Just wondering: did anyone use TENS all the way through? or better to go in birthing pool?

[Gemzooks]

Got through to 5 cm dilated with TENS last time, then had to have synotocin so opted for mobile epidural. Still had a lot of pain from contractions but couldn't reattach the tens by that stage of course. This time am planning a home birth. I found the TENS amazingly effective and never had it turned up anywhere near full blast, not even half.

Just wondering, because everyone says it's only effective in the first stages. I'm vaguely considering birthing pool but wouldn't want to get in if it meant turning off the tens.

any experiences much appreciated!

I took my tens off to get into the pool and it was bliss being in the pool.
2nd time round I didn't use tens at all just the pool
it was lovely would thoroughly recommend it

TENS was brilliant but I found being at home the best painkiller of them all.
Nothing hurt till they discovered I had to transfer and then EVERYTHING hurt.

You would have to remove the TENS to go in the pool.

I laboured completely with TENS for DS2 and only just made it to hospital in time! I found it effective as a distraction and was chuffed that I didn't end up with any drugs that might have made me or ds groggy

I used TENS until 9cm
Thought it was off so got DH to unpeel the pads from my back...it wasn't - I like to think that was a small taster for him of the pain I was going through

Ooh, it seems everyone loved the pool. I don't think I've ever heard a negative birthing pool experience.

Maybe I should try it.. It doesn't appeal because I think it might be cold and yucky (would prefer a bath tub with constant hot water supply), but I suppose you get quite hot anyway..

I used TENS pretty much all the way through, took it off after around 8 hrs of labour to get in the bath (MW said this would speed things up - it did!). I then put TENS back on and used it up to the end. In fact it was only when DS was lying on my chest I realised it was still buzzing away on 'boost'.

This was first birth, at home. Am due with DC2 in about a week and have TENS ready again. I did think about a pool, but found that all I wanted to do last time was march around the house and get into all sorts of odd positions. Also my house is quite small!

maybe better have both on standby.. I've already organised the TENS.

I used TENS all the way through, and like Rhinestone I realised it was still on when I'd given birth. It was my only pain relief and I was in established labour for about 8 hours. I'm going to us a TENS machine again this time, definitely.

I used TENS with dd1 , i found it no help at all and ended up having a painful birth with no pain relief.

Used the pool for dd2, it was great and i had no pain until 5 minutes before she was born.

I used TENS for the 1st stage, the pool for transition and didn't get round to anything for my (dry land - long story ) 2nd stage. Being at home was fantastic.

Oh - and if you're worried about a cold pool it's possible to rent a heated one for home use. That's what I did, and it was a fantastic wallow during the last couple of weeks (when I couldn't get out of the bath unassisted and it wasn't big enough to lounge in anyway)... If you're looking at hospital pools, from what I saw they work like oversized baths.

I used TENS for my home birth up until transition and I got into the pool. At that point the TENS started to really annoy me and I think I would have taken it off whether I'd got into the pool or not.

I was kinda expecting the pool to be cool-ish, but it was surprisingly warm to get into, and felt blissfully floaty and relaxing. I can't recommend water enough.