How many TENS pads should I buy?

[ClearlyMoo]

I've been kindly leant a TENS machine for upcoming labour (I'm 33 weeks at the mo), and I wondered how many sticky pads things I should get...?

I have sciatica so am keen to attempt to use it to help with that once I get past 37 weeks (it may have gone perhaps!) and then would use machine in labour and perhaps afterwards for period/shoulder pains post partum (booklet shows how to help with both).

I'm trying to understand if pads are reusable or just one go.

They are £5-£7/ pack of 4, do I need to buy 12 pads for what I need it for, or will 8 (or even just 4?) do?

It's an Elle Tens with two channels (4 pads at once)

TIA!

I reused them with some micropore tape.

self adhesive pads are usually reusable so you'll only need 4.

I used mine for quite a while (also an Elle tens) so I reckon just four.

Ok so they stay sticky for a few uses then you need to stick them on with tape but still work?

I used my TENS for 6 days of latent labour plus about half a day of active labour, and had the pads on and off all that time - I was fine with only two sets of pads.

you restick them to the plastic between uses. sometimes the plastic is printed with on/no so you know to stick to the 'on' side. (makes more sense when you see it).transparent.

I used a tens machine it's good it helps , thing is once it's on you can't change the pads anyhow because it interrupts frequency and you lose the rhythm . That's why it goes on at the very 1st start of labour . Even if you did change the pads your skin will be clammy by that stage so they won't stick aswel x

I disagree that you lose the effectiveness though. I had a shower and put mine back on and the contraction I had between getting out the shower and putting the TENS back on was crippling. So you probably could change the pads.

I used one set of sticky pads during an 8 hour labour and they were melted to me afterwards!!! Gross.

I had one set of 4 pads for labour. They are reusable, and wetting them a little can reactivate the "stick". I was a loooong slow labour and managed to use them well for 2 days (and on and off for warm baths - I could put back on, but had to start the stimulation from the lowest level again as I was suddenly v sensitive to it again).

But... I managed to get examining couch paper towel on 2 of them and pretty much wrecked them. Given you plan to use it pre and post labour in a few areas, I'd get a couple of pad sets and see how you get on.