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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Can't take a TENS off once it's on??

19 replies

maveta · 14/12/2006 16:58

I just read something about TENS saying once it's on it shouldn't really be taken off as this interrupts the flow of endorphins or whatever. Is this true?? What if you want a shower or a massage for a change?
If you have to take it off for electrical monitoring can you still put it on again later or will it not be as effective??

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fiiiivemadmarchhaaaares · 14/12/2006 17:00

pah, mine was on and off all the time, in fact my notes say 'madmarchhare requests that the tens be removed as it is 'bugging' her', I actually said get that f*cking thing off me now'

Sorry not very helpful am I?

PorpoiseOnEarth · 14/12/2006 17:02

Well, you can take it off whenever you like - it's not compulsory to keep it on - but it wont 'work' as well. The whole idea is that you build up the strength of the electrical impulses gradually as your contractions increase in strength.
If you put on a TENS and ramp it up to maximum straight away, you'll find it pretty unpleasant!
Oh, and you can keep it on while you're being monitored.

BettySpaghetti · 14/12/2006 17:03

I used a TENS during both of my labours but don't recall reading anything like that.

During my first DP was "in charge" of the buttons on the TENS machine and made a right pigs ear of it so it wasn't even switched on half the time !

VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/12/2006 17:03

LOL! Me too madmarch!!!!

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 14/12/2006 17:06

Erm, codwallop! The idea is that you can't take it off for maximum effect, as its a build up thing, but you can if you need a bath, its not working for you, or you need to remove for some other reason.

I only had the offer of a Tens for my first labour DH wanted to build me one for subsequent - erm no) and I found it effective at first, but I needed more as labour wore on.

LIZS · 14/12/2006 17:07

You don't have to take it off to be monitored and can remove it any time you like. However it is most effective if used from the early pains and gradually increased. if you take it off for a shower, for example, you may find that, even on the same setting, it is less effective initially as pain relief when you replace it but presumably it would build up again. The pads are low down on your back so you could still have a massage with it in situ I would think.

amp · 14/12/2006 17:07

Maybe that's true, I don't know but what I do know is that the TENS machine didn't do anything for me! I put it on in early labour and it just anoyed me,so be warned! I know it works for some people though, so good luck!

WigWamBam · 14/12/2006 17:08

Of course you can take it off.

If it works for you, you may find things get more painful once you remove it though.

I was like madmarchhare ... "get that farking thing off me NOW!".

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 14/12/2006 17:50

I couldn't wait to get shot of the bloody annoying thing!

BuffysMum · 14/12/2006 17:53

I found it fantastic but I have to say the first two labours I used it in I didn't realise how helpful it was until I took it off for an epidural - first time, batteries ran out (2 day labour) 2nd time!

wheresthehamster · 14/12/2006 18:23

It was so annoying it took my mind off the contractions.
But in the end I had to rip it off as well.

JoshandJamie · 14/12/2006 19:13

I vaguely recall ripping it off saying: get this f*ing thing off me and hurling it across the room. So not sure if it was less effective afterwards but I felt less like killing someone once it was off. (I know people who swear by them though)

ska · 14/12/2006 19:26

my batteries wore out! so I had an epidaural instead....

ska · 14/12/2006 19:27

and i'm pretty certain i siad the f word too, about every 10 minutes...

tassis · 14/12/2006 19:29

I took it off first time round once I started on G&A

Second time round I forgot all about it until I was about to go and shower (after dd was born). realised I was still attached. No idea when I stopped using it!

But if you're wondering whether or not to use one I'd say go for it! I loved it!

bagpussmum · 14/12/2006 19:34

The idea is that u shouldnt take it off for best effect to increase the intensity of the Tens with ur contractions. Thats fine if u use it from the start ie low grade pain . Start using it early so u are in control and can deftly flick it on or off. To be honest early pain is s better managed by warm baths, being active taking a couple of pain killers and concentrating on your breathing and talking thru gritted teeth to your partner when they make helpful suggestions its not really that bad.
The problems start when ur pain is intense and have this bloody machine on ur back which ur trying to mess with and u lose focus.
Much like mad march hare I found mine a distraction during contractions trying to fiddle with it etc ...It got ripped off and flung.

I didnt have an epidural and delivered 10mins after getting to hospital pain free on the delicious gas and air.Try and get that off me next time midwife!

twickersmum · 14/12/2006 19:41

i found them brilliant.
first time i had bought one from Boots with different levels, far too complicated and you don't know when to put it up a level
second time i hired this one tens and found it brilliant as there is just one dial, 0-9 and you just wind it up to increase the strength. I had it on the whole labour, including during monitoring, and it only came off when i got in the shower after the baby was born

arfishyheauheauheau · 14/12/2006 23:30

The only thing mine did was distract me by making me plead 'please work, please work' during each contraction.

Would deffo go straight for the epidural next time. Now that definitely took the edge off

I also made the mistake of taking a paracetamol after about 10 hours of labour (mine was 32 hours). HaHaaaaHaaHAHaHAHAAHAHAHA. Next time I would do this earlier.

Rosydingdongmerrily · 15/12/2006 11:45

I know lots of people find tens great but I don't get it! As soon as I put it on I couldn't STAND it, couldn't get it off quickly enough. Used nothing at all for labour instead.

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