TENS machine - worth it?

[singingpinkmonkey]

Hello, just a quick one. Am 39 +1 with my first baby and am just going over a final checklist for my hospital bag. I haven't bought a tens machine so far as to be honest it just completely slipped my mind but spotted one in Boots and now I'm wondering whether it's worth getting?
Anyone that's used one think I should go for it as a last minute purchase??

Thanks in advance!

Can rent or get second hand off eBay etc.
Mine kept me content during a 45 min drive to hospital and until I got g&a, and helped a bit after I got out of the pool. Also good for backache in late pregnancy.

Yes, they are about £30 on Amazon.

I used mine for birth with no other pain relief, it was so effective for me that I couldn't go past 6/10 strength as that was more painful than the contractions.
It also helped for back pain after carrying around baby and feeding in awkward postures.
Hope to use it for 2nd baby too.
They do sell on well so I'd try it. Good luck.

Yes - I think it helped with 1st.
With the 2nd I forgot to check the bloody thing worked (it was a rental and didn't). Definitely think it was harder without it.

You would need an obstetric one for the boost button

Definitely

I forgot to use mine, but went straight into established labour so not sure it would have been much help anyway, thankfully I only hired it instead of buying it. You can pick them up second hand

I had my baby 3 days ago and would 100% say yes. I hired one online and it was the best money I have ever spent. It was about £25 for 6 weeks hire - kept me at home until I was 7cm dilated, and delivered the baby using the TENS and gas and air only.

Make sure you get a maternity specific one with a boost button. Cannot recommend enough.!

Having not needed one for dcs 1&2 I didn't bother for dc3 but was lent one by the hospital as the labour was slower. Midwife suggested it - I was sceptical but it turned out to be a marvel. No more babies for me but I'd use one again if I did have another.

Noooo from me!! I bought my own and the few times I tried I, it hurt! Enough pain in labour without adding more.

I used mine for all three:
1st with half a dose of diamorphine when things ramped up.
2nd used just the tens.
3rd tens and a puff of gas and air.

Couldn't have done it without them. I was very lucky and had straightforward births and left hospital within 6 hours each time. I managed to time it so that level 10 on the tens was just about when I was ready to push!

Thank you everyone for your responses! I ended up buying the Mama Tens unit from Amazon and it arrived yesterday. I got a model with a boost button as a lot of you advised that would be a plus! I'm hoping that it helps me out in the early stages. I am due on Tuesday! Wish me luck

Good luck! You've invested well and wisely

Good luck!