TENS machine recommendations

[Salukigirl]

I want to buy a TENS machine but looking online there are so many different ones I don't know what to get so any recommendations would be great.
TIA

---

MNHQ Update
This is a very old thread, but if you've landed here while on the hunt for similar recommendations, our guide to the best TENS machine has been recently updated. Based on the tried and tested recommendations of Mumsnetters, the page includes a wide range of options including machines for hire. We hope it's helpful!

I recently had my first DS and managed to get to 7cm with paracetamol and a mama tens that was lent to me by a friend... It was easy to use and had a boost button for contractions, I'd recommend using it from 37 weeks for backache/braxton hicks to get to grips with it first so you are used to it by the time labour starts!

I hired a mama tens from mothercare. You get it for 3 weeks and it comes with its own envelope for sending back. It was great and I used it till 6cm after which I got in the birth pool and had gas and air. I def found it helpfu.

Does anyone know if you have to have a pregnancy specific tens machine. I got one a few years back as I suffer with back pain. It's from lloyds the chemist it has 4 pads for your back and I think it has 10 setting increasing in intensity. I'm really hoping I can get along way with this at home to limit the time in hospital???

Elle tens - excellent.

beckslovestimmy All non-pregnancy specific TENS machines I've seen have a warning on the packaging not to be used for pregnancy/labour, so I think you'd be better off getting one specifically suitable for pregnancy/labour.

I used a Femme TENS for early stages of my first labour, planning to use it again this time. Ordered it online and I think it was about £25.

Thanks, so Mama, Femme and Elle all sound worth trying, I'll go and shop around.
I'm nearly 36 weeks now so need to get a move on!

I can't remember what make my tens machine was but I decided to get one at the last minute and was a life saver. I think I hired one from lloyds chemist. I would definitely recommend one with booster button when contracts get stronger and getting the larger back pads as well as the regular size as when contractions start to get stronger the smaller ones just did not give the same relief as the larger ones. I did a day and a half of contractions with just a tens machine so was well worth it!!!

I hired mine fro. Boots- think it was called baby care tens. I found it really very helpful.

I hired mine online - the one with the boost button (purple colour, I think the Elle?) which my NCT teacher suggested. Cost about £22-23 and arrived within a few days. The hire period is 7 weeks (they send it in time for 36 weeks), it comes with spare pads and batteries so you can test it out beforehand too on DH

That was the cheapest I found - cheaper than boots/supermarkets and hiring from the midwife for me anyway.

Can't remember the website sorry but it was a top result on Google.

Ooo I used one of these but it didnt work for me, stopped using it after 10 mins! I did get to 9 cm with 2 paracetamol and a bath, was convinced I wasn't that far gone..... ....and then ragged the gas and air as soon as I got to hospital

Just bought a new Elle from www.simplesafetysolutions.com/ it was only £54. I tried to get one on ebay but they were going for £35 and I decided I'd prefer to pay a bit more for a new one, then flog it later!! Hopefully I will get to use it twice if I have a second baby in the future.

The boots one is £25 to hire, online or in a shop. I forget what make it is though. I didn't have one for DD and when I got to hospital the midwife looked at me like I was insane, but I wasn't convinced. Might do this time, but then last time I managed with the gas and air even through forceps so I guess I'm pretty good with pain.