to tens or not to tens

[cawood77]

Hi
As my due date fast approaches, I was just wondering if anyone had experience of using the Tens machine and if it was worth the money (either hiring or buying).
part of me thinks I will wont be wanting to have the pads stuck to me when I get further into labour - what do you think????

[FeelingHip]

I've just ordered one too. What kind of tape do you use to stick the pads down? I've ordered some TENS skin preparation stuff that is supposed to make the pads stick better, do I still need the tape?

[cawood77]

Thank you for all your messages - I am going to get one this weekend and practice with it
Ta again

[BongoWinslow]

loved mine. got to 8.5cm (back labour) with just tens.

buy spare pads.

put it on with the wires running upwards and feed up to the neck hole of your top and then out and over shoulder so they don't get in the way.

put it on very early and give it a chance to work

[Wigeon]

CrazyChristmasLady - I used my TENS right til the end of my labour, even in the really really painful bits. I'm sure it helped. I think I was at my limit of what I could tolerate without needing drugs etc and there was no way I was going to take it off.

Even if you are planning a water birth, you might find it useful in the early stages. I was in two minds about going into the water (to the extent that the midwives had run the pool ready for me to go in), but the idea of taking off the TENS was inconceivable so I never got in the pool.

Or you might find it annoying and that it doesn't work (like a friend of mine). There's no guarantees, unfortunately! But if your aim, as you say above, is to avoid an epidural / intervention, it's definitely a good option to have, amongst a range of other pain-relief options (eg water, vocalisation, good positioning etc etc etc) at your disposal, and you can use whichever you find most effective when the time comes.

[Snowfalls108]

I loved my TENS machine - it was brilliant. I found that it gave me a sense of control over the whole thing as I could press the buttons etc. It felt like a big cat licking your back - which sounds odd, but actually is a good sensation.
I second the taping it down.

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

I wasnt that impressed with mine... I hired from the hospital. It gave me a focus for a while pressing the button and stuff, but a stress ball probablywould have worked.

[CrazyChristmasLady]

Reading them all I am not so sure now. When I got to the hospital I was 5 cm before I had my epidural (I always knew I was going to have one as early as possible) and I coped fine with the pain.

I have heard that the TENs isn't as effective at dealing with the stronger pain so I'm not sure whether to bother really. My plan is to get in the pool but I'm not holding my breath that it will be available when I want it.

[HollyFP]

I used mine the moment I felt contractions starting...over 12 hours later I was still using it (long first stage!)

It's as good at providing relief as providing psychological distraction IYKWIM. If it doesn't work for you, fine, at least you tried. If you don't try you might wish you did, when it's too late!

[billybunter]

I can't recommend tens enough. They truly do zap contractions. As someone said, if it annoys you, then you are not in advanced labour. I've had two children and found it invaluable each time.

Top tips:

Learn how to use it well in advance. The basics plus the way to get the most benefit from each level it offers. Note that you need a continuous soft current going on, then your boost function when contractions occur.

Position pads carefully, get duct tape and stick it all down. If it's not helping move the pads.

Put it on as soon as you feel the first twinge so the endorphins start to work.

[Restrainedrabbit]

Oh I preferred the pool as a good form of pain relief- heaven

[YankNCock]

I didn't think it was doing much, but when I stopped it I realised at least the odd sensation was distracting! We already had one as DH had it for back pain, but if I hadn't had one I'd have been annoyed I spent £40 on it.

And my hypnotherapy CD was bollocks too.

[Restrainedrabbit]

I hated the thing (three dcsxall born at home), found it really irritating and didn't help in any way!

[AmyFarrahFowler]

I LOVED my TENS, used it for both births. The first time round I managed with just the TENS and some paracetamol for almost all the labour, just had G&A for the last half hour (and the stitches!)

I'd say get a decent one, with two pairs of electrodes on 'dual channels', with a boost button (you'll need it!), an obstetric mode if possible and on the better models the facility to change the pulse rate, pulse width and the waveform - then you have the best chance of being able to adjust it to suit you best and give the best pain relief.

[Getoutofmyhouse]

I guess I'm alone on this but with dd I hated the bloody thing. Felt like slugs shagging my back. Went on to have her with just paracetamol and a bot of g & a. My dsis however swears by it.

[LostInTransmogrification]

I used tens and found it betterthan entonox or pethidine for helping with the pain. My leads came loose so would advise trying them in position before youneed them and then duct tapingthem on (no joke as you get shocked if they disconnect!)

[morethanasong]

I tried it with dd1, absolutely hated it and tore the pads off after one contraction. With dd2 I didn't bother with tens but hired a pool instead and it was wonderful :o Still, tens is probably worth a try if it's not too expensive, but if it's a choice between tens and a pool (and you can't take your tens machine into the pool as a pp has pointed out), I'd definitely go for the pool!

[Pootles2010]

Got very cross with mine and hurled it across bedroom. Really should have learned how to use it first, and started to use it before being 7cm... Might as well give it a go, anything that helps is good! If it doesn't work, no harm done.

[Caz10]

If nothing else, fiddling with it seemed to be a good distraction!

[thelittlebluepills]

It worked brilliantly for me with DS2 - I also tried turning it off for one contraction to see if it was making much difference - it certainly was!

The real highlight was after DS2 was born as DH took the pads off my back and gave himself a shock

[Wigeon]

Loved it with DD. Will def give it a go with DC2 (due May 2011). Used it from the beginning right up to the very end. Had some gas and air at the end but don't think that made any difference to the pain.

One thing to bear in mind is that you can't use it in a pool (kind of obvious, but I hadn't really thought of that).

[megonthemoon]

I used it for DS and it definitely helped in the early stages - it went a little bit pear-shaped after that but not the fault of the tens!

With DD, I got to 6cm with just the TENS and then used that with gas and air until she was born. It didn't help much at first, but I got DH to reposition the pads lower and it was brilliant. So if you try and it doesn't seem to do much, have a go at repositioning the pads to see if that helps.

Towards the end I didn't think it was doing much and that all my relief was from gas and air, but the midwife said people often say that but if you took it off you would really notice the difference.

Definitely worth the hire cost, both times!

[VivaLeBeaver]

As a midwife I have to say that I think they're fantastic for most women. Some women don't seem to find them any good but its a definate minority. I would give it a go, could well be the best £3o/£40 you ever spend.

[nameymcnamechange]

I would say definitely yes. I found it made a tremendous difference to the level of pain, although I only got to 3cm dilated. But it was all manageable up to that point.

[CrazyChristmasLady]

I have been considering this too.

Maybe I should look into it as I want to avoid epidural/intervention birth this time.

[jellyhead188]

Never got to use mine with DC1 (again wont scare you!) but used it with DC2 and it was fab, put off using the gas and air for a while - its nice to have something to concentrate on during contractions too - and I found it really helped in the early stages. xx