Isn't a TENs a TENs?

[Parker23]

I've been given a Lloyds Pharmacy TENs machine by my friend. The box says it's for pain relief but she bought it for her husbands back pain.

When I read the instructions it says you can use it all over the body to ease back, muscle and joint pain but as I read further on it says, 'Do not use during pregnancy or labour.'

Is there really a difference between a back pain TENs and a labour TENs? Surely they do the same thing and they just put that in the instructions to encourage you to pay out for another one specifically for labour?

Has anyone used a regular pain relief TENs during labour? I know the sensible thing to do is not use it and get a labour TENs but I really don't want to have to shell out an extra £40 if the only difference is the label!

I have a normal tens machine which I used during labour - I can't remember if it says you should or shouldn't, as far as I'm aware the only difference is that you don't have a boost button for when the contraction starts but I used it and found it helpful to have something to -ie up the power with the intensitity of the contraction increasing! I'd just check with your midwife, I won't be buying a new one just using that one again!

watching with interest

my dad has a boots 'TENS' machine which also says not to be used during labour.

I dont understand why, but then boots so hire / sell one FOR labour so just assumed it was different

mines a boots one!

perhaps I ought to check my instructions!

I only know that my mamatens had a boost button and I think it would have been a waste of time without it. I needed the boost rather than the pulsing!

my dad has this boots TENS machine clearly says NOT for labour.

i dont think it has a boost function though

HmmmI'm really not sure then? I reckon they do the same thing but the labour ones must have a couple of settings designed specifically for contractions?

I wonder if you could just have it on a medium setting and turn it up during a contraction...? I just don't want there to be any adverse effects. I'm sure there wouldn't be but I'd still like to know why they say it's not suitable for labour?