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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Did you find a TENS machine helped in labour?

38 replies

Dinnerfor1 · 20/03/2015 14:44

I'm due to have baby any time soon, and I've discovered that TENS machines aren't too expensive in my local chemist.

Did anyone use them to help with labour pains, and did you find them useful? Did it help deal with the pain? I'm trying to decide whether it's worth buying one!

OP posts:
Zahrah5 · 20/03/2015 14:51

Also curious about the same thing.
OP, hope you dont me adding some extra question:

is there any difference between them? I see some cheapos have only 2 eletrodes, are these powerfull enough for labour? Looks like Elle Tens is the most popular but it is also expensive-considering getting second hand off ebay

Trizelda · 20/03/2015 14:54

I hired one each time and used it from the very first stages of labour. I found it useful as a distraction from the pain but found it irritating towards the end and removed it. I had three straight forward labours using gas and air and TENS. Not sure how useful it would have been if things had been more complicated. My youngest is 12 now so can't remember the name of the company but I think I found them advertised in the back of a pregnancy magazine.

Isisizzie · 20/03/2015 14:57

Yes it helped me. I was a bit disappointed that when it came time for me to get into the pool, I had got to 7 cms, I had only got up to level 6. I could feel a huge difference to the contractions when I took it off, it was working really well.

BloomingOrBallooning · 20/03/2015 15:00

I hired an Elle tens from MC. It was brilliant for my first labour and got me through the contractions with just a bit of G&A at the end. 2nd labour I hired another one but couldn't use it as baby's heart rate was being monitored using a head clip and the tens was interfering with the readings :-(

Original poster
Dinnerfor1 · 20/03/2015 15:03

Thanks trizelda . With dd1 I went almost straight to diamorphine and then epidural, due to induction and back to back labour. I really want to try something to help me stay calmer this time. I'm probably too late to hire one though.

zahrah I haven't had a chance to look at different types yet. This is a bit of a last minute panic decision! Hopefully someone can tell us which is best.

OP posts:
Thurlow · 20/03/2015 15:04

Definitely. Had a very long, slow labour and the Tens machine kept me sane.

Original poster
Dinnerfor1 · 20/03/2015 15:05

Blooming can you not use a tens of you are being monitored? I am probably going to be monitored throughout labour. Or is it just the headclip that it can't be used with?

OP posts:
MsBug · 20/03/2015 15:07

Yes I had one, no idea what kind as it was hired from the hospital. It really helped with the early stages and I think adjusting the settings gave dp something useful to do Smile

MsBug · 20/03/2015 15:09

I didn't have to hire it in advance. I had a premature labour and hadn't really thought about the birth, but the hospital offered to hire me one there and then.

beckslovestimmy · 20/03/2015 15:09

Not sure what brand I used but it had 4 electrodes (borrowed it from a friend). I found it really helped. I used it from the very early stages of labour until I'd delivered. Near the end of labour the electrodes needed changing and oh my god I could feel the difference when they were off!!!! I only used the TENS, never even got the gas and air as i progressed very quickly once my waters broke. I'd definitely recommend one but make sure you've got plenty of electrodes. Good luck

maamalady · 20/03/2015 15:13

I hired one, it was brilliant. I ended up on the induction drip and epidural (and then EMCS), but got to 5cm on TENS and gas and air - marvellous. It felt like thousands of ants were stamping about on my back, so strange but so nice and really helped me deal with the contractions.

Lovelyclaycup · 20/03/2015 15:17

Yes, love it, it really worked. Probably not related but I did end up with a emcs.

GreatSoprendo · 20/03/2015 15:19

I borrowed one and used it from the moment contractions started. Would definitely use one next time around. Hard to know if it actually blocks some of the pain, or if it's just a helpful distraction - but it was definitely worthwhile either way. I got to 7cm on Tens and G&A and didn't want to take it off when it was time to get in the pool!

Original poster
Dinnerfor1 · 20/03/2015 15:28

Thanks everyone. I think I'm convinced!

I'm thinking that even if I can't use it once I'm being monitored, it will be useful to help me last at home for as long as possible before I go to the hospital.

OP posts:
bakingtins · 20/03/2015 15:49

I vote yes - it got me to 10 cm in all three labours. I had one with 4 pads. A boost button is v useful, you have it on a low setting continuously and boost it for the contractions.
It seems to be a love or hate thing but definitely worth a try.

Justyouwaitandsee · 20/03/2015 15:57

Spare electrodes? How long does one set tend to last? I have a mama tens...

ohidoliketobe · 20/03/2015 15:58

I hired one from Boots (mamatens I think?) and it was brilliant. I got to 6 cm on that alone and used it alongside gas and air and finally pethidine in the later stages. If anything I'd certainly reccomemded hiring one just to have a try of in the early stages. If it works you'll be so glad you did it, and if it doesn't it's not a massive amount of money wasted in the grand scheme of having a baby.
I know a number of people / read quite a few threads on here when I was pregnant which said that they didn't realise how much the tens machine was taking the edge off the contractions until they removed it (to get in the pool or because they didn't think it was working).
I'd definetly hire one again if I had a second babu

BackforGood · 20/03/2015 15:59

I didn't find it did anything for me, personally, but, all labours are so different, it's perfectly possible it will work for you.
Of course, as this is dc2 then you might not have the time you had in labour with dc1... they tend (yes, I know there will be exceptions) to come a lot quicker.

BloomingOrBallooning · 20/03/2015 16:03

I'm not sure if it normally interfers with the head clip monitoring, but it took the midwife a while to figure out why they kept losing the signal. I think it works fine with the monitor they strap round your belly though.

Mintyy · 20/03/2015 16:05

Yes, I did. Very much so and I would highly recommend. However, I was only in labour for 7 hours and got to 3cm dilated (then I had a crash c-section). But found the tens really good for the pain up until that point.

HoldenCaulfield80 · 20/03/2015 17:17

A big YES to the TENS from me! I hired mine from Mothercare - I think it was an Elle one - and it was amazing. It's not pleasant but it's a pain YOU can control in the midst of pain you can't. I really couldn't recommend one enough!

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 20/03/2015 18:24

Mine was useless.

Do make sure it is a maternity tens, not a general pain one.Smile

weeblueberry · 20/03/2015 18:28

It works fine with monitoring. I was constantly monitored throughout my labour and had my TENS on the entire time :)

HairyHandedFucker · 20/03/2015 18:31

Big yes yes yes from me. Really helped. Fabulous invention. I had a lonnnnnnng, slow, back to back labour, and it got me through a lot of it.

yellowdaisies · 20/03/2015 18:32

Personally I found it about as much use as someone offering you a back rub whilst you have your leg cut off... But maybe worth a try for early on.

I think I got more use out of it helping with back ache of late pregnancy than during labour itself.