TENS in first stage - yes or no? Your experiences please.

[beanlet]

After swearing blind that TENS machines were a useless waste of money (up there with crystal healing), my DH now thinks that I should definitely hire a TENS machine to get me through the first stage because a consultant surgeon friend of his found it brilliant for pain relief during her three difficult labours.

Thought I'd consult the wise women on MN as to whether or not TENS machines worked for you, and whether I should hire/buy one?

Hi there,
You'll prob get very split opinions on this as it seems to work for some but not others.
I used my tens in early labour (up to about 3-4cm) And I think they work and I will defo use one this time. I cant tell you how or why they work and even if the pain was massively reduced BUT I think the fact that you are doing something, makes you feel proactive and that it should be helping, so it may be a bit mind over matter.
But I didn't care the ifs and whats of the tens machine just that it worked for me and helped give me something to focus on.
HTH

I found the tens machine really helpful through the first stage of labour in both of my dcs births. It took the edge off the pain and kept me from going to hospital too soon.

I was able to stay at home with my second, until I was practically fully dilated. I can honestly say that I was almost ready to push when machine stopped having an effect on the pain.

I've also heard from others that it did very little for them. But, it is not much money for what can be a really effective form of pain relief.

I gave birth to ds 2 weeks ago. I had the same question as you and decided to hire a tens machine when I was 39 weeks as a friend had found it useful. I used it at home whilst on my birthing ball after I'd tried the bath, I ended up using it for about 4.5 hrs till I got to hospital and was 4 cm dilated- I found the pain manageable and pressing the boost button gave me something to focus on. I reluctantly took it off at hospital to get in the bath- I had gotten quite attached to it! Ds was born 2 hours later. Would I hire one again? Yes, for about £24 you might as well give it a try I'd suggest.

Was ok in early labour but after a while I just found it irritating and it made me irrationally cross because it didn't seem to work. Ended up flinging it across the room in a temper

Was of money in my experience.

I did pretty much the same as snice. but some people swear by them so you should probably give it a try

Brilliant for me. I thought it was doing nothing mid-way through labour, so took it off and got in the birthing pool for first time and suddenly felt like I was being hit across my back with a steel rod!! I think I feel contractions in my back. Spent 10 minutes in pool, before very guiltily getting out and attaching TENS again and pain being much less.

I think it is better to use from outset - i.e. pain relief builds up with time.

Loved it. Really not in the realms of crystal healing. If your DH feels the kind of electric pulse it gives he will change his mind immediately!

Used it through my whole labour (although I missed out the "oh, I think I might be in labour, I'll just do the ironing" stage and woke up straight to the "oooowwwwwwwww" stage).

As others have said, some people find it does nothing for them, so you never know.

I'd hire one - think Boots do them for hire (I borrowed mine from my (NHS) midwife who had an ancient old thing hanging around). Not that expensive and it might really help.

That's interesting sheeplikessleep - the midwife ran the birthing pool for me (in a hospital) and I was all set to use it, but was rather scared about how I would feel without the TENS, so I never took it off and never got in the pool (OP - you can't use the TENS and pool at the same time as the TENS is electric, but of course you could use the pool for some part of labours and the TENS for other parts).

worked for about 5 minutes. Mind you I have a VERY fast induced labour

had not have. Am not in labour as we speak, you'll be pleased to know. I also ripped it off in frustration!

Totally useless waste of money with DD1.

With DD2, though, it was great.

It didn't help one iota during the contractions but had a whizzy setting in between contractions which sort of gave my back teeny random shocks and really helped me relax. So that meant that going into the next one my stress/pain level was 0 instead of 3 or 4 that it might otherwise have been IYSWIM. And I got to 10cm at home on my own.

I found the TENS great in both my labours. 1st labour - I was induced & it defintely helped, also kept me occupied whilst being stuck on a bed being monitored. I took it off to have a bath & realised then it was really doing it's job! My 2nd labour I used it when my backache began, had a quick labour 2.5 hrs from beg to end & it defintely helped get me through the journey to hospital. Like Kathsunn I was fully dilated & ready to push when it stopped having an effect.

