Tens Machines

[missyfafa]

Recently someone told me they were advised to use their tens machine pre labour, so every evening for a few weeks she would put on the tens machine. The idea being it builds up endorphins in the body and by the time you go in to labour you have built up some natural pain relief. Has anyone heard anything similar? She said it worked really well but I am yet to be convinced!

I used a TENS machine for the first time when in labour. It works well for early labour if put on at the first twinge. However, for a first baby or even a subsequent one you might not realise that a twinge is the onset of labour. If you are in the habit of putting the machine on you will at least know how to do it and stand a chance of putting it on before it's too late.

I loved my tens machine whilst I was in labour but didnt use it before, isn't there some advice that says it can bring labour on and shouldnt be used until labour established? AM not sure.

I used mine once labour was established and I was convinced (3rd time around!) that this was the real deal - so long as you know how to use it you should find some relief from it. Use the boost function at each contraction and turn up the level as time goes on and you adjust to having the machine on you. First time around I forgot what the instructions said and it was little help, 2nd and 3rd times I used it to good effect - put on a lot earlier with #2 but did use it properly.

I didn't use one with my first as I didn't like the idea of it, but with my second, after 24hours and still only being 2cm (and v. depressed!) I stuck it on and I was so glad I did. I used it til I gave birth then, increasing it all the way. I think it is particularly helpful if you have back to back labours like me. With my 3rd, I whacked it on when I was getting really sore - but that labour all went VERY quick. Still helped tho. I remember as it was at the 'bowling ball' stage and my DH was in control of the button as I gripped the bed, he forgot and I shouted 'TENS!!!! TENS!!!!'
So it definitely helped!

Not sure about using it before hand tho...

Yes, I used mine in first labour but this is specifically about using it weeks pior to the actual labour, so starting at 36 or so weeks and use it every evening to build up effectiveness.

My experience was that the tens was a total waste of time, apart from giving me something to think about during contractions. I could have used a tennis ball for that !

I found it really annoying - and if you want to get in the bath at all you have to take it off, rendering it even more useless. I kept on running baths and getting in and out of them for the 4 hours I was at home making the tens nul and void !