TENS help

[bessie26]

I'd like to get/hire a TENS machine, but am very confused - how do I choose which one? Should I buy one or hire one? What "features" are essential & what are a waste of time?

I got this due to sale
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000A1QKG2/ref=asc_df_B000A1QKG21882712?smid=A2ZL1MXCXMT0NG&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B000A1QKG2

My due date tomorrow and I am booked for a birthing centere, I am not sure if it will be any good but I found many good reviews.

Good luck!

Hire one for 5 weeks for about £25 from
www.babycaretens.com/index.php

I used an Elle tens. It had separate controls for the top and bottom pads, which I was really glad of because I had the bottom ones turned up high and the top ones on a low setting.

I really liked my tens

I would hire, I bought mine but only because someone else agreed to buy it off me afterwards so it worked out cheaper than hiring.

I hired one from here- www.tens-hire.co.uk/ after a recommendation from a MNer. It's £21.95 for 6 weeks and it has a boost button (some models don't). Haven't had a chance to try it yet but the customer service has been great.

i used the elle one from here.

www.tensmachines.co.uk/Elle-Tens-HIRE-6-Wks--FREE-Delivery-FREE-Return--Baby-Due-Date_p_60.html

it was really good and had a boost button which i found better than the one i used last time from hospital. i found it great and only took it off to get in the pool.

good luck!

:)

I had one on loan from my midwife with my first pg, so be sure to ask yours if they do something similar.

I had an ancient old thing for DD's birth - my midwife did lend it to me but it didn't appear to be an official scheme, she just had one kicking around. It had a dial and a boost button and was absolutely fine. It's made me think there's no point in anything but the most basic. They all have a dial, so you can turn up the strength as your contractions get more painful, and a boost button you use during actual contractions.

For DC2 (due May) I've actually bought a second-hand one from eBay (a basic one from Lloyds Pharmacy) as it was the same price as hiring one, and I already have it, so one less thing to worry about. And I can re-sell it afterwards. You have to buy replacement pads though.

By the way, I used it through the whole of my labour and found it very useful.

I hired mine from my local children's centre at £5 (plus £5 deposit) for four weeks. Worth asking if there's one near you; found out about this through my midwife.

nicm I have just ordered one after reading your comment and then looked for reviews of the site after I had ordered (gee that was smart). The company Tens Machine Direct get some awful reviews so I am hoping I receive my machine

If you had any issues let me know - I'm assuming you didn't? Fingers crossed it arrives on Tuesday!

oops sorry!! i hadn't even googled them, bad baby brain! hope you get yours ok. i had no problems and the machine worked well.

:)

Brilliant nicm, here's hoping! :)

Also www.naturesgate-uk.com/tens-machines.php HAd mine from here for previous pregnancy and have just ordered one for this. £19.95 for basic model for 6 weeks. Delivered 3 weeks before due date.

If you hire, do they usually arrive 3 weeks before?

DD arrived at 33.5, and I have been warned that #2 could arrive early too, so I guess I need to buy one, rather than rent? I'll have to look on eBay later...

Yes, they deliver 3 weeks early but you can always input a different due date when you order so that it will arrive earlier. You may be better off buying one though because with most TENS rental places you have to pay extra if you have it for longer than 6 weeks, which you might end up doing if you order early.

Thankfully had an email from Tens Machine Direct this morning saying that my order has been shipped, yahoo!

So as long as I don't go into labour in the next 48 hours or so I should get a chance to use it.

Maybe the company's not so crooked after all - here's hoping. And I hope I remember to send it back because in 6 weeks time I expect I will be too sleep-deprived to even remember my own name!

I hired one from Boots. The customer service was excellent, if you go overdue they dont charge you extra as long as you ring them and let them know. It worked really well too - quick labour, no other drugs and a healthy 9 pound baby at the end!

Has anyone hired a TENS from Boots?

I picked up their info pamphlet this morning. They charge £30 for four weeks, plus a free two-week extension if needed. It's a bit more expensive than the online options mentioned above, but I'm wondering if it might be worth it. If the machine turned out to be faulty or something, it would probably be very easy to exchange it at any Boots shop rather than wait for a new one in the post.

Has anyone ever hired a machine that turned out not to work properly and needed replacing?

MummyAbroad Good to know. Thanks!

I had one from Boots - really good for the early stages of labour. No problems, would recommend!

did your tens arrive hoolabombshell? hope it did! i never thought to check reviews! normally i am really fussy but will blame the baby brain lol.

:)

Hi nicm! Sorry I really should have come back to update... yes it arrived just fine, so I am really pleased!

They sent me 2 update emails, to let me know it had been paid for, despatched etc. and because I ordered it on a Sunday it arrived on the Wed morning, which was fine (as I'm under 3 weeks til due date). I selected first class postage as I was fairly sure I wouldn't go into labour beforehand (how right I was).

So I have the Elle TENS gadget sitting on my sofa and ready to go - now all I need is to remember to send it back in 6 weeks! Thanks again for the recommendation :)