I had a back-to-back baby, and a very long labour. Persevered with the TENS for about 24 hours, then ripped it off convinced it was doing nothing and was just irritating me. After a few more hours and contractions that were sort of blending into each other, the mw suggested getting the TENS back on, as it might take the edge off, together with the gas and air. I duly did, and was really glad - it also helped to have something to focus on - the boost button! Its not a magical miracle cure-all, but certainly well worth persevering with! I bought mine outright - an Elle TENS I think. I was all set to hire it, but the company contacted me with a reduced rate for purchase and I thought I might as well. Now pg with #3 and will use again, then try to sell on E-Bay.

just gave birth on Sat and the tens was definitely worth it! For all the reasons given above - it helped with the pain and gave me something to focus on, especially remembering to press the boost button during a contraction etc. I was induced and the midwife said put it on early as the effect will build up with time.

Once I was on gas and air i got all confused, turned it up too high and wondered what that funny pulsing was in my back, so it was kinda pointless by then! But for the early stages it was great.

Thanks all; this is really helpful. I think I'll get one.

I used to hire TENS machines out as my job in a previous life.

You need to put one on as soon as labour starts ad leave it on for at least 45 minutes for the endorphins to kick in. I used one for my second and third labours with different results.

I would recommend.

Also, make sure you get one with a boost button.

I bought one and sold it for quite a decent sum.

I love my TENS, I love my TENS, I love my TENS! I bought a little purple one with a boost button, have used it for 2 DC's and lent it to loads of friends. For some reason the fact that it's cute and purple makes me like it more.

1st labour 31 hours and TENS was the only pain relief I used. 2nd labour I used G&A as well, but could not have done without the TENS.

Both times I reached a point where it just annoyed me and I wanted it OFF NOW!!! But it served it's purpose. Start early and let it build up with your contractions.

yes, it helped me at the beginning and in hospital when I arrived, but soon after was turning it up so much that it felt like I was electrocuting myself, so had to switch it off

i would swear by my TENS machine, i used it throughout labour - think i even had it on at the end but i wouldnt have gotten thru those first 12/24 hours before getting on the gas and air without it!
i think it does work, the sensation it sends throgh you is enough to distract you from the pain and then the fact that you are controlling it makes for an even bigger distraction. i would say for the twenty quid i paid for mine off ebay it was one of the best £20 i have ever spent!

Would definitely recommend tens. I had a long labour, was wearing the tens for a good 12 hours before the mw arrived, and got to 7-8cm without any other pain relief. I wasn't sure how much help it was until I took it off to go into the birth pool- then I really noticed the difference!

i thought it was a complete waste of time with dc1 but with dc2 and 3 i gave it another go and thought it was the best thing ever.

the difference was i hired an obstetric TENS from Boots rather than the general tens i used with dc1.

they have different progs for different stages of labour and the boost button (as others have said) was great during strong contractions. i let dh control the buttons with me telling him how it felt and it gave him something to do!

and dc2 was nearly 11lbs at birth and i delivered him with a combination of only TENS, G&A and hypnobirthing!

i'd def recommend getting one!
good luck with the birth!

Used one twice and plan to use again.

DEFINITELY helped - although it was probably 50% something to do/cncentrate on.

Definitely get one with a boost button.

Also ask your hossy if they hire them. I have my own but discovered later that my hossy lend them for free - you just pay a nominal fee of £5 to cover the pads.

Julie x

Used mine last wednesday when 1st DD arrived. My waters went at 8am and instantly contractions started so I put it on, and took it off when she arrived at 8.12pm. Used it with gas and air, which I didnt start using till 4.30pm. It gave me something to focus on, pushing in the boost button as hard as I could everytime I had a contraction.

I brought the Lloyds pharmacy maternity tens unit at £30, which was roughly the same price as hiring one (our local childrens centre didnt hire them out, but I have heard you can hire them for £5ish). If ever have a second DC then Id defo like to use it again

Worked in the early stages, which made a big difference for my ability to deal with the last stage.