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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

TENS machines - do they work?

30 replies

Mog · 30/01/2003 13:11

Coming up to my second labour, I'm interested to hear of positive or negative experiences of TENS machines before going to the expense of hiring one.My first labour was very long but realise the second could be a lot quicker, so also wondered what people's experience of using them in second labours was like. Must admit, TENS didn't appeal to me first time round, but several people have mentioned it to me recently so think I should take a look.

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Lorien · 30/01/2003 13:22

mmmmm TENS machines... I hired one for both my deliveries. The first time round it worked a little bit, mainly I think because pressing that button gave me something to do and a slight feeling of being in control -- until the really heavy contractions set in and at that point I opted for an epidural. The second time round I had convinced myself that labour wasn't that bad and I'd do it without an epidural. But when the contractions got going I just went straight to an epidural and didn't even get the TENS machine out of its box. If I have another baby I won't bother at all with a TENS machine. ALthough as you said in your post, some people swear by them.

eefs · 30/01/2003 13:36

I had one and would definitly use one again. I put it on when i was getting irregular contractions in the morning, stayed at home all day, went into hospital the following morning 2:00 am, and wore it until it was no longer giving me any relief, about 6:00. I had my son at 7:00 am. It definitely helped me, whether it was actual pain relief or a placebo I don't know or care. I could feel a huge increase in the pain everytime I had to stop the TENS (i.e. during examinations) and it would take a while to build up again. I know people they've helped and people they had no effect on. I think if they are used early enough in labour they're are most benefical, i.e. the pain relief builds up. I enjoyed being free to move about with it. I'd try it if I were you Mog, and if it doesn't help, then have a second method of pain relief lined up. Do they cost that much to hire?

Carla · 30/01/2003 13:38

No. Not for me, anyway.

Scatterbrain · 30/01/2003 13:43

TENs was brilliant for me - used it until I couldn't feel the impulses anymore (ie. the pain was too strong) - then went on to epidural ! I'd definitely use one again - in fact I wouldn't do it without one !

Lindy · 30/01/2003 13:45

Absolutely not, for me anyway!

grommit · 30/01/2003 14:09

I used it and I think it did help - at least like Lorien said it made me feel more in control. I would use it again

hmb · 30/01/2003 15:19

I used one in my first labour, and found it excellent for the first stages . I hadn't planned to use one, but was already in hospital when my waters broke, and the nurses offered me one. I had always thought they were 95% placebo, but it was good for me at the start of labour. It would have allowd me to stay home a little longer (if I had been home IYSWIM). Then as things moved on I had gas and air, also excellent, diamorphine x 2 and then an epidural. They were all excellent for the stage in labout I had reached.

Philippat · 30/01/2003 15:25

I don't know about 2nd labours, only having had one, but it was relatively short (7hrs from first contraction to birth).

I thought TENS was wonderful. I used it all the way through, with gas and air for the last hour. I was still happily relaxed, walking around, chatting when 5cm dilated and I think TENS had a lot to do with that. It may have been all in the mind but that's fine with me, just so long as it works.

I even found it helped when I was having my stitches done.

If I were you, I'd get one and if you don't use it, well, it's not the end of the world, is it?

Jaybee · 30/01/2003 15:29

My friend used one and she was convinced that it helped, although, her description of labour pains etc. do not sound any different to min - I opted for some good old relaxation techniques to try and distract myself from the discomfort and pain. I think it is one of these mind over matter things, if you are convinced it is helping then you will swear by it. Personally, I wouldn't bother with one.

oxocube · 30/01/2003 15:35

Did absolutely nothing for me with my first. Didn't bother with it for the others.

munchbunch · 30/01/2003 15:58

Mog - I thought TENS was great. I had a very long (first) labour, and although I eventually had an epidural, thought it was great until then, and kept me fairly calm and in control. Whether or not it was a placebo / just gave me something else to focus on I don't know, but would definitely try it again. In my NCT class (admittedly all first labours) quite a few had completely natural births only with TENs. Also, my husband managed the controls which gave him something to do which was good rather than just sitting around feeling useless.

sprout · 30/01/2003 16:14

Did nothing for me, either, despite the NCT ante-natal teacher enthusing about it. My faith in it probably wasn't helped though by the fact that the midwives at the hospital (I'm in Belgium)didn't even know what it was!

Mommymommy · 30/01/2003 17:11

It didn't really work for me, although it felt pleasant. I think the thing that put me off was that i must have caught the strength switch and put it on full so that when it was attached and turned on i nearly shot off the bed and ended up looking like chrystal tips (with the hair), on the other hand i have a friend who used hers all the way through and swears by it.

megg · 30/01/2003 19:36

I had one but I think it was more a psychological help than anything else and it gives you something to do. Don't think it really helped in any other way. I'd get one and if you didn't feel it was helping then don't use. Better to have it and try it than think about it might be able to help and not having it.

