Would u recommend a TENS machine?

[mlr1uk]

Just wonder if a waste of money or something worthwhile??

Thanks

Did nothing for me! I tried everything. Should have gone straight to epidural!

Def worthwhile but I loaned one from mw ago way through pregnancy for sciatica. Used it in labour also. .
Tip tho to replace battery before labour. Dh did it while I was all wired up and had it on full!! Screamed I was being electrocuted!! Was funny looking back but wasn't then!!

Waste of money for me

It did nothing for me either. In fact, my husband put it on when my proper contractions started and I wanted it off straight away. BUT, saying that, I've spoken to a few women and they said it worked a treat for them. I second what the pp said and hire one.

Yes! Got me to 10cm with back to back labour and also use of syntocinon drip. It's certainly a weird feeling but a wonderful piece of kit.

Mine worked for very early labour. When I was contracting every 3 mins it got on my bloody nerves and I ripped the thing off.

It only worked a tiny amount for me. But I'd still recommend giving it a go as there's nothing to lose!

I hired one for DS1 and it stayed in the box. I didn't bother for DS2.

Was great for me, but my labour was very quick - admitted at 3-4cm, was 10cm within 2 1/2 hours, and active labour was all of 6 minutes, most of which was gurneying me down the corridor and into the delivery room, then getting the monitors etc set up.

I found the TENS helped with managing the harder contractions - I knew roughly how long they lasted and the counter on the machine was reassurance that it would be over soon.

Mine did break though, so only 2 of the 4 pads were hooked up. Didn't make too much of a difference I don't think.

Not sure if it worked for me but it was a brilliant distraction, especially when dh had the controls!

Brilliant w second induced labour with drip and everything. Get the mw to put the pads on; they've done it Before!

Was great for me, especially the drive to the hospital. I didn't need it at the hospital as I was straight in the water but up to then I found it very useful!

Was great for me. I had no other pain relief for dc1 and it got me to 9cm dilated with dc2 (then used some gas and air).

Thought I'd try it with my third labour.

Was ok until 3/4 cm dilated then it just pissed me off and I ripped the damn thing off me.

It's a good distraction to start with. Fiddling with buttons and I definitely think it helps a little with the pain.

When you're in agony anythings worth a shot. (And it's hilarious watching your dh try it before labour-for the 'rest run' obviously)

Worked up to a point for me. Not sure if I'd really sussed out how to use it well enough before everything got crazy painful (back to back labour) and I do know people who thought they were great.

Actually, once I had my baby in my arms and I was coming out of my post-pethedine haze, I suddenly felt a weird sensation on my back - I'd had it on and forgotten about it for about six hours!

Test run.

Worked for me from early contractions to getting into the birthing pool. You have to put it on early and build up slowly. By the end I had it on full and really noticed how effective it was when I took it off for examinations. Like a PP I also found it useful to count down the contractions from peak to trough.

I bought mine on eBay and got spare pads from Amazon. It doesn't work for everyone but worth trying imo.

Oh and it was a back to back labour

Absolute shite for me. In fact, I think it actually made things more uncomfortable.

Yes! I had it on for my whole labour (although that's cause I forgot about it in the latter stages). Definitely helped me focus during contractions up to 10cm. But I was lucky to have a short labour (4 hrs and went from 3cm to 10 in about 40 mins) so I'm sure that helped.

I hired one for both labours, used it up until the point where contractions started in earnest and then I couldn't bear it anywhere near me, ripped it off and chucked it as far away as possible!!

Yes. Got me to 7cm in 4 hours. Didn't want to take it off to get in the pool. Make sure it has a boost button and put it on at the first sign of twinges

Bloody loved mine, used it with all 4 labours.

With first two, took it off to get in the water and also had g&a. With last two just used TENs and g&a at the very end (9cm+) it is hugely individual though so worth hiring if you're not sure.

I bought mine at DC1 and was worth the investment for me! Have since lent it to my DSis as well.

Definitely recommend. With DD1 I thought it was doing nothing until the MW accidentally knocked it off when I was in labour (approx 7cm).

I nearly hit the roof when I felt the 'real' contractions. Put it back on and got to 9cm then some G&A before DD1 was born.

But buy some spare pads / electrodes in case you have a super-long latent phase like I did.