Hypnobirthing and TENS?

[codenameduchess]

My due date is rapidly approaching and after a very disorganised early first birth I want to be prepared this time! It wasnt traumatic, but took us by surprise and I had no birth plan or hospital bag.

We've done a hypnobirthing course and I feel really good about it. I have the relaxation mp3s and have booked in to pregnancy relaxation too.

I'm also considering a TENS machine as I've also heard good things about them and think it could work well with hypnobirthing.

I'm high risk due to bmi, but only just and have no complications so it's all looking good for having another straight forward birth.

Any one have experience of either or both combined you would be willing to share?

I used both to good effect in first labour. You need to put the TENS on early, it takes a while to build up. I didn't think it was doing much but I knocked it off accidentally, had a contraction without it, and it really was making a difference! Hypnobirthing helped, I was very calm and inward focussed throughout. Second and third labours were really quick. MW wanted to send me home when I turned up with third one as she said I wasn't in labour, despite my notes saying precipitous birth. DD arrived before she had me booked in! Good luck!

I would recommend tens. Get a maternity one though which has a trigger button so you Get a bit of instant control. Also put it on asap when Labour starts as it can take
Time to become more effective.

I found it probably reduced my pain by about 50 percent and by the time I got to the pushing stage after 36 hours I still had energy to get through the hard bit even though I hadnt slept at all the previous night.

You can't use it in water is the only down side I think. Would have combined with hypno but baby came at 36weeks before I finished the book 😣

I used my tens machine on level 5 at most during labour but it went up to 15!!! Dread to think what that is for!?

I had my tens on constantly for the 36 hours and used the trigger boost during contractions which is what is recommended I think.

Thanks!

@Iamnotacerealkiller that's promising! I've been looking at a babycare one that has mostly 5 star reviews.

I think mine came with diagrams for use and the best one was the two sets of electrodes on the lower back so one set at top of buttocks under hip area with its pair above it at bottom of rib cage. The other pair the same on the other side of the back.

Its difficult to describe if you haven't used a tens machine before, basically the current will run between the two points and disrupt your pain receptors, so in the above example will relive the pain in your lower back and hip area. I would experiment on an arm or something (or get a friend to do it) so you get the idea before you are due. I would check about advice about using during pregnancy pre-labour as i believe it isn't advised. The main thing to remember is to avoid having the current going across your spine!

I used this combination for both of my births, and found it worked really well for me. I found breathing so, so important during both labours, and hypnobirthing/relaxation techniques are all centered around breathing.

TENS machine is bloody brilliant and the only pain relief I used both times. First birth I was induced on the drip and used it all the way through until baby was born (realised shortly after he arrived the it was still on and set to maximum power and boost!
The boost feature is really important to look for, as it gives you some control for riding through each contaction.
Second birth I took it off (reluctantly) to get in the pool. Although very glad I did as the pool, and giving birth in the water, was amazing.

I didn't know what to expect during childbirth with baby being my first, but I really think I couldn't of got through Labour without my Tenns machine! In the end I got sent upstairs to be put on the drip, Baby ended up being back to back 😭... Thank god for the boost button! Wore it right up until the pushing stage then it was gas and air 🤯🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴 congratulations and hope everything goes well 😊

I also did hynobirthing, and that also helped A LOT especially with the breathing techniques! Remember not to waste your breathe in the pushing stage! 🥵😥😬

Tens machine did nothing for me, I'm afraid. But contractions were bloody strong from the beginning and DS was here in 6 hours.

The hypnobirthing stuff though I found really useful. I couldn't breathe through them or go to my happy place but it did do wonders for when things didnt quite go to plan. I just went with the flow which made for a pretty happy birth.

Can’t help with hypno birthing as I haven’t tried it but I wouldn’t give birth again without a TENS machine. I stupidly didn’t get one for my second labour but the midwives sourced me one during and it really does help.

I rented my first one from hospital beforehand if your hospital does this or you can rent them through the post.