machine with G&A for DD1s birth. I started using it from 3cms dilation. It certainly provided a welcome distraction from painful contractions and I found that using both helped to keep the pain to a ... tolerable level. If I could do that birth again (wouldn't want to as it was 31 hours from first twinge ) then I would want to use the birth pool. I think there's something so relaxing about water ... or bite the bullet and have an epidural!

I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck! x

I used a tens machine for DS's birth, I fpund it very useful and used it right up until pushing, I only took it off as it was getting in the way of moving around. I used gas and air for the last couple of hours which I found brilliant. Also I used the birthing ball to get more comfortable. I did have a bath but I didn't find it helpful, which is strange as I usually love water and have baths to help with period pains

Another fan of TENS! I used nothing but TENS for either of my labours. First labour, I arrived at hospital 10cm dilated and they asked me to take it off then because it was interfering with the trace on my baby's heartbeat, but I didn't really notice the difference not having it made. Second labour (twins) it was only when I was about to get cleaned up that I noticed I was still wearing it on full power and had forgotten I had it on! Tbh, I think it probably did stop working at some point, but by then I was too busy to notice. It's certainly what got me through the first stage both times though cause I used nothing else - no water, no paracetamol, no G&A.

I used TENS with both DCs. It's an odd sensation & I'm not sure it lessened my pain but it gave me a different sensation to focus on. It definitely helped & if we ever have DC3 I will use it again. I also had cocodamol, G&A, pethidine & episiotomy with DS1. With DS2 I had cocodamol and TENS. DS2 was actually the easier birth despite being undiagnosed breech.

Pool - yes you turn up & hope it's free. I don't think you can use the pool if you are induced etc. Mention it to your MW as they may put it in your notes so hospital can be prepared. They will let you have a bath as well; I discovered to my delight with DS2 that hospital baths are VERY deep.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I
feeling very different about this one. Maybe it's because I've been depressed/ anxious and haven't bonded during the pregnancy, so I need a more 'shared' birth for us both this time, if that makes sense. Sort of like I owe him something different.

Any recommendations for books about birth? I didn't read anything last time.

Just about anything by Ina May. Particularly the first half of Ina May's guide to childbirth. It's very "hippy mother" but it is incredibly empowering.

Yes to Ina May - very interesting. Bit hippyish in places for me but on the whole it was very empowering.

I found TENS a great help until I was 6cm or so but I had it on maximum by then. Really good distraction early on and it definitely made a difference for me, as the first contraction after I took it off showed.

Found water great relief too, partly pain but mainly comfort and ease of movement. Bear in mind they often have quite strict parameters on letting you in the pool - you and the baby will both have to be coping well, no concerns re heart rate or blood pressure, no meconium or blood in waters I think. I'm sure there are other things too which would make them reluctant to allow you in.

Good luck though and I hope you have the experience you would like

Ina May is fine but the hippyness of it put me off TBH. I would really really recommend Juju Sundin's Birth Skills, it's very practical, by a physiotherapist and emphasises active birth.

I used TENS for my 1st birth and water for both. For TENS put the pads on early when you think contractions are starting, you can gradually increase strength as you need to. For pool, I recommend calling labour ward fairly early on when things start, mention then that you want to use pool, then if you call again before going in say again you want pool. It gives them the chance to 'pencil you in' for the room with it in - often only one. If you miss out because it's already in use, remember to ask for bath or shower as alternatives. Great news that things are feeling more positive closer to the birth, good luck!