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 thought it was great but of course I don't know what the pain would have been like without it! I found it very positive to feel that I could 'do something' during the early stages. Later, in conjunction with some gas and air, I still found the contractions very manageable.

Loved mine, used it in both labours. gas and air makes me throw up so the TENS was great.

Another vote for yes. Got me to 10 cm both times.

It seems to be a marmite thing though, I have friends who hated it, but def worth a try. You can buy one for similar cost to hiring one and flog it on eBay if you don't get on with it.

Wish I had used for first DC as SOOOOOOOOO much better than gas and air - ended up with epidural for the first (which was absolutely brilliant but I am a bit scared of needles so didn't want to repeat for baby no. 2)

Used the TENS for second labour and it was fabulous. Obviously doesn't completely get rid of the pain like the epidural did, but it was completely bearable all the way through.

Go for it - if it doesn't provide the pain relief you need, there are always other options at the time. Given that your body will actually decide what happens during your labour (and not the pointless and ridiculous birth plan) you can't predict what will and won't work.

Not for me; it just annoyed me too.

Mine definitely helped, even more so when the mw in hospital put the pads in the right places! Get her to mark on your back in sharpie at your last appt! DH had a good guess using the diagram, but we were a bit off. Still a good distraction overnight though :)

I hired mine, with no hassle. They send new pads/leads & batteries in the box, so all clean & nice!

No, mine was no help with first labour. Went without second time and didn't miss it at all

Loved mine. Both labours. Used during induction from hell and two years later for lovely homebirth. Re:homebirth, partner said she had changed the batteries before I used it. They ran out at the eleventh hour. Later confessed she had changed the batteries, but not for new ones.

Yes yes yes. I had one for second dc and, at times, questioned whether it was really working, what with that labour malarkey smarting a little bit. Then a pad would fall off and I'd be like "Holy mother of God get it back on"- definitely works. Would never do it without one again. You do have to get it on early though.

Got mine from Lloyds pharmacy.

I tried one at the hospital and it made me very panicky as I didn't like the sensation. I couldn't get it off quick enough!
It seems to have helped lots of people on this thread, its certainly worth a try!

I got to 8cm at home with just tens. It was great until the pads started coming unstuck and then it was just really irritating. I would use it again.

Its good at the beginning. I had an epidural with DD and couldn't then work out what the rhythmic buzzing noise was .

Mine worked - partly as a distraction, I think, but I definitely missed it when I had to take it off to get in the pool.

Brilliant for the early stages, but as others have said make sure you start using it early on and have a practise beforehand. I rented mine from Mothercare.

It's worth a go, but I hated it. To me it was like someone poking you in the shoulder & saying oi, oi, oi all the time. No idea why, but my contractions were remarkably painful and labour took about 5 days with a c-section at the end, so maybe I'm just weird!

I didn't really get tens, but trying it out before I was in full blown labour and desperate would probably have helped. I found it annoying and just wanted to get it off. I loved gas and air!

I loved mine too. I actually don't know what I would have done without it. I really, really mean that.

I would definitely HIRE one. And check it works before you get there.

It depends, I would recommend using one regardless but it can be a gamble. First time I had long labour about 40 hours and tens machine really helped getting through. Second time labour was very fast, got the tens machine on but it did not have enough time to get to a point where it actually made any difference. With that said if I ever have another baby I will be having epidural but my recommendation to anyone wanting a natural birth to have a tens machine handy.

Another 'yes' from me. Used them during both my labours and agree with others who said that it's a good distraction for you.

When we were shown how to use them at an ante-natal class in my local maternity unit, the physio warned us to be careful with them as "someone's husband was admitted to casualty while his wife was in labour as he put the pads on his eyeballs". Bet his wife was dead pleased with him...

No. Annoyed me and didn't relieve pain. Waste of money.

Just to add I have fast labours/births. So that might be why.

Try lloyds pharmacy, I got my Tens machine from there 3 yrs ago. Think it was about £25. It definitely helped me get through a very long back labour after induction.

I hated it. Labour was bad enough without electric shocks added in!

Does using a tens affect an epidural at all? Or can it replace an epidural? I'm no expert on pregnancy, so I have no idea.

Sophia Liam | www.bio-niccontrol.com.au