TENS Machine...hire or buy?

[JellyBean89]

Hello,

I am planning to use a TENS machine for the early stages of labour and was looking around before I order one. I was thinking to buy one as I would use it after for period cramps (I was originally going to get one for them before I got my BFP).

Does anyone know if the maternity ones are suitable for period cramps?

Where is the best and cheapest place to hire them from?

Buy from Lloyd's. If you have a disability (our Lloyd's accepts blue badges as proof) then you'll be able to purchase it VAT free. Either way Lloyd's prices are brilliant on equipment like that.

Def get a special maternity one as they're stronger than the non maternity ones and have helpful 'boost' button!

I got a kegel8 this time - used it for pelvic floor after first baby and can use it in labour for second one. You can buy all sorts of pads and probes for use on other bits of your body - they're really helpful on the phone. It was £60 or so but the maternity hire of my last one was £30 so I didn't think the cost was too bad overall.

Not sure about for period cramps. But I bought a new one for the same price as to hire. Makes sense and then I can sell it on after.

How many children are you likely to have? If you think you might have more than one, it works out cheaper to buy than hire. Remember you can probably resell afterwards too. I flogged mine on Ebay and I think it went for about £12 less than I'd paid. I did have pads in there too though.

Thanks guys! I will look into buying one and will check out Lloyds.

You can find loads of them on ebay. I hired one last time the pharmacy (a MamaTENS), but this time around I just bought it on ebay. It was brand new, never used or opened, still sealed in the box, sold by someone who had hoped to use it but never had a chance to. The hire had been £27, but I bought this one new for £15. I think it's worth looking to buy and sell on later. For me personally, I went early last time so I wanted to know I had it ready and waiting rather than having to worry about what date to start the hire period, etc.