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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

TENS machine - to buy or not to buy or to hire?

18 replies

SeriousStuff · 27/08/2013 17:19

I just found out today (33+4 wks) that you can hire TENS machines. I hadn't considered using one because I didn't want to fork out for a new one. I just have a few questions...

Will/did you use a TENS machine?
Was it useful?
Did you buy or rent?
Which one would you recommend?

If I'm going to have more children would it make more sense to buy one?

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roweeena · 27/08/2013 17:21

Hi I didn't use one first time, never got round to it as DS came early but a couple of friends have used one and they said it was really good. I just bought one second hand online for £15.

ProbablyJustGas · 27/08/2013 17:26

the brand mothercare rents is for sale on Amazon for the same as the rental price. I will probably buy one if it stays that way.

CheeseFondueRocks · 27/08/2013 17:35

I rented one for DD. I'm kind of annoyed now we didn't buy one at the time because I'll want to use one again with DS. And who knows if there might be a DC3...

I loved mine for the first few hours.

McBaby · 27/08/2013 17:35

I bought one as was a couple more £s than hiring and have lent it to 2 people so far and will be using it with my 2nd.

MrsJK · 27/08/2013 17:41

I would say yes yes yes! I borrowed a friends TENS was ended up being the only "pain relief" I had.

I believe it was a Femme tens machine

chocolatemartini · 27/08/2013 17:48

I used one and have no idea if it helped BUT had a pretty much pain free birth with a combination of TENS, hypnobirthing and water. No idea which worked best, if it was a combination of all three or if I was just lucky. Will certainly be opting for the same combo for DC2 though! I hired one as I was sceptical, so will do the same again next time.

Littlemissexpecting · 27/08/2013 17:57

I borrowed a friends but I believe it's similar price to buy as rent.
Used mine at home in early labour. Think it was good, more of a distraction but I needed dh to help put it on which meant I couldn't use it when he was at work.
Took it into hospital but didn't use it as I didn't like being connected to too many leads

Littlemissexpecting · 27/08/2013 17:58

The one I borrowed was boots own maternity one iirc

Fairypants · 27/08/2013 18:38

I hired one (many years ago before mass Internet made them cheaper to buy) and it was great. I'm planning on using one again with dc3 but will look into buying as its also good for period pains etc.

snickersnacker · 27/08/2013 18:52

Mine was great and along with co-codamol got me to nine cm dilated over two days of intermittent contractions.

I bought one on amazon for £30, which was cheaper than the rental prices I saw. I would recommend getting spare batteries and a set of spare pads - one of the two pairs of pads lost its wire on mine, luckily shortly before we went into hospital.

SuffolkNWhat · 27/08/2013 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flatmum · 27/08/2013 19:30

I'd definitely get one, but or hire whichever cheapest as you may find it very helpful. I had 3 births with gas and air and TENs and, surprisingly (to me) it's usefulness was mixed:

pretty good helped a bit, but only at the beginning am middle really
is absolutely nothing for me and after awhile I took it off as it was annoying me more than anything else
it was amazing, I'd have bitten anyone who attempted to take it off me. I can honestly say that the end bit of labour was pain free with the tens/has and air combo whereas 1 had been very painful and 2 excruciating.

not sure why such a different experience. think you have to be fairly relaxed and in tune with what your body is doing which gets easier the more births you have.

definitely worth trying I reckon!

FairyTrain · 27/08/2013 20:03

I borrowed a friends twice (it had done the rounds as we all had babies within a few years). It was fab but i did only use it for a couple of hours both times. Maybe see if any of your friends who have had babies have one?

TarkaTheOtter · 27/08/2013 21:08

I found it was cheaper to buy from amazon than rent.

BelleEtLaBaby · 27/08/2013 23:43

I loved mine in first labour - have bought a refurbished hire unit from eBay this time, for about £20. Plan to lend it to pregnant SIL then resell it. I figured this would cost less than hiring and I might recoup some of the money.

PetiteMum · 28/08/2013 00:33

I randomly found one in tkmaxx of alll places and bought it for first labour. Was great at home, ESP during nighttime contractions which I had 2 nights before the actual birth. Wasn't that useful when I got past 4cm dilated! But then I wouldn't expect it to be..... Def worth a try I say

Original poster

SeriousStuff · 28/08/2013 07:49

So many responses - thank you all.

Will look into buying - it seems to be the most cost effective option, and possibly lend it to friends after DC1 is born, until we're ready for DC2!

OP posts:

MummyJetsetter · 28/08/2013 10:57

Hi, I'm 34 weeks in to 2nd pregnancy. I hired one first time around and I'm not bothering this time I don't think. I went straight in to strong contractions, didn't have an early labour so it didn't help me at all. I was in a birthing pool in hospital after 2 hours so couldn't keep it on anyway. Hope this helps. x

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