TENS machines - which type?

[ecuse]

OK so I'm thinking of hiring a TENS machine. I know people have mixed opinions on them - some people think they're eternal salvation and others a waste of space - so I figured it's worth a try.

However, there seems to be a bewildering array for hire online. Are there any particular functions or features that are worth it? Is it worth paying more for the more expensive machines - what are you getting for the extra money? Which functions are a waste of time/money?

Or should I just shop around for the cheapest machine I can find?

Hi ecuse - I posted on a thread about TENS machines recently see link to previous thread here

Boots online is a good place to start as I'm sure they have a guide to each one, and it's really easy to hire. I used a MAMA Tens machine, but not the one with a contraction timer as my hubby had an app on his silly i-gadget that we used instead. It did me fine :)

I am the "eternal salvation" type and I used a Boots one (hired) I had a 7 and half hour labour and 9 pound baby. I kept the TENS on all through entire labour and third stage - It did NOT provide adequate pain relief for the stitching up afterwards - owch!!

I have to say, while I loved the relief - I couldnt actually work the machine because my brain was too fuddled so I gave the machine to my husbands and just shouted "BUTTONS!" everytime a contraction came and we got through just fine.

Hi ecuse jumping on here as I need to work this out as well - any decisions/thoughts on buying or hiring?!?!

Well, I'm 37 weeks due with my fourth and shall be using it yet again!
I think I have had a different one each time as was either borrowing one or then bought one which was then lent out and someone lost and then replaced with the current one.

TBH I think they all do the same job, a jab of electricity at the right time!! I honestly think it is fab, the only other pain relief I have ever had is gas and air. Think you just need a basic one though as, like MummyAbroad says, your head is so fuddled in labour that even pressing one button is enough! Think I found mine on and stuck to some peculiar region about half hour after giving birth!
Do take a spare battery along with you just incase it gives out.

I hired mine from Boots and the customer service is excellent. If you go over you due date/hire time they dont mind as long as you give them to let them know - no extra charge for going over. You can return in person or by post if its easier. I wish I had bought now though, as I need another one for baby number 2!

sorry that should be "give them a ring to let them know"

I decided that I would buy one "just in case" they work. I'm also a first timer but the way I see it is that for the first few hours of labour I'm at home alone and if I need the pain relief then I would rather have something than nothing. I opted for the elle TENS machine because it came up best with "which?" and because it was the top one (most expensive) offered by all the shops to hire - so I figured it was probably the best.

I choose to buy rather than rent since I intend to have more than one child and for the price of hiring it twice you can buy one new off ebay. I also think that my little sister might get some use out of it in the next few years so its more of an investment.

I rented one first time, but kicked myself for not buying as I always planned 2 DCs! Luckily I was able to borrow one from a friend. So, if you're planning to have more, buy. Try ebay?

You might also be grateful for BF-related back and shoulder aches.

I think I just googled it and found tenshire.co.uk where i rented one, I found it really good, they deliver it 3 weeks before your due date and then you have I think it was 4 or 5 weeks after the due date to send it back, they provided a free post envelope for returning.
cant remember how much it cost (DS is 2.3yrs now!) but think it was fairly reasonable.
I am 8+1 weeks pregnant with DC2 and if all goes well I think i will get one from them again!

Just had a look and its 21.95 on Tens-Hire.co.uk.
Hope this helps!

I've decided to go for the Elle one one and hire it. The best place I found was www.tens.co.uk/ who do 7 weeks for £23.50 plus also give you the option to buy extra big pads "to maximise effectiveness". Don't know whether they will, but for an extra £2.50 it seems worth a punt. Plus they include a spare set of practice electrodes. Thanks for all the advice!

I hired one from BOOTs - I used it for about 20 hours or so I guess until I was allowed eventually into the pool. I have no idea if it 'worked' or not, but as I was very slow to dilate, with full on contractions for 35 hours I was very grateful for the distraction at least.