Should I get TENS machine if I'm planning on having an epidural?

[Gingerandcocoa]

I am 31 weeks along and starting to think about the birth. I am not very good with pain and am dreading going through labour pain free. I've decided that unless birth is very quick and there is no time for an epidural, I will be asking for one.
My question is, if money wasn't an issue (eg I could borrow one), is it worth getting a TENS machine, for the period before the epidural?

Yes definitely. It's something to do and fiddle about with for a start. I was in labour for a long time before I had an epidural.

Yes. You won't be able to have an epidural until you are in established labour and several cm dilated. TENS can be v helpful in early stages.

I used one every time, had an epidural for dc1, gas & air for dc2 (very quick) & gas & air + diamorph for dc3.

Tens definitely helped in the early stages - I found that out if I switched it off!

Couldn't tell you if it helped in the later stages, as by that point I wasn't taking it off to find out!

BTW, dc2, gas & air was by far my "best" labour, despite being shockingly fast & "only" gas & air. Your body reacts differently to everyone else's and differently each time. Have a plan by all means, but be prepared to go with how you feel at the time.

I think some hospitals rent/loan tens machines out?

Definitely. Try everything! As BakingTins says, you may not be able to have an epidural for quite some time even if baby is fully bearing down but your stupid cervix won't dilate even after 2 hormone drips. And then you have to wait 3 hours for an available anaesthetist. And it doesn't work so you have to have another one. I was 18 hours into a 26 hour labour before my epidural kicked in and definitely wouldn't recommend trying to get through a tricky one with just gas and air!

Yes, great for early labour, and indeed, right to the bitter end! Its a good bit of self help you can use to cope in the early stages,and, you never know, you might find it a good support whilst waiting for the hard drugs don't miss the gas and air!
In all seriousness, don't knock a hot water bottle and dosing up on paracetamol in the early stages too. I was so insulted the midwife suggested these first time around, i didn't bother. Next time, i had my TENs dosed up,every 4 hours on paracetamol and had a hot water bottle on my back, and it got me through 16 hours of early labour at home...