whats better to use first: HAVING BATH OR USING TENS MACHINE?

[ranirani]

thats it really. MW at the hospital said : try having bath first , and after you get out (dry yourself) then have TENS. But everyone seems sayinbg that TENS is helpful only if you start using it from the very early signs of labour. I am first timer, terrified of pain, 36+2 PG. As soon as I get to the hospital, will be begging for epidural, as I have very very low pain threshold, and I am not kidding.

I did both and did bath first. It was brill and I found sitting up with a showerhead directing warm water on the small of my back particularly soothing. In fact I was in the bath doing this when my waters broke.

After that I thought I'd better get out and tell someone (was already in hosp because of induction) and then I started using my tens.

Tens doesn't so much relieve pain (in my opinion) as give you something to focus on and stop the pain getting too unbearable.

I then moved onto gas and air and then epidural which I was v happy with.

Good luck, you will be fine as the pain relief is avail if you ask for it.

bath
although with DC1 I did tens for ages then bath then tens again

I wouldnt get in the bath at all I did and it slowed my labour right down

Bath first unless you have loads of electrode pads.

got to be honest a bath didn't work for me as i wanted to be moving around, but a friend loved easing her contractions in a bath...so i think you will just have to try both when the pains start. good luck

Bath didn't slow my labour down, DS was born in 6 hours flat...

Put the TENS on first for at least 45 minutes. It talkes that long for the endorphins to kick in.

I didn't use a TENS, I decided I would probably be driven insane by the wires. I found water really helpful throughout my labour though, the shower in the beginning and a birthing pool.

My midwife recommended sitting on my birthing ball under a hot shower, which was brilliant. A towel under the ball is essential though, unless you want to risk braking your neck!

I totally agree with Marla, labour pain is totally different to any other sort of pain, you may well surprise yourself with how well you cope with it.

The TENS machine didn't do much for me at all. I was induced and got first contractions about 11am. Tried the TENS. Maybe helped for a couple of hours. They then gave me a pethidine shot. I had a few hours sleep. Well say that - DH swears I was snoring, I swear i felt every contraction. About teatime, they recommended a bath. It was lovely - though thinking about it now, it was because the contractions stopped. Then I had some more pethidine. I remember being really uncomfortable after that and was pestering at regular intervals for G&A. I went to the labour ward about 10pm. G&A was fantastic and I lasted on that the rest of the way.

I agree with Norktastic too. It is a completely different kind of pain. It's uncomfortable but you kind of get on with it IYSWIM.

I found the TENS really irritating!

Try both. Personally, a bath didn't do much for me but I loved my TENS so much that I refused to take it off second time round and skipped the bath altogether.

As for the pain. Well, I'm a wimp and continued to be a wimp in labour. Loved my epidural just as much as the TENS first time round. Second time, TENS plus G&A was enough. Just see how you go, be aware of your options and try to stay off your back (my 3 golden rules for labour )

I think TENS needs time to work up to be effective (didnt do anything for me but kept forgetting to press the boost button ) so would suggest using TENS first - will also give you the freedom to move around abit in early labour if you're feeling restless. Bath (warm water) is supposed to be very soothing but if you go in too soon, it really can stall the labour (as others have said) so I would leave it for later (as change of scene and warm water may help you get your head back in the place you want it to be if TENS isnt doing it for you at that stage).

Everyone and every labour is sooo different, I think wb's advice and three golden rules are the best. I thought I'd love a bath but it was the TENS that helped me the most. I think you've got to stay flexible as regards pain relief...

I loved using the TENS - it really helped with the contractions and I had it on for eight hours. I chose not to go in the bath, because it had slowed labour down for a couple of my friends and I really just wanted to keep going. For water births they don't recommend you getting in until you are 5cm dilated. But I have no experience myself so cannot comment.

hi. with dd1 i tried the bath route but it made me feel really sick.
with dd2 as soon as contractions started i used my hired tens machine, it worked wonders and i kept it on for most of my labour (18hrs). x