EmmaTMG · 30/01/2003 19:46

With DS1 I had and epidural as the whole thing when on for hours and that was the only thing that would have got me to the end. With DS2 I hired a Tens machine as I had heard good stuff about them. This time the labour only took 3.5 hours and I didn't make it to the hospital so thats all I had. I'm not sure if it made a difference as I had the 'power' level on full within about 1 hour of putting it on. The two labours were so different it's impossible to compare but I will use one again as I think anything that makes labour easier has got to be a good thing really.

Lollypop · 30/01/2003 21:58

I have to say how brilliant my TENS machine was during the birth of DS last month. I used one with DD but didn't think too much of it. I tried again this time as Boots have a new improved machine and it's fab, worth every penny (£27). Really easy to use. It goes from settings 1 to 14 and I got up to 8 with gas and air only. You have to the machine on fairly early into labour according to the midwife, mind you, my labour was 3.5hrs and I only wore it for the last hour, before that I found walking around helped.
My advice is if you can afford it get one or ask the hospital for one, its worth a go.

cazzybabs · 30/01/2003 22:02

All I had for the birth of my 1st was my TENS (and a fantastic midwife)..so I think they are fantastic. You have to put up with the tingles and it made my back twitch as the current stimulated my nerves, but took my mind off other things! I would not think twice about using it for my second.

Hughsie · 31/01/2003 14:07

I used TENS for ds1 but thought it was fairly pointless until it was taken off and I realsied that it had been taking the edge off them. It is also a useful thing to take your mind off the pain. I have booked one for my second baby (due 27/2)as I am hopefully having a home birth. My midwife suggests early use of the TENS as it's effectiveness builds up. I think I'm a bit of a control freak and need to feel I've covered all the options so would probably want to hire one anyway even if it stays in the box!! I'd also ask the midwife to draw crosses on your back where the pads should go as it can effect the effectiveness quite a lot.

snickers · 02/02/2003 10:11

I hired a tens machine, and practiced with it before the birth, because I thought it might deal with my horrendous back pain... Only because I used it in this way did I discover what an astonishing effect it had - it releived my back pain completely.

I also managed to sleep for four hours during the first stages of labour with it attached, but not sure I noticed it's effect so much when the contractions became powerful. However, it probably was "taking the edge off" and I wouldn't let my DH take it off me that's for sure!! I think it's a bit like Gas and Air - after a while, you are positive it's not doing much, but really it is still taking the edge off the pain. (It was in fact only after the birth that I used gas and air as pain relief for the stitches did I realise just how powerful it was!!! I could feel the stitches - I just didn't care!!! fab!)

SoupDragon · 02/02/2003 10:40

1st labour, it did nothing really but it was fantastic with DS2. I'd say hire one and try it. It might be great, it might not but you've got nothing to lose (except about £27 I guess )

lorne · 02/02/2003 18:35

I didn't think much of TEN'S machine at all but I have heard of some poeple liking them.Hope it works for you if you do decide to hire one.
Good luck

LornaXX

Toots · 04/02/2003 13:18

Worked brilliantly for my back pain in early (induced) labour. Borrowed mine from physio at the hospital. Would certainly use one next time.

cas1968 · 06/02/2003 10:27

TENS machine worked wonders for me first time and I'm hoping it will again this time (EDD 17th Feb).

I wore it at home and had to keep swithing it off to check I was still having contractions! Iarrived at hospital 6cm dilated and still happily sitting around chatting. The midwife was amazed.I was monitored for 30 minutes and she said I should be screaming at her if the readings on the monitor were correct.

I got to second stage labour with just the TENs and about an hour of Gas and Air, but then it all went pear-shaped and ds was born by emergancy cs, but that's another story..

Hughsie · 02/03/2003 10:36

Hello - having given birth on Friday at homw I can say that he TENS machine was brilliant. It was a new one form Boots and really easy to work. Perfect for the early stages - really took the edge off - by the end I kept forgetting to change the mode and so it switched itself off but by then I was using the controlled breathing with the odd blast of entonox. Having thought TENS was not very effective with ds1 I can now say that it may depend on the birth as well as the individual as it felt much more effective this time!

concorde · 02/03/2003 10:56

It didn't even hit the spot for me, but have heard from friends that they have managed it throughout the whole labour, next time round (if!?) I will opt for the Epi as soon as I walk into the labour ward!

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