Tell me about Tens machine - any good?

[ohnelly]

I am interested to hear any opinions/advice on Tens machines during labour. I have decidied that I want to try & manage pain without epidural. I had gas & air & pethadine during my first labour - am due again in 5 weeks!!

It disrupts the pain signals going to the brain via the spinal cord, I think.

Didn't use it first time.

By time I went in MW said it would be "pointless" as they are for early labour only.

Whacked it on quite early during second labour but contractions were immediately painful.

Managed the whole [albeit very quick] labour with TENS, 2 paracetamol and G&A.

I found TENS very helpful - I had borrowed the ELLE one from my dsis - and it was still helpful during the "later stages".

As I say though I did have a quick labour. I was 4cm on examination when I went in at 5am and had baby at 06:45.

I gave birth to DD using a TENS machine and Gas & Air. Plus a couple of paracetamol and a couple of baths. It was the MamaTENS and although I was contemplating additional PR after 8 hours use, by then it was too late.

I thought tens was great, if only for a distraction. Had ds with just tens and dd with tens and gas&air