TENS machines

[FH27]

Hello everyone, i'm a FTM due early August and I am starting to think about my options for pain relief in labour. I quite like the idea of a TENS machine as it doesn't involve any medication (to clarify I am not against other methods of pain relief I just would prefer to get as far as I can without too much medication) and I was looking for other peoples experience of using one for labour. If you used one did it provide adequate pain relief for all of your labour or just early stages? and was it practical to use and operate during labour? I was planning on hiring one and was wondering if there are specific brands people would recommend or if they are all much the same? thanks in advance for you answers.

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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you've landed here looking for similar recommendations, our guide to the best tens machine has been recently updated to reflect availability and new releases. It includes a wide range of options to purchase or rent, and many come tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet users. We hope it's helpful!

I used mine for 36hours straight with my son. It made a big difference up until active labour when I needed to take it off to get in the water.

I even tried a contraction without it at about 30 hours and my goodness yes it makes a difference!

My advice. Buy a maternity specific one with 2 sets of leads and a trigger button so you can easily boost at a seconds notice and it gives you a great sense of control.

Also put them on as soon as you start to feel contractions. It can take time to build up the endorphins to make it fully effective.

They don't remove all the pain but makes it much better especially in the early stages so you can save your energy. I was in labour for 40 hours and felt fine energy wise at the end stage even with no sleep in all that time.

Also great for back and shoulder pain from all the rocking and baby holding :)

Also. My machine went up to 15 but I only needed up to level 5 intensity so plenty of upper limit.

It was fabulous! I mainly used it during the early part - for around 12h until I was in established labour and then went on to gas and air. You can rent them too (though not sure where in the UK as I gave birth in Ireland)

Yes definitely. Rented mine from Boots. Got me through two back to back labours. And enjoyed using it to (occasionally) torture my husband.

Had my 3rd baby Saturday.

It was brilliant - far better than I thought. It was a Boots one. I bought instead of hiring. Was only about £40. There were 50 increments on the settings and apparently I got up to 38. My DH would press the Boost button and turn up the intensity when I tapped his hand. Then turn back down inbetween contractions. Had it on for about 11 hrs before getting in the pool for the 2nd stage.

I used mine while I was at home and then took it off when I Got into the birthing pool at hospital

Hired it from boots online

I used mine for a good 36 hours when in early labour, seemed to take the edge off. I think because it was my first baby I didn't know how bad the pain would get so only got up to about level 6 of 15 but I have quite a high pain threshold I've learnt.
I took it off once we got to hospital as I was being monitored so became to awkward to keep on but I'd use again and recommend!

TENS machine got me through all a straightforward labour with a gas and air for crowning. It makes a massive difference and is brilliant for lack of side effects.
Practice putting it on before the event though so it isn't a faff.
Good luck.

Hired mine from boots it was great, could carry it round in early stages when I wanted to walk about a lot. Could dial up intensity to match your body. Good control

I hired one from Boots and used it for my second baby. I put it I. As soon as I felt twinges and used it all the way till getting into the house after pool to give birth. It took me from 0 to 9cm dilated over a very quick 2 hours. When I took it off I yelped at the next contraction without it on, there was such a difference! I'd recommend it, and a water birth with gas and air if you can.

I used one, didn't think it was working because I was still in pain, then pulled out the cables by accident and realised what a difference it made. I couldn't get the cable back in fast enough. I'd definitely get one!

Thanks everyone for your replies they were all very helpful, I will definitely look into hiring one, fingers crossed it works for me. This is probably a daft question but even with the TENS machine on was it still easy to tell when contractions were starting/finishing so you were still able to time them?

Don't worry, you'll still be in loads of pain and can feel everything! Just not quite as bad.....

Not trying to scare you with that statement, but you need to know it doesn't take the pain AWAY, just lessons it, a bit.

I wouldn't have called it loads of pain. You are still in perfect contact with your body and able to know exactly what was happening and when. All the tens does is load your nerves with an alternative signal so less of the pain message gets through. Bit like when too many people are trying to use the wifi 😆 but you still have a sensation it is just fuzzier so more bearable.
Whether you call it great pain depends on your threshold and other factors. Feeling calm and safe and loved also goes a long way to taking the edge off.

@BigusBumus don't worry I would rather have realistic expectations of what to expect from it rather than thinking it would perform miracles!

I used an Elle Babycare one that I got second hand on a whim for literally pennies. It then went around all of my NCT group, some friends and then onto NCT second babies. Obviously we all just bought new pads (which are about £5 in Boots/Superdrug etc) so if you've got a friend who is also pregnant you could go halves and buy one? As has been said, definitely get one that is for maternity use.

Mine had a boost button and 8-10 levels, I got up to 3 because I was "saving" them for when it got really painful. When I got to the hospital I just had gas and air, and had the TENS machine on until I'd given birth (completely forgot it was still turned on) but I was already 7cm dilated by the time I arrived and baby was out within 2 hours so I had it very easy.

In terms of feeling the contractions, you definitely feel them but they're not painful as such and they're usually not a constant pain. Tbh we found timing them really hard because my husband couldn't tell when one started and ended. We also did hypnobirthing (Positive Birth Company digital pack) which as scientists we thought would be a joke, but was actually one of the most informative things we did for birth prep. We just skimmed over the airy fairy positive affirmation bits.

I also went into labour naturally at 36+6 so our first time using the TENS machine was during my actual labour, as there's a warning not to try it until you're 37 weeks. I'd advise at least reading the instructions when you buy it, if nothing else!