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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Hired a tens from boots - any tips on using it?

19 replies

ohnelly · 20/03/2010 19:14

Hello im 38 weeks with DS2 & have hired a tens machine from boots. Never used one before - have had a quick read & tried it on my arm!! I will try it on my back too but just wondering if anyone got any tips/hints or is it pretty straightforwards? Thanks

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Heathcliffscathy · 20/03/2010 19:15

get it on early in labour don't wait until you are really in need of it. the way it works is on a slow build up, so get it on as soon as you start labour and then if you're like me you can quickly turn it up to max and keep it on until it isn't doing the trick any more. i found it fab.

nubbins · 20/03/2010 20:41

absolutely, put it on as soon as you think might be in labour. I think I had mine on twice to help with false starts before the real thing.

If yours has a boost button, don't let go of it! My DH ws in charge of it for a while, and he put it down to leave the room for something and I needed it and couldn't find it. I think that ws the worst contraction of my whole labour.

IMoveTheStars · 20/03/2010 20:45

MAKE SURE YOUR DP KNOWS HOW TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES QUICKLY!!!

Get the MW to make sure it's in the best place.

If you get a random bee-sting type feeling, then one of the pads has probably come loose when you went to the loo.

NorbertDentressangle · 20/03/2010 20:48

I used a TENS machine and tried out something I'd read about letting your DP press the controls(under your instruction) so that he feels that he's 'doing something useful' and a part of the experience.

B*&%$^s to that! He was switching it off when I wanted it on and vice-versa and had no idea whether it was on or off at any given time.

So my tip is to hold on to the control button yourself

notcitrus · 20/03/2010 20:58

Assuming it's got a 'pregnancy backache' and a 'ONLY IN LABOUR' setting, try the first one when pregnant to see what it feels like. You'll either love it or hate it.

Also my Boots one the battery holder is slightly odd sized so it won't hold rechargeable batteries, only ordinary Duracells. Luckily for MrNC, we found this out while on the backache setting so I wasn't as apoplectic as I'd have been if the batteries had died on the 45 minute journey to hospital (main route closed due to watermains repair; police thought that morning was a great time to block the other road with checking every car...)

SPBInDisguise · 20/03/2010 21:00

is it a mama tens
when I used one the instructions were wrong - implied it only went up to 5. I was cursing it when I discovered it actually went up to 15
Oh and when you are getting your DH/DP to help take it off when you're about to start pushing, make sure it's turned off. You won't be able to tell, but they will

IsItMeOr · 20/03/2010 21:34

My experience was that, when the Tens machine wasn't cutting it any more, that was the right time to set off the hospital.

Good luck!

Esme01 · 22/03/2010 00:16

I had a tens on for my first labour. My sister fitted it - a physio - so knew what she was doing. Didn't even consider it for the second labour cos I thought it was just a hassle and found it quite painful actually. Mind you, first labour was 40 excrutiating hours (he was back to back). I had gas and air, pethidine, sleeping tablets. None had any effect what-so-ever. Worked my way up to epidural (which I swore would never happen). Second labour was a few small hours verging on the pleasant with a couple of tough contractions at the end. Hope it works for you!! Again, wont bother with tens for third labour......just praying for easy labour!!

choosyfloosy · 22/03/2010 00:36

I liked mine. I put it on before I really felt anything at all (had a waters leak so I knew things were likely to happen). Keep hold of controls yourself - you don't want to have to be explaining more than you can help, when you're in labour.

TBH if I'd waited until the tens wasn't helping, I'd have had ds on the ring road!

Original poster

ohnelly · 22/03/2010 13:13

Right ive tried it on lower settings on my back but was too scared to turn it up too high!- it stung a bit on my back after taken it off, and was only on for few mins. Is this normal? Got it ready to go so will put it on asap whenever I think its starting!

OP posts:

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 22/03/2010 18:35

Yes, that sounds normal. I didn't use one for my first labour as I couldn't be bothered with faffing about, but it probably would have helped in retrospect.

For my second one, I went into labour at 2am and it got me through the six hours before I was due at the hospital (for a section!). I tried for a VBAC but it didn't work out, but the tens was great and I used it for 14 hours. By the end of that time it was on full the whole of the time with the boost button going on each time there was a contraction.

And yes, take lots of batteries!

makemineaginandtonic · 22/03/2010 20:03

Putting it on made me feel "this is it" which was exciting. It was good in very early stages but didn't do much for me as we progressed. Can totally agree with Norbert about being in control YOURSELF! I say, anything is worth a try, might be your saving grace!

trellism · 23/03/2010 13:21

Yes, don't let dh/dp play with the controls.

I found it ok initially but found it annoying later on. I was in labour for days and days though...

MathsMadMummy · 23/03/2010 13:25

I found it great.

Get your birth partner to practise getting the pads in the right place! Wouldn't let him touch the buttons though

I used it a few days after the birth when I had major pain as the ligaments were going back into place, it allowed me to get some more sleep.

Acanthus · 23/03/2010 13:40

It won't get you right through to the end, it will stop helping as you get towards transition. (That's what the gas and air is for ). So put it on early and turn it up high when you think you need to - don't "hold back" the top setting thinking you might need it later, you'll be past the tens and onto the g and a by then.

TarkaLiotta · 23/03/2010 13:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ohnelly · 24/03/2010 11:47

Haha I might end up putting them on DPs temples so he can have a share of the pain too & no I wont be letting him anywhere near the controls! Ive got one set of batteries in it ready & a spare set - is that enough?

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 26/03/2010 10:36

Mine got me through to the end but only because DS2 was in an awful hurry. Didn't get my gas & air till the mw checked me out afterwards. Thank heavens for that boost button!

gandj · 26/03/2010 11:16

My DS was born last Monday and I used TENS for about 7 hours and found it very good. The key, as others have said, is to get it on early and stick with it. My top tip would be if one of the electrodes becomes unplugged turn the unit off before plugging it back in. My DH plugged it in without me turning off the unit and I got a horrible electric shock - think it was the worst point of whole labour! Good luck!

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