Tens machine as well as hypnotherapy?

[clare8allthepies]

Hi, over the last couple of weeks I have begun listening to my natal hypnotherapy cd every day (not that i've managed to stay awake until the end)

Hopefully this will help me to stay calm and relaxed so if all goes well I was hoping to just cope with gas and air. In my first birth I had gas and air and also some diamorphine but in hindsight the point I asked for the diamorphine I was most likely in transition.

Do you think a tens machine would help along with the hypnotherapy cd, or do you think the faffing about with it would take me 'out of the zone' and ruin the effect of the cd?

I found a TENS machine incredibly helpful both previous labours. Will be using one again with dc3 next spring. It does does make a faint sort of buzz feeling against your skin but as this is rhythmic I found it quite hypnotic in itself.

You could always try it out and and see how you get on - if it is too distracting just take it off again. Only the rental charge to lose but a whole whole lot of potential pain relief to gain! Good luck.

Plus once it's on there isn't much faffing - just turn the dial up a a notch every so often. Easy. And you will need to engage with midwife/ dp etc at some point so no more distraction than that.

It was probably just me being crap, I had a tens machine the first time and spent more time rearranging it than anything else! At least it kept me occupied!

I used a combination of TENS and hypnobirthing until I was 7 cms, then once at hospital I added gas and air. The TENS really helped and wasn't a distraction form my hypnobirthing at all. I had the TENS round my neck and just increased it as I needed to whilst focusing on my breathing etc.

I think they suit some women but not others, like all options I suppose. Good luck!

Thank you

I used both as well, but I think maybe I put the TENS on too late as it didn't seem to do much. I think the advice is to put it on as soon as you realise you are in labour. I don't think it interfered with the hypnobirthing though - it wasn't distracting - so I would have thought it's worth a shot.