TENS - is it worth it?

[Sarahjct]

Hi all

I'm 32 weeks now so just starting to freak out a bit. Have been reading the positive birth story thread so feeling a bit better...

One thing I don't really know too much about is TENS. Does it make a difference? How soon should I get one? Where from?

Sorry... to ask so many questions, I'm just starting to think through all of the options now.

I found my tens machine completely useless but people do seem to react rather differently to the sensation. I found it more annoying than the pain. I had a rally quick labour though so it probably didn't have build up time in the early stages of mild contractions that people often say it needs. I went from no pain to intense pain.

I am in the 'not sure if it worked but liked the ditraction' camp! Was in early labour with niggles for a couple of days and really liked it for that - especially overnight. Went into hospital to be looked at and took it off for the journey, then when DH tried to put it back on i didn't like it!

What i wanted to say was ask your midwives as i was able to hire one from mine for next to nothing.

I hired a Mamatens one from Mothercare. It didn't take the pain away, but it dulled it enough so that it was bearable. I found it very useful - especially for the car journey to the maternity unit since I was having strong contractions and my husband cound't rub my back because he was driving .

Re trying it out first - a word of caution (from experience) - try it on a low setting first. The higher settings can really hurt if you use them when you are not actually having strong contractions at the time. The setting can be upped as your contractions get stronger.

hospitals certainly don't give them out where i live so don't rely on that.

also you need to put it on in very early labour for it to be effective so you need to have it at home.

i've posted before but for DD1 birth i bought one from Boots and found it useless - levels to navigate through when you're not in the frame of mind. I think i didn't ramp it up quickly enough (was "saving" the higher levels lol) so it stopped working.
With DD2 i got this one from here and found it fantastic. I only took it off to push and only then because the midwife made me.

yes yes yes, I got through the whole of my first birth on one and don't know what I would have done without it!

I hired one from Boots for DC2 and found it helpful in the early stages.

My hospital in NI lend them out. I tried it with ds2 and hated it! I couldn't get it off me quickly enough! (So I wouldn't recommend buying one of those horrible things)

i loved mine both times

got a mamatens from boots the first time and texco the second

if i have a thid it'd def have been cheaper to have bought one, but this never crossed my mind!

Ooh, kekouan thanks for the tip. I did order one from Boots yesterday and you're right, 37 weeks would put me squarely on the 20th December. Not good...

Will email and ask for special delivery.

Thanks everyone for the replies. This place is great for tips and stories. I don't know how I would have got this far without all the advice