When to put TENS on?

[Zara1984]

I have sorted out my TENS hire from Boots. Just wondering when you're meant to put it on? Everything I've read says as early as possible. Does that mean as soon as you start feeling painful regular twinges you put it on, even if there's quite a few minutes between contractions? And then if it turns out to be nothing you just take it off again?

My contractions started at about 8pm and I put it on at about 4am the next morning. Partly because I wanted to see if it was really labour, but I also wanted to get as far as I could before starting each new form of pain relief, because I figured I didn't know how much worse it was going to get and I didn't want to use too much too early! I managed to cope with painkillers and just breathing through the contractions for a while until it just got to the point where they weren't doing anything and I needed to try something else so stuck the TENS on.

Had it on from 4am until about 5pm until, again, it wasn't cutting it any more and I'd reached its maximum setting - but by then I was at hospital and the G&A was available.

Found it helpful - if nothing else it's a good distraction but I really did find it worked. At one point when DH was readjusting the pads he accidentally touched one and got a right shock - I thought it was quite mild!

Straight away! You can take it off if it's a false alarm. It works by building up the endorphins in your system which is is your body's own painkiller. The sooner you put it on the greater the effect. I used mine until transition when it was no longer. I probably waited 20 mins after contractions started to be sure they were actually contractions. But you can still use breathing techniques and movement when it's on.

I put it on when CX were regular, but I could have still coped without it. I seem to remember that they say it takes a while for the endorphin effect to build up. By the time my CX were more serious I felt that the TENS was having a very good effect and I'd gotten into the swing of using it.

Hi - I had a few teeny cramps sat am, a sweep sat pm, regularish period pains (whilst hoovering and mopping to stay on my feet!) all sat pm then put the TENS on about 10pm - all night it was on and I really thought it wasn't doing anything - went to hosp next morning - they wouldn't even look at me - went for walk, was doubled over at 12 noon and when they checked I was 7cm!! So get it on early - keep it on - I whipped it off to go in pool. I was surprised - I really didn't think it was doing anything or that I was in proper labour - I only had it on one of the low settings!

Good luck x

Before you get in the car to go to hospital!
So that if there's roadworks and a police roadblock so a sub-10-min drive takes over 45 minutes, you can just ramp the TENS up a bit and still be OK.

Breathing and a nice bath got me through the previous 6 hours, but car and then waiting to be admitted for an hour were really uncomfortable, though at least in the waiting room I could be on all fours. Finally got in, agreed I was in labour, given g+a and turned TENS down again.

As soon as you get out of the bath.

This is all very helpful, thanks ladies