What do I need to know about TENS?

[CaptainWarbeck]

Planning to use my TENS machine I bought for first birth and never actually used for imminent second birth. I've forgotten pretty much everything about it though. Did anyone use one? Any useful info?

I practised with mine and attempted during first few hours. Made sod all difference to the pain to be honest. A distraction at best.

Didn't work for me either 😏

I didn't practice beforehand, just whacked it on when we'd remembered it was in the bag! Got me through to 9cm, gave me something to focus on through contractions.

Well doesn't sound like I missed much with birth #1!

I still think I'll give it a go though, can't hurt. Does it take a bit of fiddling with before actual labour to sort out how it works or are they pretty self explanatory?

Ah igotta that's the kind of thing I was hoping to hear

Remember to turn it off before getting your husband to take the sticky pads off

They gave me one when i went in with DD. It worked early on for me. I even managed to have a nap. I doubt it would have worked with my first labour - but that was completely a different kettle of fish.

I think it was part distraction and also being able to actually do something mildly useful.

And yeah just whacked it on

Got me to 7cm, didn't want to take it off to get in the pool. Get it on early - if you think you might possibly be in labour put it on - the easier it's on the greater the effectiveness. Get one with a boost button and have lots of spare pads and batteries

Spare pads and batteries... might need to have a nosey inside the pack.

Planning to put it on right at the start this time!

I quite liked mine. I had a rather speedy labour, and it was my first time, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The TENS machine gave me something I could control. It also had a counter on it for counting the length of the contractions. I found that really helpful, if only because I knew they'd only last a minute, so I could see the end of each one as I was getting through the worst of it.

That said; mine broke, so by the end only two pads were attached to the machine. That was a bit shoddy, but I didn't notice it so much so clearly not the end of the world.

Just make sure you've read the booklet before hand and know how to put them on and which buttons to press and you'll be set.

My dh changed the battery while I had it on and nearly jumped off the table!!
I used it for sciatica from 30 weeks too. Enabled me to go camping and walking in Scotland no problem!!

Mine got me to 8cm and then the bloody thing just irritated me and I got OH to rip the thing off. I can't say it helped with the pain in the later stages but it distracted me enough as I had to keep pushing the boost button.

Make sure it works before you go into labour!! I made sure I had spare pads, batteries etc but when it came to early labour we couldn't get the bloody thing to work! Really disappointed because I think it would have helped me cope with the early stage a lot better. I did buy mine second hand (£10) from a friend, so my own fault for not testing it!

I couldn't have managed without the pain relief without that (and later on the birth pool) I almost did t get into the pool as I didn't want to give it up. Make sure you buy a roll of elastoplast! Initially the patches kept falling off as I was sweaty, my husband saved me by sticking them on with the elastoplast.

I LOVED it. However, was induced and they insisted on regular traces which meant the cumulative effect was completely lost several times. Got to 10cm with just TENS and a bit of hypnobirthing though.

It definitely worked for me. I hired a mamtens from llyods for £6. Well worth it. Used it from first contractions until I got into the pool. You can slowly build up the intensity and 'boost' when you have a contraction. The boost just changes the frequency and not the intensity. Only downside is you can't use with water. I would definately give it a go though as so safe.

Lifesaver for me as I got naff all pain relief. Just remember to dial it down after replacing the battery if it starts to go flat. I was in active labour at that point but it still made me yelp.