Tens Machine- do they work?

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

My first labour was LONG and very hard. Baby wasn't back to back but all the pain was in my back and never felt contractions in my tummy (retroverted uterus). So while labour number two might be different, it's likely the pain would be in my back again and I would expect it to be show (labour number one consisted of regular contractions for 72 hours, no sleep for that long and agonising unbearable pain).
Should I try a TENS next time?

I never got as far as established labour, but did find it affective for the earlier contractions, which were quite painful. I actually decided not to use it this time (imminent) purely because I found it a bit faffy when I wanted to be moving around, and at one point it fell in the toilet I'd deffo say it's worth a go though, as they are not expensive.

I used the TENS in my second labour but there was a difference of opinion in how far on in labour I was (apparently I didn't shout enough!!) and I used it too late. So much so that I said it wasn't working and the midwife changed the batteries. At that point I was whizzed to the delivery suite in a mad panic and DS2 was born.

Unfortunately, they forgot the TENS was still attached to my back on full power until after I had delivered him - and then I REALLY felt it .

Definitely helped - got it going early (though I started labour fairly abruptly when my waters broke). A couple of hours later I was settled in the labour ward, using gas & air as well, and thought I didn't need it any more. DH then turned off the tens machine mid contraction, and the pain went through the roof! Cue me screaming at him to switch it back on again and him scrabbling around with wires!

Definitely helped with my long back to back labour.

Loved it. It definitely helped me and I don't know what I'd have done without it. Was very skeptical but it really worked. Maybe borrow one off a friend if you don't want to shell out for one yourself. That's what I did and bought fresh pads.

Brilliant for all 4 labours, highly recommend them. You used to be able to hire them? Most hospitals have them, in my experience (laboured in 3 different hospitals, all had TENS). Might be an idea to take batteries though.

Absolutely brilliant. I used it for each of my 3 labours until I was able to get into the birthing pool and then used G&A. I really don't think I could have got through labour without it.

I had a tens with no 2 and 3. It was great with no 2 and I even managed to sleep just before the pushing stage. I wore it from the first few contractions and used alongside gas and air until MW took it of me as I struggled to breathe. It was so good it was on my must haves for baby no 3
It didn't work as well with no 3, possibly due to lazy MW who didn't want to do anything and I think she positioned it wrong.
If it is on right though I think it can be as good as gas and air

All four labours as well were all in my back and I think it is great for that pain

Yeah, I used it for all 3 of mine. Just be warned, when your DH helps you take it off make sure it's switched off. With DD1 mine wasn't, it was switch on full blast and continuous. DH got a bit of a shock!

I hated it with DS1 but absolutely loved it with DS2, so well worth a go. Agree with others, getting it on very early is crucial!

good distraction. hired mine from hospital, got number from midwife. i like to think the money (£25?) went to the maternity unit rather than to shareholders

I did not have a good experience with the TENS machine. My doula (trainee, never used a TENS machine before) wired me up and switched it on...unfortunately she had it on the highest setting when she switched it in and I nearly went through the roof and started clawing at it.

When we got it at the right setting I still didn't like it, with that labour all the pain seemed to be in my rectum, weirdly, and the TENS machine just made it worse. I took the bloody thing off before too long.

I used it first time for pain relief after C-section and it only helped a bit (I know that's not what they are normally used for). Second labour was on off for a week so I'd been using it for too long by the time contractions really set in - it was at top setting and still not helping much. When I finally arrived in my labour suite after about 10 minutes I went to the loo and the entire thing fell to bits on the floor and the batteries came out.

So I had an epidural !!

TENS machines were on sale in Aldi last week

That was in Australia though, so don't all rush out at once!

Yes, without doubt. Used it both times. Mw said no point second time but did anyway and she was wrong, it was invaluable

Yep mine helped with early contractions at home (for 36hours... ) and a bit in the car when my waters had broken.

I'd say yes. I didn't think mine was working until I took it off - holy cow the pain got so much worse!! But I took it off so that I could get into the pool, and that made everything lovely again (well, as lovely as any part of the horror of labour ever can be).

And it zapped DH when we took it off, which was hilarious at the time.

Agree with other posters, that you don't think a TENS is helping until you have to take it off, or it gets knocked. Then you realise! Found it very helpful for labour, and although it was all too quick with DS2's delivery to get a real benefit, I liked knowing that it was there, ready to go.

I hired one through a small ad in the local NCT magazine.

Hope that all goes well for you.

I used one during my labour last year. Once I plucked up the courage to set it to max and press the boost button, it was amazing. That, and gas and air was all I needed until I had an epidural for a forceps delivery. It was well worth the £20 rental fee - I can waste that on lunch out. I would say to anyone it's worth a try, and good to have something that is safe to use at home and make the journey into the maternity unit a little easier. Good luck.

When our DD was born I attached the TENS to my Wife's back. After about 30 minutes she said "I don't think it's working". I switched it off to then be hollered at "switch it back on, switch it back on". It had definitely been working.

I'd give it a go. But the TENS machine just didn't work for me, just annoyed me.

I hated it, didn't have any effect on the pain, just annoyed me with a buzzing feeling for no effect, but clearly it does work for lots of people, so I think the only answer is to get one and try it for yourself.

I had a very similar experience to you for my first - three days of painful contractions, I managed to get to 8cm on my own at home as the midwives didn't realise when my pre-labour and labour changed into each other- I had a much better and quicker second labour (few hours) so you really don't know how this will go- good luck.

I had an elle tens in labour and it was great. Totally recommend. I just needed a bit of gas and air towards the end. I got mine on ebay for about half the price I'd have paid in the shop and only slightly more expensive than it would have been to hire. You just have to make sure you get a new set of pads!

Loved mine so much, all 3 times but especially with DCs 2 and 3 wherei relied on TENs and gas and air. I loved the feeling of control it gave me and you can increase the intensity as labour goes on