TENS machines - do they work?

[Mog]

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.

I had no gentle build-up of contractions - they just started at 5am thick and fast. I am not sure the TENS machine dulled the pain but the funny pulsing feeling does take your mind off the contractions to a certain extent and turning it up gives you something to focus on! Mine was taken off me when I had an epidural at 6pm. I had
ds at 1am and throughout the night I could still feel the pulsing in my back even though I obviously didn't have the TENS machine on any more!! I would use one again, I think!

Most of my friends found TENS effective... Mine kept failing, and even when it did work it wasn't effective. At one point DH accidentally touched the pads and felt like a brick wall was blasting him, and yet I could barely feel it.

I found labouring in water much better pain relief the 2nd time 'round.

I used tens both times, but if I am honest i think it was more to give me something to do than to releive the pain. When you are pushing that little button you feel like you are 'helping' somehow. In my first labour my battery went dead and it took me about an hour to notice (dh noticed the light wasn't on but didnt say anything) and the second time it worked for about 20 mons before I went on to the gas and air and ds was born not long afterwards. The first time I had one at home already (hired from hospital) and so put it on as soon as contractions began. Second time ds came early so I didnt have it yet, so by the time I put it on the contractions were already fairly strong, so I dont think I got as much benefit.
I think if you are going to use it you have to start using it fairly early on. Good luck!

Hello I didn't use TENS machines in labour but I have used them for other types of aches and pains and they really helped, especially when I had sciatica.

I used TENS with great optimism, but I can't honestly say it did much to ease the pain. For me, it was more about having something productive to do during contractions - fiddling with all the dials etc. When the contractions really got going, I had a mobile epidural, which was brilliant. I wouldn't bother with TENS again.